This had the potential to be a lot better but never came through..
Now I never expect much of Ben Affleck -an image he manages to hold on to with his performance in this one - but I'm disappointed to say this wasn't one of Samuel L. Jackson's most impressive roles either.. He was just OK
The story isn't very creative, alright.. still it could have been exploited better; at least that's the idea I got in the first 20 minutes or so then it all started heading towards average..
No way,Affleck is unacceptable (film school,really?), Jackson is falling apart (Jumper didn't help in advance to many other flops) and a director you'd expect more after Notting Hill.I will pass,thank you.
movie was funny to me. But i love Samuel jackson in everything even Snakes on a Plane. Ben Affleck is not as good as actor as Casy Affleck I thought the Assasination of jesse James was so great and his acting was great too.
Communication breakdowns are a bugger. this one goes from bad to worse for everyone. Two worlds implode when they collide and heres a story thats pretty well acted out.
wow what a movie...just seen this for the 1st time n think its a good thriller movie..the director keeps the viewers on the edge of your seats throughout the movie..this is a good thriller..i think that both the lead characters both play good parts in this movie throughout..this is a good thriller movie 2 c throughout because everybody in this movie all play a great part throughout the movie n its really enjoyable
Gavin Banek (Affleck - "Daredevil", "The Sum Of All Fears", "Pearl Harbour") and Doyle Gipson (Jackson - "Star Wars: Episode II", "XXX", "Shaft", "Unbreakable") could not have asked for a worse time to have a bad day.
High-flying lawyer Banek is on his way to court to fight a suit on behalf of his employers. Recovering alcoholic Gipson is on his way to court to demonstrate that he can provide a home for his estranged wife and children. Both men lead very different and separate lives, but these lives are about to clash in dramatic fashion.
When they are involved in a minor car accident with each other, Doyle insists on exchanging insurance information but Gavin is in a hurry and dismisses Doyle's concerns, giving him a blank cheque instead. As he flees the scene of the accident Gavin leaves behind important papers that are material to his court case. Doyle, as a result of the accident and Gavin's refusal to give him a lift into the city, ends up turning late for his court appearance, and subsequently loses his case.
With both men's lives on the brink, they become bent on revenge and within their relative means, do their best to bring the other one down.
"Changing Lanes" is really a story about two inherently good men who "turn" in their desperation to get payback on each other. Banek might have the looks, the moves, the money and the education to achieve anything he wants, but deep down you sense he's unhappy - unhappy in his job and unhappy with his family relationships.
Gipson has never had any of those things. He's attending AA, his wife has left him and his job as an insurance sales representative is hardly the stuff of dreams. But his recovery over the last few years, with the help of his sponsor (Hurt - "Lost in Space", "Dark City", "Michael", "Smoke"), has been inspirational to him, and his enthusiasm for making a success of his life is evident.
This battle of wits, spiraling out of control at times, is the main focus of "Changing Lanes". There is a small sub-plot involving Gavin's affair with colleague, Michelle (Collette - "About a Boy", "The Sixth Sense", "Strictly Ballroom", "Shaft"), but it merely serves to portray the dissatisfaction that he is experiencing in his marriage.
If I had to be critical about the movie, I'd identify the main problem being that there is just too much going on. Gavin has until the end of the day to retrieve his file and present it to the court, therefore the action all happens in one afternoon - you wonder how director Roger Michell ("Notting Hill", "Persuasion") manages to fit it all in. There is enough time for "tooing-and-froing" between different offices and court rooms, lunch dates, an evacuation, a drink in a bar, several visits to a bank, car accidents... there's not much that doesn't happen.
I'd also question just how realistic the character's behaviour is. Do normal people, even in their presently extraordinary situations, really behave in this way? Would a working-class, recovering alcoholic find the wherewithal to do things like sending threatening faxes to a top law firm, destroying public property, or savagely attacking two guys he'd had an argument with? Would a previously clean, respected, up-and-coming lawyer break the law with frightening regularity?
But I'd be quite lenient about any criticism. Because behind these minor problems lies a psychological thriller that's carried by an urgent script, quality performances (Affleck shining for, in my opinion, the first time ever) and a gripping storyline.
