Changing Lanes is a 2002 drama-thriller film directed by Roger Michell and stars Ben Affleck and Samuel L. Jackson. The movie explores themes of anger, revenge, and moral choices against the backdrop of a road rage incident and its consequences.
Plot
The film revolves around two main characters, Doyle Gipson (Samuel L. Jackson) and Gavin Banek (Ben Affleck), who become entangled in a series of events after a minor car accident on a New York City expressway.
Doyle Gipson, a recovering alcoholic and divorced father, is running late for a custody hearing for his children. Gavin Banek, a wealthy attorney, is also in a rush to file a critical legal document. After a fender bender between their cars, Gavin leaves the scene without exchanging insurance information, despite promising to help Doyle.
This incident sets off a chain of events that has far-reaching consequences. Doyle misses his custody hearing, leading to a judge's decision to grant his wife full custody of their children. Furious and desperate, Doyle discovers that a crucial file he needs for the hearing was left behind in the briefcase Gavin left at the scene of the accident.
Doyle and Gavin's lives then become increasingly entangled as they both struggle to recover the briefcase. Doyle sees an opportunity for revenge and begins to torment Gavin, causing him to miss a crucial meeting that would affect his career. Meanwhile, Gavin tries to retrieve the briefcase and fix the damage done.
As their actions escalate, both men face moral dilemmas and confront the consequences of their choices. The film explores the themes of ethics, responsibility, and the impact of small, seemingly inconsequential decisions on the lives of individuals.
Changing Lanes is a thought-provoking and intense drama-thriller that delves into the complexities of human behavior and the consequences of actions and reactions in a fast-paced and interconnected world. It offers a compelling examination of the collision of two very different lives and the decisions they make in the heat of the moment.
Cast
- Ben Affleck as Gavin Banek
- Samuel L. Jackson as Doyle Gipson
- Kim Staunton as Valerie Gipson
- Toni Collette as Michelle
- Sydney Pollack as Stephen Delano
- Tina Sloan as Mrs. Delano
- Richard Jenkins as Walter Arnell
- Akil Walker as Stephen Gibson
- Cole Hawkins as Danny Gipson
- Ileen Getz as Ellen
- Jennifer Dundas Lowe as Mina Dunne
- Matt Malloy as Ron Cabot
- Amanda Peet as Cynthia Banek
- Bruce Altman as Joe Kaufman
- Joe Grifasi as Judge Cosell
- Angela Goethals as Sarah Windsor
- Kevin Sussman as Tyler Cohen
- William Hurt as Sponsor
- John Benjamin Hickey as Carlyle
- Michael Patrick McGrath as Seavers
- Dylan Baker as Finch
- Jordan Gelber as Priest
- Olga Merediz as Mrs. Miller
- Jayne Houdyshell as Miss Tetley
Director: Roger Mitchell
Writers: Chap Taylor, Michael Tolkin
Box Office Gross: $94,935,764
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Release Date: April 12, 2002