Review of Changing Lanes (2002) by Timothy S — 07 Aug 2013

"Changing Lanes" is a most unusual movie, not quite a thriller although that may be the easiest way to categorize it and there are thrilling elements present within the context of the story. This is more concerned with questions of morality, ethics and doing the right thing, and the end result is an oddly fascinating film with two strong lead performances.

Samuel L. Jackson has been good before, and he brings a lot of depth to what could have been a stock character, but the real story here is Ben Affleck. This film represented a career shift for the actor, and although duds would follow before being completely reinvented in Hollywood, this was perhaps only the second time anyone would take him seriously as an actor. The two play off each other marvelously, and it's clear as their war escalates that they both despise the person they have become. They are both essentially good people, forced into this battle of one-upmanship because of their own personal pressures, and both actors illustrate that internal battle with an extraordinary amount of skill.

Not content to let that central conflict be the only one here, screenwriter Chap Taylor fleshes out the story by delving into Jackson's troubled family issues and Affleck's moral discussion with his boss and father-in-law. Director Roger Michell deftly juggles all of the plot lines and delivers a rich and deeply satisfying picture. "Changing Lanes" sets out to do something unique and rare, and for the most part, it succeeds. The final act, when the friction is resolved loses some of the film's edge, but until then, it's quite good.