Der fremde Sohn

Ein solides Straczynski-Drama mit anständigem Produktionsdesign, interessanter Regie, aber auch einer merkwürdigen Leistung von Angelina und ein paar hapernden ahistorischen Problemen. Zusammenfassend lässt sich jedoch sagen, dass man Der fremde Sohn empfehlen kann, und vielleicht werden dank dieses Films auch jüngere Menschen verstehen, wer Tom Mix oder Claudette Colbert waren. (13.05.2014)

Clint Eastwood mit seinem zarten Klavier ist Danielle Steel von tiefen Geschichten. Für die schwerwiegenden Themen, mit denen sich Der fremde Sohn befasst, und vor allem für ihre Verknüpfung reicht aber ein großes Herz nicht. (16.01.2009)

I appreciate how Clint's slow but focused direction manages to fully serve the story, telling it from the position of an unbiased observer while letting the viewer deal with the emotional whirlwind on their own. What I appreciate less is the fact that the last quarter is a bit of an appendix - a place that just is, but somehow the viewer can do without it, perhaps because the cards have been dealt long ago and nothing can surprise him anymore. Then there is Angelina, and although she’s great, she’s still and always just "Angelina™," which can't be hidden even by the elegant hat and the period hair and make-up. However, I do admit that the first two-thirds or so of the film hit me hard. (03.03.2009)

An unmissable experience. A packed movie theater (what a miracle, everybody was silent, no rustling, unbelievable...), two girls accompanying me and a movie where Clint masterfully changes genres perhaps more stylishly, more accurately and faster than he could shoot his Colt as a young man. And it doesn’t stoop to emotional blackmail, despite the subject matter crying out for it. This is the sort of movie where you need to take an oxygen canister to. Just in case it knocks the breath out of you. And that could easily happen. But what I would change is my very vague awareness of the story. On the other hand, if I had gone to see it in complete ignorance, I don’t think even the oxygen would have saved me. (08.01.2009)

A formally smooth drama with a strong premise, hurt a little but an overly sweeping and inconsistent script. There are chilling and breathtaking scenes followed by more protracted ones, which somewhat bothered, because they don’t carry on with what the previous scene set up. I’d compare it to a car waiting at a traffic light: as soon as it starts, it has to stop again, and again. Angelina delivers a solid, though not Oscar-worthy performance (see Kate Winslet in Revolutionary Road). The very fitting music is also worth mentioning, in the last shot it builds a very strong background with similar results as in Gran Torino (you’ll know if you’ve seen it). Changeling is a very good film, but I can’t give it the highest rating because some of this year’s Oscar hopefuls have had a bigger effect on me. (09.01.2009)