Changing Lanes (2002)

Director:

Roger Michell

Writers (WGA):

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

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:

Lawyer | Road Rage | Feud | Judge | Missing File

Awards:

5 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
Joe Grifasi	...	Judge Cosell
Lisa LeGuillou	...	Gina Gugliotta (as Lisa Leguillou)
Angela Goethals	...	Sarah Windsor
Kevin Sussman	...	Tyler Cohen
Susan Varon	...	Sheryl Buckburg
Noel Wilson	...	Bartender at Arlo's
Angel Caban	...	Security Guard at School
Jim Lovelett	...	Security Guard at School (as James Lovelett)
Julia Gibson	...	Receptionist at AD&S
William Hurt	...	Doyle's Sponsor
Michael McGrath	...	Seavers (as Michael Patrick McGrath)
John Benjamin Hickey	...	Carlyle
Dylan Baker	...	Finch
Ray Bokhour	...	Willard
Suzanne Hevner	...	Delano's Secretary
Caleb Archer	...	Kid on Bike
Jordan Gelber	...	Priest
Olga Merediz	...	Mrs. Miller
Jayne Houdyshell	...	Miss Tetley
Shabazz Ray	...	Cop at Precinct (as Shabazz Richardson)
Raymond Anthony Thomas	...	Cop at Precinct (as Ray Anthony Thomas)
Michael Pitt	...	Music Teacher / Conductor
Genevieve Elam	...	Waitress
Juan Lara	...	Orchestra Child
Anastasia Rojas	...	Orchestra Child
Nicole Wright	...	Orchestra Child
Clive Oliver Greenberg	...	Orchestra Child
Gilbert S. Williams	...	Mike (as Gil Williams)
Sophia Guaspari	...	Orchestra Member
Ruben Jared Seraballs	...	Orchestra Member (as Ruben J. Seraballs)
Father Bonneau	...	Himself
Jewel Brimage	...	Teacher
Katarina Kianna	...	Teacher
Vanessa Quel	...	Kate
Howard I. Laniado	...	Barry
Tony Machine	...	Office Worker
Carolyn Feldschuh	...	Office Worker
Maria Alaina Mason	...	Office Worker
Harvey Waldman	...	Author in Newsroom Interview
Pamela Hart	...	Newscaster
Neal Jones	...	Newsroom Writer
Susan Blackwell	...	Newsroom Producer
Alyson Renaldo	...	Newsroom Executive Producer
James Soviero	...	Newsroom Associate Producer
Mary A. Kelly	...	Newsroom Script Supervisor (as Mary Kelly)
Anthony DiGiacomo	...	Newsroom Associate Director
Richard Velasco	...	Newsroom Director
Leonard L. Thomas	...	Newsroom Reporter (as Leonard Thomas)
Richard Kelly	...	AA Group Leader
Selena Blake	...	Insurance Broker
Harriet Rosenthal	...	Family Court Member
John Kohl	...	Family Court Member
Lisa Vogel	...	Family Court Member
Bob Heffernan	...	Simon Dunne
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Myriam Blanckaert	...	Lawyer (uncredited)
Salvatore Cavaliere	...	Family Court Officer (uncredited)
Monet Cunningham	...	Family Court Member (uncredited)
Philip M. Gardiner	...	Parishoner (uncredited)
Ralph Howard	...	Radio News Anchor, 1010 WINS (voice) (uncredited)
Sean T. Krishnan	...	Sikh (uncredited)
Pete Macnamara	...	Irate Pedestrian (uncredited)
Lian Moy	...	Tourist (uncredited)
David C. Roehm Sr.	...	Defendant in Custody (uncredited)
Sam Rovin	...	Paralegal (uncredited)
John H. Tobin	...	AA Attendee (uncredited)
Ray Wineteer	...	Parishioner (uncredited)
Waneeki Yokomee-Fung	...	Tourist (uncredited)

Directed by
Roger Michell

Writing credits (WGA)
Chap Taylor		(story)
Chap Taylor		(screenplay) and
Michael Tolkin		(screenplay)

Produced by
Scott Aversano	....	co-producer
Ronald M. Bozman	....	executive producer (as Ron Bozman)
Scott Rudin	....	producer
Adam Schroeder	....	executive producer

