Angelina Jolie Jolie next took the lead role in Clint Eastwood's drama "Changeling" (2008). Based in part on the Wineville Chicken Coop Murders, the film centers on Christine Collins, who is reunited with her kidnapped son in 1928 Los Angeles, only to realize the boy is an imposter. "Chicago Tribune" critic Michael Phillips noted, "Jolie really shines in the calm before the storm, the scenes when one patronizing male authority figure after another belittles her at their peril." She received nominations for a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a BAFTA Award, and an Academy Award for Best Actress. Jolie
Angelina Jolie as a male character with Tom Cruise attached to star, agent Salt underwent a gender change after a Columbia Pictures executive suggested Jolie for the role. With revenues of $293.5 million, "Salt" became an international success. The film received generally positive reviews, with Jolie's performance in particular earning praise; "Empire" critic William Thomas remarked, "When it comes to selling incredible, crazy, death-defying antics, Jolie has few peers in the action business." Jolie starred opposite Johnny Depp in the thriller "The Tourist" (2010). The film was a critical failure, though Roger Ebert defended Jolie's performance, stating that she "does her darndest"