Have you ever had one of those days when nothing goes right? This is exactly what happens in Changing Lanes to Gavin Banek (Ben Affleck) and Doyle Gibson (Samuel L. Jackson) after both crashes into each other on the way to important, separate engagements, but the thing is this whole sorry tale could have been avoided with a little bit of kindness.
Doyle and Gavin are at two opposite ends of the social economic spectrum. Doyle is a recovering alcoholic who works as an insurance seller, his life is in turmoil after it is discovered his wife wants a divorce and to start a new life, taking his two children with her, as far away from Doyle as possible. Gavin on the other hand is an up and coming lawyer working for his father-in-law, earning a good wage and is married to a beautiful wife. Both their lives are turned upside down in the day the film is set, both men are heading to court for very different reasons, Doyle to defend himself and to put forward a proposal to keep both his wife and children in New York so he can be near them every day while Gavin is delivering evidence to clear his father-in-laws company from allegations of fraud against a former client. The accident happens while both are driving to court, starting the hellish day for both men. Doyle misses his court appointment
altogether as he is forced to find his own way to court because Gavin does not offer him a lift meaning his wife gets custody of the children and is able to leave New York and Gavin drops the evidence required to clear his father-in-laws company, Doyle picks it up. Gavin needs to get the file back to keep his job, on the other hand all Doyle wants is twenty minutes of his life back!
This starts a day full of back stabbing with both men trying to get revenge on each other which takes the viewer on an emotional roller coaster ride as each blow is struck. An example of the things that are done is Gavin pays someone to bankrupt Doyle meaning he can't get the house he had bought as part of his plan to get his wife back and Doyle loosens a wheel on Gavin's car making him crash. While this is going on Gavin finds out his father-in-law is guilty of the crime that the file would clear him of. Will Gavin do the right thing and Doyle get his wife and children back? Watch it and see
The one thing that made this film stand out for me was the brilliant directing, especially at the start and near the end, the pictures would quickly switch between Doyle and Gavin with speech overrunning between them. While this told you a little about their differing lives it also let the viewer know that at one point their lives would collide into each other with alarming consequences. Later on it shows how their lives are overlapping with each man trying to get his revenge on the other. Don't get me wrong the performances by both Ben Affleck and Samuel L. Jackson were strong, both actors played their part very well showing what can happen when people get under pressure and stressed and the difference between two people from different social classes, the dialogue was also distinctive and helped to add to this difference between the characters.
If you like films that takes you through all the emotions then this is definitely for you, some parts will make you want to cry, others laugh and there are also parts where you will get quite angry at particular characters. I honestly can't remember watching a film that does this as well as Changing Lanes.
The only big problem i have with the film is its length, at 99 minutes it is hardly a monster i think you would be able to fit easily another 20 minutes of footage in there which could have made the ending even more dramatic and turned this film from a 4 star film into a 5 star performance because i am sure the director must have had a few more ideas that were not used.
The soundtrack had a lot of old and unrecognizable songs in it for someone of my age, however, i don't think this took anything away from the film in terms of quality as i am not sure by how much a better sound track would have enhanced this film.
Even though i have only seen one other film by the director of Changing Lanes Roger Michell in the form of Notting Hill, i can safely say that this will be his best, or one of his best attempts because his other films include Enduring Love and The Mother which appear to be romance films which would not appeal to me, if you are into these then they may be worth a watch because as i said i thought the directing was very good in Changing Lanes.
If you want to buy films on DVD for the added extras then Changing Lanes has a few to offer. There is the normal director's commentary and trailer but there are also deleted scenes, the making of the film and a writer perspective to keep you entertained.
Overall if you like thrillers that put you through all the emotions and where you wonder what will happen next then this film is definitely for you. The good acting and superb directing appeals to the neutrals. I gave this 4 out of 5 stars because i felt there was something missing which could have been overcome by making the film longer, apart from that there is really nothing wrong with Changing Lanes in my opinion.
Pictures of Changing Lanes (DVD)
Central Characters
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![Changing Lanes [DVD] [2002]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78523165.jpg "Changing Lanes [DVD] [2002]")
Dec 18th, 2006
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