Original Music by
David Arnold

Cinematography by
Salvatore Totino		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Christopher Tellefsen

Casting by
Marcia DeBonis
Ellen Lewis

Production Design by
Kristi Zea

Art Direction by
W. Steven Graham		(as Steven Graham)

Set Decoration by
Debra Schutt

Costume Design by
Ann Roth

Makeup Department
Allan A. Apone	....	makeup artist: Mr. Jackson
Milton Buras	....	hair stylist
Marjorie Durand	....	makeup artist (as Margie Durand)
Linda Grimes	....	key makeup artist
Janine Rath	....	hair stylist: Mr. Affleck
Werner Sherer	....	key hair stylist
Robert L. Stevenson	....	hair stylist: Mr. Jackson
Pamela S. Westmore	....	makeup artist: Mr. Affleck (as Pam Westmore)
Francie Fillatti	....	additional hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Michael Alden	....	post-production supervisor
Ronald M. Bozman	....	production manager: second unit (as Ron Bozman)
Harvey Waldman	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kenny Bates	....	second unit director (as Ken Bates)
Timothy Donohue	....	second second assistant director
Anthony Hemingway	....	first assistant director: second unit
Anthony Hemingway	....	second assistant director (as Anthony M. Hemingway)
Takahide Kawakami	....	second second assistant director
Daniel Lowe	....	dga trainee
Michael E. Steele	....	first assistant director (as Michael Steele)
Tara Nicole Weyr	....	second assistant director: second unit

Art Department
Patrice Canfield Longo	....	set dresser
Deborah Canfield	....	set dresser
Philip Canfield	....	lead person (as Philip C. Canfield)
Scott Canfield	....	set dresser
Paul Cheponis	....	assistant set decorator
Ruth Deleon	....	on-set dresser
Jeanne Develle	....	assistant set decorator
James C. Feng	....	additional art director (as Jim Feng)
William J. Foley	....	scenic foreperson (as Bill Filey)
Sarah Frank	....	graphic designer
Jonathan Graham	....	construction foreperson
Chris Heaps	....	set dresser
Karen Kates	....	assistant property master
Tina Khayat	....	set decorating coordinator
Marion Kolsby	....	assistant art director
Gordon Krause	....	construction foreperson
Martin Lasowitz	....	property master
Brick Mason	....	storyboard artist
Nick Miller	....	construction coordinator (as Nicholas R. Miller)
Fanny Pereire	....	art researcher
Lauri Blaire Schulman	....	art department coordinator
Robert Topol	....	master scenic artist (as Bob Topol)
M. Tony Trotta	....	scenic artist (as Tony Trotta)
Michael Zadresny	....	assistant props (as Michael Zadrosny)
Derrick Alford	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Anthony Baldasare	....	props (uncredited)
Doug Coleman	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Ralph Contrado	....	scenic (uncredited)
E. David Cosier	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Mark Lane-Davies	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Morgan Pitts	....	additional on-set dresser (uncredited)
Charles Quinlivan	....	construction grip (uncredited)
Stephen Siersema	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Nell Stifel	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gina Alfano	....	supervising adr editor (as Gina R. Alfano)
Bob Baron	....	adr mixer
Matthew C. Beville	....	adr mixer (as Matt Beville)
David Boulton	....	adr mixer
Ryan Collison	....	foley mixer
O.J. Connell III	....	cableperson
Lee Dichter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert Fernandez	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dan Fulton	....	apprentice sound editor (as Dan 'Diego' Fulton)
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer
Harry Higgins	....	sound re-recordist
Bradford L. Hohle	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby (as Brad Holey)
Dan Korintus	....	supervising dialogue editor
Malaika Langa	....	audio post coordinator
Brian Langman	....	first assistant sound editor
Terrance Laudermilch	....	sound re-recordist (as Terry Laudermilch)
Tony Martinez	....	sound effects editor
Eric McAllister	....	assistant sound editor (as Pontius McAllister)
Jane McCulley	....	adr editor
Danny Michael	....	sound mixer
Bob Olari	....	sound re-recordist (as Robert Olari)
Harry Peck Bolles	....	foley editor
Rob Playford	....	sound designer
Mike Poppleton	....	assistant sound editor
Jacob Ribicoff	....	sound effects editor
Jac Rubenstein	....	dialogue editor
Lynn Sable	....	assistant adr editor
Andrew Schmetterling	....	boom operator
Warren Shaw	....	sound designer
Warren Shaw	....	supervising sound editor
Paul P. Soucek	....	sound effects editor
Stuart Stanley	....	sound editor
Jeffrey Stern	....	sound editor
Bill Sweeney	....	supervising foley editor (as William Sweeney)
Noah Timan	....	sound effects recordist (as Noah Vivekanand Timan)
Brian Vancho	....	foley artist
Daniel Ward	....	first assistant sound editor (as Dan Ward)
Mark DeSimone	....	adr engineer (uncredited)
Anguibe Guindo	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Katherine Gordon Miller	....	apprentice sound editor (uncredited)
Eric Strausser	....	sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
J.C. Brotherhood	....	special effects coordinator
Peter Kunz	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Reid Burns	....	visual effects producer: The Image Resolution Inc.
Reid Paul	....	visual effects supervisor
Michael S. Harbour	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Fred Jimenez	....	2D technical assistant (uncredited)
Derek Ledbetter	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Kevin Shawley	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Martha Soehendra	....	digital artist: The Image Resolution Inc. (uncredited)

