Ben
Affleck, Samuel L. Jackson, Toni Collettte, William
Hurt, Amanda Peet.
Written by Chap Taylor
Directed by Roger Michell
Released by Paramount Pictures
Official Website: www.ChangingLanes.com
Trailer: Quicktime
(Various)
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In Changing Lanes high powered attorney Gavin Banek (Ben Affleck)
and temperamental insurance salesman Doyle Gipson (Samuel L.
Jackson ) try to destroy each others lives. They were
complete strangers before a minor traffic accident during rush
hour sets them on a collision course that very quickly spirals
out of control.
Both where
rushing to court for different reasons before colliding by
chance into each other. Gavin was on his way to file some
very important documents that mean millions of dollars of
future income to his bosses and Doyle was on his way to a
custody hearing regarding his two sons.
Gavin
is in such a hurry when the accident occurs that he offers
Doyle a blank check to fix his car up. Doyle refuses cause
he is a stickler for procedure which results in Gavin illegally
and quickly departing the scene before they can exchange insurance
information.
Inadvertently
Gavin leaves behind the folder containing the very important
papers he needs to bring to court that end up in Doyles
possession. The Judge tells Gaven he is got till the end of
the day to file the documents with the court or he will not
only be in trouble with his law firm but might also face jail
time.
Meanwhile,
Doyle also arrived in court late and because of that he loses
in the custody hearing what he most wanted which is having
regular contact with his kids.
It doesnt
help that he is both a hot head and a recovering alcoholic
having enough problems to deal with as it is. So Doyle and
Gaven start playing this cat and mouse game with each other
that gets progressively more vicious as they get angrier and
angrier at one another.
Gaven
wants his file back and Doyle his kids but instead of cooperating
with each other they do the opposite.
Each uses
underhanded tactics to try and get his way with the other.
Gaven utilizes such deceitful methods as hiring someone to
destroy Doyles credit by falsifying data via computer
that result in Doyle losing a house loan. Doyle applies such
less complicated techniques as taking the screws out of Gavens
car front tire which causes Gaven to almost die on the road.
At the
same time, Gaven is trying to come to terms with working for
a big dishonest law firm that uses both devious legal and
illegal means to make money.
The whole
film is built around their battle and the resulting consequences
Doyle and Gaven endure by making wrong choices.
It delivers
like an average formulaic movie with sparingly stimulating
moments that build up to an anti-climatic ending.
The story
takes on twists and turns that dont seem natural or
plausible but seem only there to move the plot along. There
is the occasional bad dialogue that is comical for all the
wrong reasons.
If you
are looking a mostly shallow story with one dimensional characters
that is mildly entertaining then Changing Lanes has got your
name on it.
3
out of 5
GIL BENZEEVI
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