The strength of the movie is in its (flawed) characters. While Banek's initial arrogance is a turn-off, he soon earns, perhaps, a little sympathy. Gipson is quite easy to sympathise (indeed maybe empathise with) but when you see his seedier side, you take a step back. But the greyness of the characters is what helps keep your attention.
The support cast prove themselves to be more than able cushions for the main protagonists. Gavin's father-in-law, and boss, the fairly hideous Stephen Delano (Pollack - "A Civil Action", "Eyes Wide Shut", "Tootsie", "Husbands and Wives"), justifies his corrupted profession by saying "at the end of the day I think I do more good than harm. What other standard have I got to judge by?'.
Kim Staunton ("Dragonfly", "Holy Man", "Heat", "Deceived") is outstanding as Valerie Gipson, the forgiving but jaded wife of Doyle, and within their small roles, Toni Collette and Amanda Peet (as Gavin's pampered wife, Cynthia), perform admirably.
"Changing Lanes" isn't hugely likely to be ever based on a true story, but it's enjoyable nonsense at its best.
Reasonable entertainment, but definitely a one-watcher. This film has neither the high adrenaline of action flicks nor the suspense and intrigue of most thrillers. It does, however, contain 2 well-crafted characters. Sympathy shifts from side to side throughout the movie. An enjoyable watch, even if Affleck's acting can be a little on the stale side at times.
Pretty good Drama in spite of the fact that it has a few too many coincidences for its own good while the characters make several drastic and unthoughtful decisions.
The conflict begins when Gavin (Ben Affleck) and Doyle (Samuel L. Jackson) are involved in a car accident with each other at the worst possible time.
Gavin is scheduled to be in court on a matter that may break his legal career.
Doyle on the other hand, has a hearing in divorce court, where he will present his plan to save his marriage and family.
This accident causes horrible problems for both Gavin and Doyle, and they quickly blame each other for their misfortunes. Resulting in an "Why is it always me" approach.
The film survives its many logical and timing flaws - awesome acting and dialogue and with a script that maintains a constant level of nervous intensity throughout the whole plot. Jackson is great as the underdog who has been wronged, and this may be Affleck's best work.
Salon.com | Damien Cave Despite some solid acting and cinematography -- mistakenly turns what should have been a fast-paced thriller into a cerebral sermon about the slippery slope of corporate law.
excellent movie with ben affleck and samuel jackson.affleck is a lawyer and he cuts off samuel jacksons car on the road where it causes a lot of drama .r
Fantastic drama showing what your actions can do, even if you dont realise at the time. Samuel L Jackson and Ben affleck were fantastic against each other and trying to get back at one another.
"Money. You... you think I want money? What I want is my morning back. I need you to give my time back to me. Can you give me back my time? Can you give my time back to me? Huh? Can you?"
A powerful, riveting and explosive thriller. Fiirst-rate entertainment, intensely human and realistic. Ben Affleck and Samuel L. Jackson are magnificent. They give very compelling movie star performances. An outstanding film that goes the limit and has you on the edge and dosent let you go till the very end. An extroadinary film. Stunning, thrilling and totally unsetteling.
two different kind of men, one working for a big firm and another an ex alcoholic trying to get his lfie togetehr get into a car accident. when the one working for the big firm decides to faul to wait for the polcie and jets off the other man becomes late for his meeting with his ex wife and lawyewr about spousal support. This begins a chain of events which will spiral out of control and bring two men into complete chaos. With three wonderful performances from samuiel L jackson as the ex alcoholic, ben afleck as the big time employee at a firm and william hurt as the aa councillor trying to help samuel to get off drinking, and with a good story and some very good sequences makes this a good film.
Not a great film but very watchable. Ben Affleck was better than a lot of his work but Samuel L usually steals the thunder when in a film and does so again.
The typical story of mankind and the business world. Good story and decent performancse by the actors, neither really standing out, quite a disappointing ending though.
A fairly average film as two people with very different problems in their lives cross paths......and throughout the day they make life even more difficult for each other.
MCT:October 10, 2008
MCT:September 16, 2008
MCT:August 26, 2008
MCT:August 20, 2008
MCT:May 16, 2008
MCT:February 28, 2008
MCT:November 6, 2007
