Changing Lanes
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| Changing Lanes | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Directed by | Roger Michell |
| Produced by | Scott Rudin Scott Aversano |
| Written by | Chap Taylor Michael Tolkin |
| Starring | Ben Affleck Samuel L. Jackson Toni Collette Sydney Pollack William Hurt Amanda Peet |
| Music by | David Arnold |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
| Release date(s) | 12 April 2002 |
| Running time | 99 min. |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | US$45 million |
| IMDb profile | |
Changing Lanes is a 2002 drama/thriller film directed by Roger Michell. The movie was a box-office success; with a budget of US$45,000,000, it grossed $66,818,548 in the United States and $28,117,216 outside the US, with a total gross of $94,935,764.
[edit] Plot
A successful New York attorney, Gavin Banek (Ben Affleck), is in a rush to file a power of appointment, which will sign the company of a dying old man over to his law firm. He has a collision with another car, belonging to an insurance salesman, Doyle Gipson (played by Jackson). He is also in a rush to a hearing to try and gain custody of his children, and prevent his estranged wife from taking them to Oregon. After trying to brush him off with a blank cheque, the attorney strands Gipson, telling him, "Better luck next time". After arriving to the court late, Gipson learns that it proceeded without him and that it didn't go in his favour.
Unfortunately for Banek, he dropped the crucial power of appointment file at the scene of the accident, and the judge gives him until the end of the day to reobtain the papers and present them. Gipson has no intention of returning the papers, and in desperation, Banek goes to someone skilled with computers, and gets him to switch off Gipson's credit. Gipson needed credit for a loan so he could buy a house for his family, and he becomes further enraged, determined to make life difficult for Banek.
Both men continue to do questionable things in an attempt to one-up each other, and eventually they begin to question their actions. Though it is made clear that Banek and Gipson are radically different, they both have an angry, vengeful streak, capable of abandoning their morals just to punish the other. The film ends with both men having a new outlook on life, concentrating on ethics and the moral implications of their actions.
[edit] 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 Banek
- Myra Lucretia Taylor — Judge Frances Abarbanel
- Bruce Altman — Joe Kaufman
- William Hurt — Doyle's sponsor
