We never imagined saying this, but Changeling could use less of Angelina Jolie.

At least less of the actress in our face all the time.

The film needn't be shot in such an over-the-top, scary fashion. It's already based on the true story of Christine Collins  (Jolie), a single mother whose young son disappeared in 1928. When he was returned to here six months later, there was a problem: Collins insisted it was not her child.

At this response, the corrupt captain of the LAPD actually locked Christine mental hospital. See? It's a rather impressive story on paper.

And Jolie is a rather impressive actress, leaving side her looks even. There's no need to overplay the movie's hand, yet director Clint Eastwood shoots it like a horror movie. He uses scary lighting haphazardly and almost threatens Academy Award voters:

You better give Jolie a nomination!

In order to make his point, Eastwood plays up the loony individuals that make up the mental hospital, along with the mean nurses and eerie doctors. We have no doubt it was a harrowing experience for Collins - but, like the rest of the film, we'd have preferred to have watched Jolie play these moments in understated states of fear, anger and confusion.

For the first time in our life, less Angelina Jolie would have been more.