Changing Lanes film review

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CHANGING LANES

Wall Street lawyer Gavin Banek (Ben Affleck) is having a bad day. The worst. Since crashing into Doyle Gipson's (Samuel L. Jackson) car, both men have systematically tried to destroy each other's lives. In desperation, with his world falling apart, Banek ducks into a confession box for guidance. "I want you to give me meaning," he asks. "Why should the world have meaning?", states the priest, adding, "Sometimes God likes to put two guys in a paper bag and let them rip." It's not a line you'd normally expect from a man of the cloth, but then the thoroughly absorbing Changing Lanes is not the typical dumbed down revenge saga we've come to expect from mainstream Hollywood.

Directed by Roger Michell (Notting Hill) and written by Chap Taylor and Michael Tolkin, who wrote the novel and screenplay of The Player, Changing Lanes is a morality tale that explores the emotional and psychological effects on Banek and Gipson as they embark on their vengeful duel. The accident has a far greater impact on the men than on their vehicles, becoming a pivotal turning point in their lives. Their subsequent behaviour forces them to look in a mirror, with the result that neither likes what he sees.

Banek and Gipson are each on their way to court when their cars intertwine on the FDR. Banek is taking several files that prove his firm are legally entitled to manage a recently deceased millionaire's foundation. The insurance salesman Gipson is due to attend a custody hearing. Having just received loan approval on a house, he is hoping to convince his wife (Kim Staunton) and two kids not to move to Oregon. Banek is too busy to exchange details, stopping only long enough to offer Gipson a blank cheque, wish him "better luck next time" and inadvertently leave one of his files behind. When he discovers his mistake, the judge allows him until the end of the day to locate the file or else face ruin along with his firm.

For Gipson, the late arrival in court is equally devastating. His exasperated wife isn't interested in his explanation, and with her exit from the courtroom seemingly goes Gipson's hopes of a reconciliation. For the recovering alcoholic Gipson, it's the final straw. When Banek, for whom money is the solution to any problem, apologises for his previously brusque manner and offers to reward him for the return of the file, Gipson explodes, "You think I want money? Can you give my time back to me? Can you give me that?".