Stunts
Doug Coleman	....	stunt coordinator
Kiante Elam	....	stunt performer
Jery Hewitt	....	stunt co-cordinator
Steve Holladay	....	stunt performer
Scott Rogers	....	stunt performer
Rick Seaman	....	stunt performer
Daniel W. Barringer	....	stunts (uncredited)
Peter Bucossi	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eliza Coleman	....	stunts (uncredited)
Roy Farfel	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Jay Krueger	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
Joanne Lamstein	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Tom McComas	....	stunt double: Ben Affleck (uncredited)
Kristopher Medina	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Rick Miller	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Derrick Simmons	....	stunt driver (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Will Arnot	....	Steadicam operator (as William Arnot)
Michael J. Betzag	....	company grip (as Michael Betzag)
Brian Carmichael	....	video assist operator
Caesar S. Carnevale	....	film loader
Kelly Connors	....	electrician (as Kelly Conners)
Angelo Di Giacomo	....	first assistant camera: second unit (as Angelo DiGiacomo)
Bryan Dolan	....	electrician
Thomas Dolan	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Thomas W. Dolan)
David M. Dunlap	....	director of photography: second unit (as David Dunlap)
Gregory Farrell	....	assistant chief rigging electrician (as Greg Farrell)
Jay Fortune	....	chief lighting technician
Kerry Hayes	....	still photographer
Amanda Hudson	....	second assistant camera
Jennifer Koestler	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Jeanne Lipsey	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Bruce MacCallum	....	camera operator
Jim Malone	....	chief rigging electrician
Bobby Mancuso	....	first assistant camera
Jim Manzione	....	electrician (as James Manzione)
Charlie Marroquin	....	company grip
Rick Marroquin	....	dolly grip
Brian McClean	....	electrician
Billy Miller	....	company grip
Thomas J. Monaco	....	company grip
Chris Norr	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Neil O'Malley	....	company grip
Kimberly A. Rial	....	company grip
Kurt Rimmel	....	second company grip
Jon Sibert	....	first company grip
Christopher Vaccaro	....	second company rigging grip
Craig Vaccaro	....	first company rigging grip
Bob Becchio	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Phillip V. Caruso	....	additional photographer (uncredited)
Nicolas L. Charuet	....	grip (uncredited)
Raymond Fortune	....	electrician (uncredited)
Gregory F. Johnson	....	grip: New York (uncredited)
David Norris	....	camera operator: Wescam camera (uncredited)
Jonas Steadman	....	Steadicam focus puller (uncredited)

