Changing Lanes (2002)

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.

Director:

Roger Michell

Writers:

Chap Taylor (story), Chap Taylor (screenplay),

Stars:

Ben Affleck, Samuel L. Jackson, Kim Staunton

5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

An attorney in a rush to make a court appointment to file legal papers involving a multi-million dollar trust accidentally collides with an alcoholic insurance salesman, who also is a rush for a court appointment involving the custody of his children. The attorney leaves the scene of the accident and strands the salesman, causing him to miss his custody hearing. During the process of the post-crash discussion, the attorney accidentally drops the papers he needs to present in court. The judge gives him until the end of the day to present the papers and thus begins a cat and mouse game between the proponents. A few questionable actions later on both parties' part, they finally start questioning their actions and their lives. In the end, both come to new understanding of what is important and appear to be set in new ethical and moral directions. Contains mild violence and profanity.

---

Plot Keywords:

lawyer | road rage | feud | judge | missing file | 

---

Taglines:

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

---

Genres:

Drama | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

Paramount Pictures Corporation [United States] UIP [Germany]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 April 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fuera de control

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$45,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$890,523 (Spain) (6 December 2002)

Gross:

$1,538,066 (Australia) (13 December 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Scott Rudin Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min 91 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A day after the terrorist attacks on the USA of 11 September 2001, Roger Michell had the WTC towers digitally removed from the opening main title sequence in the film. In the DVD commentary, he admitted that it was a mistake to erase them and make it appear as if they did not exist. During the re-editing of the film, Michell reinserted them as a tribute.

---

Goofs

There are several inconsistencies between shots in the condition and position of Doyle's car after the crash, including the passenger side mirror, which is broken off in the wreck and then reappears and disappears after the car hits the yellow crash barrels.

---

Quotes

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

---

Crazy Credits

Thanks to the staff and Militia Force members and veterans at the Marcy Avenue Armory, Brooklyn, New York.

---

Connections

References Queer as Folk (2000)

---

Soundtracks

Text for "Veneration of the Cross"
Courtesy of International Commission on English in the Liturgy

User Reviews

Surprisingly Good

This movie was surprisingly good, for many reasons. The most obvious is probably that the characters develop before, during, and after the presented story, as the film opens at a critical time for both of them and closes with them having changed major parts in their lives.

I expected this to be a glorified version of Madd's Spy vs. Spy, or something of that nature, given the hype. However, it is not at the same pace at all... the violence is not cartoonish, its realistic. The characters are not simple, they are complex. They "have issues" and are both trying to find a better sense of balance in their lives, both do things which they regret... all in all, this is one of the most "human" movies I've ever watched.

Even though the characters are deep, the movie does not try to emphasis it with drawn out scenes with dramatic music or anything, which actually makes it more like watching real people than watching a movie. It also makes for a more powerful effect overall because it is up to the watcher to notice the subtleties.

The acting and directing are very well done, and there is some writing which surprised me in that it showed more about the characters rather than relating directly to the main conflict (I don't want to give too much detail and spoil it). The pacing is good and kept me interested throughout, partially to see what the main characters would do next and partially to see what, if anything, they would learn from the experience.

It is not as "epic" as something like Shawshank Redeption, and doesn't deal with esoteric themes such as Meet Joe Black or ominous themes such as Equilibirum or 1984(the novel), but in a way it is more epic because it deals with normal people who struggle to be beneficial humans despite major mistakes, pressures, and conflicts.