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Changing Lanes
2002
Two cars collide on the FDR expressway. Their drivers--two seemingly opposite men--are Gavin Banek (Ben Affleck), a young white partner in a powerful law firm, and Doyle Gipson (Samuel L. Jackson), a meek working class black man. At the scene of this fender bender Gavin, who is busy trying to make a business appointment on his .. Read more
| Starring | Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Affleck, Sydney Pollack, Toni Collette |
|---|---|
| Director | Roger Michell |
| Genres | Thriller |
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Changing Lanes
Two cars collide on the FDR expressway. Their drivers--two seemingly opposite men--are Gavin Banek (Ben Affleck), a young white partner in a powerful law firm, and Doyle Gipson (Samuel L. Jackson), a meek working class black man. At the scene of this fender bender Gavin, who is busy trying to make a business appointment on his cell phone, offers Doyle a blank check to cover damages. Doyle, wanting to properly exchange information, declines, causing Gavin to flee the accident site. In his haste, Gavin leaves behind an important legal file that Doyle uses to his advantage, setting off a brutal cycle of revenge between these two men who began this Good Friday as strangers.
A class commentary that is decidedly different from director Roger Michell's previous film, NOTTING HILL, CHANGING LANES provides very little information about its two central characters before the moment of their car accident. Michell introduces them by crosscutting between both men speaking publicly--Gavin is lecturing to a charitable foundation, Doyle is talking at an AA meeting. These techniques of crosscutting and mirror imaging are used effectively throughout the film to underscore that the obvious social and economic differences between the two men doesn't disguise the dark and angry nature that exists in both of these men, and potentially in all of humanity.
| Starring | Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Affleck, Sydney Pollack, Toni Collette, Amanda Peet, William Hurt, Richard Jenkins, Dylan Baker, Bradley Cooper, Jennie Dundas |
|---|---|
| Director | Roger Michell |
| Studio | PARAMOUNT HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 35 mins Watch now: 1 hr 39 mins |
| Certificate | DVD: , Watch Online: |
| Genres | Thriller |
| Language | DVD: English Watch Online: English |
| Dubbed | Czech, German |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Subtitles | DVD: Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, RomanianSwedish, Turkish |
| Released | DVD: 02 Jun 2003 Watch now: 01 Sep 2009 Production year: 2002 |
| Watch now | £2.49 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (6)
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This offbeat drama is one of those smart, surprising movies that, from time to time, manage to sneak under the radar of mainstream Hollywood. It charts the escalating urban warfare between self-absorbed attorney Ben Affleck and recovering alcoholic Samuel L Jackson following a minor road accident that causes both to miss important appointments. As they struggle to right their desperate situations, they are drawn into an increasingly vindictive battle of wills. Their Road Runner-like duelling remains gripping throughout, with the deftly structured script and emotionally rich performances lending the slim premise unexpected weight, even with some fairly outlandish twists and turns. The film's numerous social and ethical undercurrents are capably handled by director Roger Michell, who also encourages exceptional work from Toni Collette and Sydney Pollack.
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"...Jackson's performance provides the heart of the story. Illuminating the idea that things are sometimes not what they seem, Jackson shows us a doting father and persistent husband..."
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Most helpful member's review
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13 out of 18 people found this review helpful
'You're wrong.' 'No you're wrong...'
?Changing Lanes? is another attempt to create a Hollywood film using the sensibilities of indie film. It?s essentially a remake of a Tom and Jerry cartoon with human beings and the ins and outs of their ?real? lives. The cat is Ben Affleck, a lawyer who is slowly understanding the dodgy ethics perpetrated by his other partners and whether he can still stay true to himself within that world. The mouse of the story, Sam Jackson is a recovering alcoholic and telesales worker who finds his life slowly slipping away, partly because of his atrocious temper which comes forth whenever he feels like he?s doing the right thing.
In a strong, well-structured script, unlike a real cat and mouse caper, there isn?t an actually a villain or hero. These are both men on the edge, whose sense of right and wrong slips away as the day progresses. Both have much to lose but in different ways - and it?s interesting that when Jackson strikes against the lawyer its in material ways; when Affleck hits the telesales advisor at the roots of his life.
It?s the performances that lift this film. Affleck gives his best work since ?Chasing Amy? - in a part which could have been whitewashed with sleaze, he comes out looking all the more human. He should be the bad guy but we find ourselves wondering if our choices wouldn?t be too dissimilar given the circumstances. Jackson again proves himself to be an actor of massive range. It?s the first time we?ve seen this kind of character from him in a so-called mainstream film (although its similar to the low key display found in ?The Red Violin?).
Roger Mitchell has always struck me as a very generic director - like Michael Apted he doesn?t have a particular style and in fact he often borrows from someone else. This has a very faux-Soderbergh feel to it, especially in the opening titles and the use of hand held cameras throughout. But I?m not criticizing. I?ve had enough of glossy films which spend all their time just looking perfect at the expense of the plot. Imagine how vacuous this thing might have been in the hands of Michael Bay, for example.
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- feelinglistless from Liverpool
- Posted 26 Mar 2004 20:44
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Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Not very inspiring
This is an ok film, but I won't go much further than that. My fianc?e assured me we'd seen this already but I wasn't sure so rented it anyway. It took me about 10 minutes to realise that I had seen it after all, and looking back now a few months after watching it, I can't recall that much about it!
The plot is good enough, but I think it would lend itself to a good book rather than an average film, as the thrill of the chase, as it were, could be developed in more detail.
Fans of Samuel L Jackson will probably feel let down by this one, but maybe that's to be expected if you put him alongside Ben Affleck who, let's face it, is only any good in the Kevin Smith movies. -
News and features
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Second time around for Affleck and Damon
- 06 Jul 2007
Hollywood actors Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have announced they are to join forces again and put pen to paper for a new screenplay. They shot to fame in 1997 after co-writing Good Will Hunting, which they also starred in with Robin Williams. The film also won them an Oscar. However, World Entertainment News Network reports that the duo will now share their talents once again, after previously taking different paths and featuring in a range of projects after Good Will Hunting. Affleck is... Read more
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Two cars collide on the FDR expressway. Their drivers--two seemingly opposite men--are Gavin Banek (Ben Affleck), a young white partner in a powerful law firm, and Doyle Gipson (Samuel L. Jackson), a ... -