Casting Department
Jennifer Euston	....	casting assistant
Bruce Winant	....	adr voice casting: Loopers Unlimited
David H. Kramer	....	adr voice casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Barrett Hong	....	costume supervisor
Askia Won-Ling Jacob	....	costumer: Mr. Jackson (as Askia Won Ling Jacob)
Pamela Kezal	....	set costumer
Donna Maloney	....	costume supervisor
Michelle Matland	....	assistant costume designer
Arlynn Abseck	....	set costumer (uncredited)
Mei Lai Hippisley Coxe	....	set costumer (uncredited)
Joni M. Huth	....	costume shop supervisor (uncredited)
Tim McKelvey	....	additional wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Sam Adelman	....	assistant film editor
Kent Blocher	....	assistant film editor
Ruth Coulson	....	apprentice editor: London (as Ruth Colson)
Jeremy Gibbs	....	assistant film editor: London
Emily Grant	....	apprentice editor: London
Anthony Houghton	....	apprentice editor: London
Lori Machens	....	post-production coordinator
Martin Robinson	....	assistant film editor: London
Stephen R. Sheridan	....	color timer (as Steve Sheridan)
Joe Violante	....	dailies advisor
Byron Wong	....	apprentice film editor
Donald Freeman	....	final colorist (uncredited)
Samara Levenstein	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Bob Bornstein	....	music preparation
Emile Charlap	....	orchestra contractor
Nicholas Dodd	....	conductor
Nicholas Dodd	....	orchestrator
Dina Eaton	....	music editor
Geoff Foster	....	music mixer
Andrew Glen	....	preview music editor (as Andy Glen)
Shari Johanson	....	music editor (as Shari L. Johanson)
Sonny Kompanek	....	additional conductor (as Sandy Kompanek)
Angela Organ	....	assistant music editor
Rob Playford	....	music programmer
Dashiell Rae	....	preview music editor
David Arnold	....	music programmer (uncredited)
David Arnold	....	musician (uncredited)
Ricky Graham	....	assistant music engineer (uncredited)
Jake Jackson	....	assistant music engineer (uncredited)
Sonny Kompanek	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
James Nichols	....	music recordist (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Edward Fanning	....	transportation co-captain (as Eddie Fanning)
James Fanning	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Laura Berning	....	assistant location manager
Maria T. Bierniak	....	location manager (as Maria Bierniak)
Kija Brooks	....	production assistant
Ashlee Burnette	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Al Cerullo	....	helicopter pilot
Kathy Cossu	....	medic
Chris Coyne	....	location assistant
Malcolm Dodson	....	production assistant
James Domorski	....	video consultant
Gregory Dunn	....	production assistant (as Gregory S. Dunn)
Christopher Edwards	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Aaron D. Forste	....	production assistant (as Aaron David Forste)
Kaiyan Gahrahmat	....	production assistant
Brian Avery Galligan	....	production assistant
Catherine Gore	....	script supervisor: second unit
Crystal Hawkins	....	production auditor
Joe Holden	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin (as J.A. Holden)
Jesse Hove	....	location assistant
Margaret Jacobs	....	assistant production coordinator
Mary A. Kelly	....	script supervisor (as Mary Kelly)
Lars Knudsen	....	executive assistant: Mr. Rudin
Pamela S. Marshall	....	assistant: Mr. Michell, New York (as Pam S. Marshall)
Matteo Masiello	....	production assistant
Helen Medrano	....	first assistant auditor (as Helen Ruiz)
Julia Morgan	....	production assistant
Eric Myers	....	unit publicist
Alix Narcisse	....	production assistant
Anne Nevin	....	production coordinator
Stuart Nicolai	....	assistant location manager
Charley Parlapanides	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin (as Charles Parlapanides)
Luke Redgrave	....	assistant: Mr. Michell, London
Alyson Renaldo	....	production assistant
Terence Scott	....	production secretary
Thomas Struth	....	artwork: "Monreale, Palermo"
Leonard L. Thomas	....	assistant: Mr. Jackson (as Leonard Thomas)
Kevin J. Walsh	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin (as Kevin Walsh)
Ron Weiss	....	consultant: estate and trusts (as Ron Weiss Esq.)
John White	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Rick Whitfield	....	video consultant
Mikayla Abromowitz	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Randall Balsmeyer	....	title designer (uncredited)
Michelle Dunton	....	script researcher (uncredited)
John Fedynich	....	location manager (uncredited)
Andrew Fiero	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Daniel Fine	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
Jay Floyd	....	clearance administrator (uncredited)
Joshua C. Hersko	....	assistant: Scott Rudin (uncredited)
Michael Landers	....	additional voices (uncredited)
Kendra Levenberg	....	craft service (uncredited)
Stephanie Lovell	....	additional set production assistant (uncredited)
Francis Maiorino	....	location scout (uncredited)
Nolan B. Medrano	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
Wayne Petrucelli	....	security coordinator (uncredited)
Jennifer Quesenbery	....	location scout (uncredited)
Shabazz Ray	....	stand-in: Samuel L. Jackson (uncredited)
Michael K. Reynolds	....	chef (uncredited)
Will Rowbotham	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin (uncredited)
Will Rowbotham	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Darryl A. Smith	....	payroll accountant (uncredited)
Eugene Stamos	....	craft service (uncredited)

