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Notes:
A rush-hour fender-bender on New York City's crowded FDR Drive, under most circumstances, wouldn't set off a chain reaction that could decimate two people's lives. But this minor collision turns two complete strangers into vicious adversaries. Their means of destroying one another might be different, but their goals, ultimately, will be the same.
Suspense Thriller - A very slow drama. It's not nearly as intense as the previews make
it out to be. It's also a little on the cruel side as these guys
try to hurt each other in their anger.
PROFANITY: 7 F-words, 2 GD's, 5 S-words. Just a few others. SEX/NUDITY: None VIOLENCE: Very little and not graphic. DRUGS/ALCOHOL: Social drinking. ACTION: Only a couple of mild scenes. COMEDY: Only a few smiles and chuckles.
The above rating is an average of the critic reviews below.
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Entertainment Weekly
Full
Review Good "...a teasing drama whose relentless good-deed/bad-deed
reversals are just interesting enough to make a sinner like me pray for an even
more interesting, less symmetrical, less obviously cross-shaped creation.''
Roger EbertFull
Review Excellent "It lays these guys out and X-rays them, and by the end of
the day, each man's own anger scares him more than the other guy's. This is one
of the best movies of the year.''
TV Guide OnlineFull
Review Above Average "The film would be more satisfying if it ended five
minutes earlier than it does, but even with its slightly too redemptive coda,
it's a bleak and complex moral thriller.''
NewsdayFull
Review Average "Engaging, in a coldly intellectually fashion, but
depressing sociologically, emotionally. There are moments where "Changing
Lanes" might have ended and left us feeling haunted, empty and perhaps
ultimately wiser people. That moment comes and goes and we watch it, the way
Doyle watches Gavin drive off along the FDR Drive."
Note: The rating
above is our interpretation of what the critic would give this movie based on their review.
We are not affiliated with these critic's in any way.
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DETAILED OPINIONS
The positive and negative comments made by moviegoers are very
helpful when selecting a movie that's appropriate for you and your family.
OPINION OVERVIEW The following is the original "What's Worth
Watching" write-up for this movie.
Moviegoer Opinions:
I wasn't too far off in my predictions below. Most of the opinions are in the "Good/Avg." to "Very Good" range, which is a little on the low side, but certainly not bad. There were more "Excellent" opinions than I would have thought. After seeing the professional critic reviews I know why. Most of the critics really liked this movie and there is a small percentage of moviegoers whose taste in movies tends to run close to that of critics. I suspect these are the people giving this movie an "Excellent" rating.
For the rest of us, this is a decent movie that's worth a look, but it's not one you'll want to rush out to see. It's worth at least a matinee viewing or catch it at the second run theater in a couple months. If you don't see it before it hits video, be sure to put it on your list of videos to see. It's certainly worth a rental.
Publisher Comments: (before opinions collected)
A bit of a disappointment. It's much slower than the previews make it our to be. It's not too bad a movie, but it's certainly not a great movie. Also, both of the main characters are not very likeable, so you don't really care that much about them. The ending keeps it from being too bad and makes it worth seeing at a matinee or on video later.
I predict that the reviews will be concentrated in the "Good/Avg." to "Very Good" range, with very few opinions above "Very Good." There will probably be quite a few "Good/Avg." and lower opinions, which is pretty low. I'll bet the biggest negative comment made will be that it was slow and the biggest positive comment will be that they liked the ending.
Late for court, high-powered attorney Gavin Banek (Ben Affleck) is weaving through heavy traffic. In a different lane, is Doyle Gipson (Samuel L. Jackson), a father, whose right to see his children rests on the decision of a judge with a full docket and no time to spare. On the surface, Banek and Gipson are two very different men: One is struggling to reach the top of his career; the other is desperately scrambling away from rock bottom. But a minor accident will drive these two strangers to the brink of self-destruction, and prove that rage can equalize any playing field when men turn into beasts.
