Changing Lanes
2002 Directed by Roger Michell
Synopsis
A rush-hour fender bender on New York City's crowded FDR Drive, under most circumstances, wouldn't set off a chain reaction that could decimate two people's lives. But on this day, at this time, a minor collision will turn two complete strangers into vicious adversaries. Their means of destroying one another might be different, but their goals, ultimately, will be the same: Each will systematically try to dismantle the other's life in a reckless effort to reclaim something he has lost. Late for court, high powered attorney Gavin Banek is weaving through heavy traffic. In a different lane is Doyle Gipson, a father whose right to see his children rests on the decision of a judge with a full docket and no time to spare. On the surface, Banek and Gipson are two very different men: one is struggling away from rock bottom. But a minor accident will drive these two strangers to the brink of self-destruction, and prove that rage can equalize any playing field when men turn into beasts.
Cast
Popular reviews
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More a straightforward morality play than the cat and mouse thriller it purports to be, the film pits an unusually restrained and everyman Samuel L. Jackson against ruthless corporate attorney Ben Affleck after the two crash on a freeway and the latter speeds away, leaving the former unable to make the court hearing to decide custody of his children. Jackson and Affleck both do the somewhat strained storyline great justice, their performances equally matched to craft a compelling rivalry that speaks to themes of injustice and, albeit very thinly, race. Treading a particularly safe and clear path, the film’s impact is often hampered by its mildness, the issues it tries to explore never looked at in quite as much detail…
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and then the lawyer went blind, became Daredevil, and helped the black guy create S.H.I.E.L.D. The End
Recent reviews
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Banek (Affleck) and Gipson (Jackson) are two men with successful careers and thriving social status, but one fateful incident in rush-hour traffic throws them both together in a psycological war against each other as an act of revenge.
With the possibility of losing everything they're tried so hard to win and keep, each man tries to hurt the other the best way they can after no-one takes responsibility for their car crash or bothers to help one another.
It's one of those films where it's tense to see events pile up and spiral out of control, asking questions about what modern society really do to strangers who threaten things we hold dear, and how far we will go to better them.
There is a resolution that needs to be found by both men, but only through eacother can they do this. Tense, dark and well written.
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A standard, mildly entertaining thriller that gets a bit too over the top sometimes but still managed to keep me interested. The performances are uniformly strong, with Samuel L. Jackson giving one of his best performances simply because of how subdued he is here. He has some moments where he gets loud and blows up, but they are brief and he really shines in his more quiet moments. I also loved Amanda Peet in what is essentially a one scene role- she nearly steals the movie with just a single monologue. That being said, some of the actions were unrealistic and ridiculous, taking away from the film quite a bit. I also think the film is a bit too self indulgent in that it acts like the script made some daring, intelligent message but what it's saying is really standard and obvious. Not bad by any means though, and certainly worth a one-time watch.
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Love this kind of films that happen in a single day...
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This just felt like some completely generic drama. I really don't know why I would go and see movies like this.
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Ummmm, just make sure to do the right thing if you're ever in an accident. People can be awful and then at the end of the day, once again wonderful, I guess. Popcorn movie for Good Friday. Looks at corruption not only within common sought out places (within the law) but in overlooked aspects of life such a marriage - even though it isn't overtly developed. Good try.
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Bad Day...
Friday night was beautiful and we had the windows down at a red light. I heard a light car bumper crack to the right and looked to find a man out of his car to kindly see if everything was okay, as well as exchange some information to the man who had "bumped" him. The man behind him wouldn't let him speak. Instead, he was stating it wasn't his fault because the other man had cut him off and took his lane. As if in a manner to claim pavement property rights. Adding insult to possible injury, he proceeded by hurling, "You better not mess with me. You get your BLANKITY-BLANK back in that car and get the…
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This film is good, however the characters in it are totally reprehensible - I don't want anyone in it to succeed, but I think that's kind of the point. The worst moments are the times when the characters are about to do the right thing, but they get stopped by the crippling blow dealt by the other party.
Honestly guys - just shake hands and get it over with.
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Can't we all just get along? It's hard to care about either one of the characters.
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The events of this takes-place-in-one-day film (already highly suspect) all surround an incident whose catalyst (a significant red folder), when not being overextended by process of extreme emphasis (“This File is important! Get The File! If it’s not found – jail time! You’re fired if That File isn’t at the right place at the right time! That File is my life! We could all get in trouble if That File isn’t recovered!” And so forth), acts as what seems, at times, like the sole piece of evidence that Ben Affleck’s terminally confidant lawyer character ever did anything remotely wrong since birth. Portrayed as a victimized saint (all he ever did was That One Bad Thing Involving A Red File), the…