Thanks
John Ahearn	....	thanks: artwork "East 100th Street Chess Club, Nathalie & Carlos"
Joseph Bartscherer	....	thanks: artwork "Pond"
Don D. Brown	....	thanks: artwork "Take IV" (as Don Brown)
Marc Chagall	....	thanks: artwork "La Prairie Heureuse"
David Diad	....	thanks: artwork "Lying 2"
Raoul Dufy	....	thanks: artwork "Sainte-Adresse: Promenade au Bord de la Mer"
Jenny Gage	....	thanks: artwork "Ventura - Legs and Road & Swing"
Antony Gormley	....	thanks: artwork "Untitled, for Francis"
Roberta Guaspari	....	thanks: Opus 118 Founder
Andreas Gursky	....	thanks: artwork "Paris Montparnasse", "Paris Beaugrenelle" and "Hong Kong Stock Exchange"
Alex Katz	....	thanks: artwork "Harbor #9"
Jonathan Levi	....	thanks: New York City Board of Education
Elizabeth Murray	....	thanks: artwork "Yellow Cup with Pink Lips"
Alice Neel	....	thanks: artwork "Ninth Avenue El", "Young Woman", "Windows" and "Annemarie and Georgie"
Jerry Norman	....	thanks: New York City Board of Education music consultant
George Passmore	....	thanks: artwork "Blood City" (as George)
Gilbert Proesch	....	thanks: artwork "Blood City" (as Gilbert)
Lucien Rees-Roberts	....	thanks: artwork "Monticano", "Hills Above Siena"
Julie Roberts	....	thanks: artwork "Seance", "Shepherdess Marie Antoinette"
Kate Rothko Prizel	....	thanks: artwork Mark Rothko's "Untitled" (Wine, Rust, Blue on Black )
Christopher Rothko	....	thanks: artwork Mark Rothko's "Untitled" (Wine, Rust, Blue on Black )
Mark Rothko	....	thanks: artwork "Untitled (Wine, Rest, Blue on Black )
Stuart Rubin	....	thanks: Salute to Music
Alexander Sandover	....	thanks: artwork "Synaesthesia"
Thomas Struth	....	thanks: artwork "Monreale, Palermo"

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures (presents)
• Scott Rudin Productions

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (2002) (USA) (theatrical) (a Viacom company)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (2005) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Eagle Pictures (2002) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2002) (Greece) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2002-2003) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2002) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2002) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2002) (France) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2002) (UK) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2002) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (2002) (Japan) (theatrical) (Far East)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (VHS)
• Film1 (2012) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Net5 (2005) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Paramount Filmes do Brasil (Brazil) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Paramount (2003) (Sweden) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Image Resolution, The

Other Companies

• 1010 WINS Radio  thanks (as 1010 WINS AM Radio)
• ADAGP, Paris  thanks: Mark Chagall's "La Prairie Heureuse", Raoul Dufy's "Sainte-Adresse: Promenade au Bord de la Mer"
• Artists Rights Society  thanks: Mark Chagall's "La Prairie Heureuse", Raoul Dufy's "Sainte-Adresse: Promenade au Bord de la Mer", Mark Rothko's "Untitled {Wine, Rust, Blue on Black}"
• Big Film Design  titles designed and produced by
• Cineric  opticals (as Cineric)
• Cinesite  opticals (as Cinesite)
• Grant Wilfley Casting  extras casting
• J.G. Films  negative cutters (as J.G. Films)
• Loopers Unlimited  adr voice casting
• Mega Playground  video dailies
• NYPD Film & TV Unit  thanks (as New York City Police/Television Unit)
• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  thanks
• Planet 10 Post  post-production sound services (as Planet 10 Post)
• Snaidero USA  thanks
• Sound One Corporation  re-recording facilities (as Sound One Corp.)
• State of New York, Division of Military and Naval Affairs  thanks (as New York City Division of Military and Naval Affairs)
• Tai Audio  audio equipment provided by
• Tai Audio  walkies provided by
• The McKenna Brothers  craft service (as McKenna Brothers)
• Tomkats Catering  catering (as Tomkats)
• Varèse Sarabande  original score recording (as Varèse Sarabande CDs)

Also Known As:

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:

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) | 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) | Brazil:12

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:

Continuity: Gavin can be seen getting up from the driver seat before Gipson pulls him out.

