Gavin Banek is a hot shot young lawyer who has recently been made partner in his Father-in-Laws' legal firm. He's got an easy job to do today. Turn up in court and deliver a signed power of attorney letter to the court, meaning his firm will be $3 million richer. Doyle Gipson is a man who is about to lose the only thing that has kept him going for the last few years. His sons. He's on his way to a custody hearing. He's going to tell them about how well his Alcoholics Anonymous is going and that the bank have approved a loan for him to buy a house. This house is not for him; it's for his wife, so she doesn't have to move to the other side of the country to look for work. They're both driving on the freeway. Gavin doesn't pay attention to the road and ends up crashing into Doyle's car, which is left unusable, whereas Gavin's just has a bump. Doyle is an insurance salesman and refuses to accept a cheque for the damage and wants to do things properly. After a brief row, Gavin tells him, "Better luck next time." and jumps into his car and drives off. Doyle is left stranded and late for his appointment. Ironically, they were both going to the same place. When Gavin gets to the courthouse he can't find the papers he needs and realises that he must have dropped them at the crash. He needs this document or he is going to be in big trouble. What follows then is a game of cat and mouse between Gavin and Doyle, each one has the upper hand at times and each one does some very questionable things to other one. After a while, the reality of their actions hits home and they have to address many moral and ethical questions regarding their own behaviour.

Ben Affleck...........Gavin Banek
Samuel L Jackson......Doyle Gipson
Toni Collette.........Michelle
Sydney Pollack........Stephen Delano
Richard Jenkins.......Walter Arnell
Amanda Peet...........Cynthia Banek
Kim Staunton..........Valerie Gipson
Akil Walker...........Stephen Gipson
Cole Hawkins..........Danny Gipson
William Hurt..........Sponsor

Samuel L Jackson is another actor who I like, but if he doesn't have a good director to reign him in, he can be a bit one-note and if you've seen The 51st State then you'll know what I mean. But, here he really shows restraint at times, so that when he finally gets to rant and rave, then you have a decent contrast and find the outburst all the more shocking.

William Hurt plays the same function for Samuel L Jackson as his sponsor and again another fine actor giving excellent support in a good movie.

Amanda Peet is another actress of whom we are going to see more of in the future. She was hilarious as a wannabe hit-person in The Whole Nine Yards with Matthwe Perry and Bruce Willis and showed there that she has a great talent for comendy. Here she shows different character traits in what is a fantastic scene between her and Aflleck's character in a restaurant.

On the surface this looks like your run of the mill thriller type, but deep down there is a lot more to it. I was reminded somewhat of the Michael Douglas film Falling Down, but whereas Douglas' character is raging against the world, these two have a definite target in their sights. But, also I was intrigued by all the moral and ethical questions that the whole story throws up and it should have you thinking well after the closing credits. Roger Michell has done a creditable job in holding back enough, but still giving people room to shine. He also spends long takes thar really give the actors time to do some acting. This isn't some MTV style thriller. I don't think it's the best film so far this year, but it's a long time since the major Hollywood studios have managed to put anything substancial and challenging as this in front of us moviegoers.