Changing Lanes (2002)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Roger Michell

Writers (WGA):

Chap Taylor (story)
Chap Taylor (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

12 April 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

An ambitious lawyer, a desperate father, they had no reason to meet, until today,

Plot:

The story of what happens one day in New York when a young lawyer and a businessman share a small automobile accident on F.D.R. Drive and their mutual road rage escalates into a feud.

Plot Keywords:

Feud | Lawyer | Road Rage | Judge | Insurance Agent

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Ben Affleck	...	Gavin Banek
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Doyle Gipson
Kim Staunton	...	Valerie Gipson
Toni Collette	...	Michelle
Sydney Pollack	...	Stephen Delano
Tina Sloan	...	Mrs. Delano
Richard Jenkins	...	Walter Arnell
Akil Walker	...	Stephen Gipson
Cole Hawkins	...	Danny Gipson
Ileen Getz	...	Ellen
Jennifer Dundas	...	Mina Dunne (as Jennifer Dundas Lowe)
Matt Malloy	...	Ron Cabot
Amanda Peet	...	Cynthia Delano Banek
Myra Lucretia Taylor	...	Judge Frances Abarbanel
Bruce Altman	...	Terry Kaufman

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

98 min | Turkey:91 min (TV version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Austria:10 | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:11 | Peru:14 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #38938) | Canada:AA (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Bergen County Court House - 10 Main Street, Hackensack, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Roger Michell actually attended Alcoholic's Anonymous meetings in order to get the idea of how Doyle Gipson's (Samuel L. Jackson) A.A. meetings would play out on screen.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the courtroom, the nameplate for the judge says "Judge" Arbarbanel. However, in New York State, the person who presides over an estate matter or probate proceedings is formally known as "Surrogate" not "Judge". The nameplate would reflect this and refer to the Surrogate as "Hon. Surrogate Arbaranel". The court would also be referred to by all present as "the Surrogate's court", not the "probate court".

Quotes:

[first lines]
Doyle Gipson: Think I'll make this the boys' room.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in New Frontiers: Making 'The Missing' (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Waiting in Vain

Thank God for movies like this...

Sometimes a really good movie can actually come out of Hollywood...

Young lawyer Gavin Banek (Ben Affleck) and insurance agent Doyle Gipson (Samuel L. Jackson) have a traffic accident on a rainy day. Both men are in a tremendous hurry but only Doyle wants to handle things the proper, official way. Gavin gives him a blank cheque and drives off, but leaves a file crucial to a case of his in Doyle's possession. As the day progresses, the two men strike at each other, each one attempting to destroy the other guy's life. But these two are not self-serving villains - they are ordinary, troubled guys dealing with their own moral issues.

Intelligent and provocative drama with a script that is actually interesting and excellent performances right across the board - yes, even Affleck; I was really impressed with the guy for once (of course, Jackson can do no wrong). This is a movie not about empty-headed thrills, but actual character development and story. The characters are compelling - not just the two main ones, but the others as well. I enjoyed "Changing Lanes" and will actually remember it - maybe not years from now, but certainly for a while.

Written by Chap Taylor and Michael Tolkin, based on Taylor's story.

10/10