Barnes & Noble

Ingenious scripting, earnest performances, and fastidious direction make the patently preposterous premise of Changing Lanes not only believable but genuinely compelling. Ben Affleck is perfectly cast as a callow yuppie lawyer who, late for an important court proceeding, leaves the scene of a car accident that strands Samuel L. Jackson. A recovering alcoholic due in court himself, Jackson fails to show up on time and, as a result, forfeits his rights to partial custody of his son. What really distinguishes the Chap Taylor-Michael Tolkin screenplay is its portrayal of the ensuing battle of wits: Jackson inadvertently acquired a file vital to Affleck’s case, but he refuses to surrender it until the lawyer makes compensation. Affleck has never been better; he is superb as the increasingly desperate attorney who first uses his connections to ruin Jackson’s life and then remorsefully tries to undo the damage. He and Jackson get strong support from Sydney Pollack (Affleck’s charming but ruthless boss), Toni Collette (his admiring co-worker), and Amanda Peet (his blithely amoral sweetheart). Director Roger Michell (Notting Hill) skillfully stages the frenzied chess game between equally determined opponents who both yield to the dark side of their nature. Changing Lanes might initially seem to be little more than a contemporary urban nightmare, but it’s actually a film about vulnerability, compassion, ethics, and redemption --important values portrayed in the guise of fast-paced, hard-edged melodrama. Director Michell provides a commentary track for the DVD, which also includes a featurette exploring the writers’ perspectives, two deleted scenes, and one extended sequence. Ed Hulse

All Movie Guide

Director Roger Michell follows up the hit romantic comedy Notting Hill (1999) with this thought-provoking thriller. Ben Affleck and Samuel L. Jackson star, respectively, as Gavin Banek and Doyle Gibson, two New York men whose lives become accidentally intertwined in a Good Friday fender bender on the FDR Drive. Late for a crucial appointment, hotshot lawyer Gavin tosses Doyle a blank check and leaves the scene, while Doyle, whose car is inoperable, is late for a court-appointed custody hearing. A recovering alcoholic, Doyle's tardiness doesn't sit well with the judge, who - sick of waiting for Gipson - grants custody to Doyle's ex-wife in Doyle's absence. The situation worsens when it becomes evident that Doyle has an equally important file belonging to Gavin, which proves that an elderly man gave Banek's firm power-of-attorney over his foundation. So begins an escalating war of words and deeds between the two men. Soon, egged on by an associate (Toni Collette), Gavin hires a "fixer" (Dylan Baker) to destroy Doyle's credit, forcing Doyle to fire back with some cunning moves of his own. Changing Lanes co-stars William Hurt, Sydney Pollack, and Toni Collette. Karl Williams

Chicago Sun-Times

This is one of the best movies of the year. Roger Ebert

New York Post

Finally, a thinking person's thriller. Lou Lumenick

New York Observer

In addition to gluing you to the edge of your seat, Changing Lanes is also a film of freshness, imagination and insight. Rex Reed

Product Details

• UPC: 097361429045
• Source: PARAMOUNT
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby AC-3 Surround Sound
• Editions: Subtitled, Dubbed
• Time: 1:38:00
• Sales Rank: 30,053

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