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:

Ode to Joy

Changing Lanes: A turn for Hollywood? (8 stars)

When `Changing Lanes' first opens, the viewer is presented with a montage of jagged credits, trendy jerking photography cruising NYC streets, and electronic beats that are so cool they could be used for cryogenic freezing. It quickly seems apparent that this film is simply a star-vehicle for Ben Affleck and Samuel L. Jackson; it seems apparent that this is a cold and impersonal genre-exercise for a successful comedy director, Roger Michell (`Notting Hill'), to branch out; it seems to be all these things until the end of this sequence when the camera glances out the window of a school bus out onto the New York City skyline, and there we see it: the World Trade Center. Unlike Sam Raimi's upcoming `Spider-Man', delayed after September 11th so that the WTC could be digitally removed, this is a film unafraid to date itself, and unafraid to look at human truth.

Affleck plays the role of the oddly named Gavin Banek (did they take the name ‘Ben Affleck', throw it in a blender, and add some new letters for good measure?), a high-power lawyer on the verge of becoming one of the partners at his law firm, alongside his father-in-law. Jackson is Doyle Gibson, a reforming alcoholic father of two clawing his way out of his hole and trying to save his marriage. On a critical day in both their lives, Doyle going to court to try winning joint-custody, and Gavin on his way to seal his career-making case, the two get into a minor accident on the FDR turnpike, causing Doyle to miss his hearing and Gavin to accidentally give Doyle a signed document that is critical to his case… and it all unravels from there.

The two tumble in a daylong haze of malice and self-destruction, sabotaging each other's lives. Whenever either decides to throw in the towel and do the ‘right' thing, it is too late and the other has already escalated it to the next level. His life quickly falling down around him, Gavin begins to examine it for the first time, taking a deep look into his wife, his law firm, his boss/father-in-law, and himself… ultimately questioning his motivation for trying to retrieve the document in the first place.

This is where the film really shines: many movies ask the question ‘what makes a man?' but `Changing Lanes' does it with honestly and authenticity. The screenplay, by Chap Taylor, asks if it is success, or if its providing for one's wife and kids, or if its true goodness, avoiding superficiality and delving into the motivations for each. In one telling monologue, Gavin's father-in-law, played with perfect tone by Sydney Pollack, says, `At the end of the day, I do more good than harm. What other standard have I got?' Unfortunately, the movie does not really ask the question of what makes a woman, even though both wives show real strength. The movie does not even seem to suggest that Gavin and Doyle's struggles could even be applied to women (obviously they could, had the movie explored that).

Jackson, always an excellent actor, is great as Gibson even if he has performed better before. Surprisingly, in this film Affleck's acting actually seems to surpass Jackson's in this amazing performance that is probably the best we have seen from Affleck so far.

All of the characters in the film, including minor-roles and extras, all exhibit a very human feel, and seeing real-feeling people on the screen has always been something rare and not to be taken for granted. The viewer comes to care about everyone in the picture: Gavin, Doyle, their wives, the guy at the bank, even the stranger at the bar.

New York City itself is alive in this movie: it breathes, coughs, and gasps with Salvatore Totino's shaky, unsaturated, claustrophobic photography. Totino really looks at people and the city in the face, and does not try to make them prettier or uglier than they are. David Arnold's original electronic score is a refreshing change from the very poor attempts at orchestral music that most movies are now filled with. Arnold's score very effectively sets the mood and reinforces the tempo of the movie.

`Changing Lanes' is a success for Roger Michell that shows us that a movie can have major stars, be entertaining, glossy, substantial, and pensive all-at-once.

`Changing Lanes' is rated R for a fender-bender, destruction of office equipment, unseen infidelity, a shot of the World Trade Center, and honest depiction of the human condition.