When I chose to watch Changing Lanes tonight, I made my decision based on the fact that I wasn't looking for something entirely thought-provoking. So it was with great surprise that I realized about thirty minutes into the film that this wasn't a classic `revenge' tale.
*Possible spoilers herein*
Changing Lanes stars Samuel L. Jackson as a recovering alcoholic who is fighting to keep his ex-wife from moving to Oregon from New York with his two children by providing them with a modest house to live in. Ben Affleck plays a young hotshot attorney who pretty much has the world at his fingertips. When the two get into a car accident in the beginning of the film with no one being hurt, the careless handling of the situation by Affleck sparks events that end up changing both of their lives in the course of one day.
While the viewer can place equal blame on both parties for their actions, this is not a routine revenge flick due to the fact that morality and (seemingly) feelings of regret seem to follow both of these men, despite the fact that they continue on. It also calls into question whether the events that take place would have precipitated the direction their lives eventually take, both personally and professionally. These men are not heroes; rather, their flaws make them entirely human. I am not a fan of Ben Affleck, in fact, I try to avoid his films as much as possible, but he was quite good in this film, as was the usually great Samuel L. Jackson.
Of course, this was not a perfect film. There were some plot holes, overly dramatic moments, and a completely useless scene featuring Ben Affleck in a church, but overall it was a sufficiently good and thought-provoking film. Not exactly what I was looking for, but surprisingly refreshing.
--Shelly
*Possible spoilers herein*
Changing Lanes stars Samuel L. Jackson as a recovering alcoholic who is fighting to keep his ex-wife from moving to Oregon from New York with his two children by providing them with a modest house to live in. Ben Affleck plays a young hotshot attorney who pretty much has the world at his fingertips. When the two get into a car accident in the beginning of the film with no one being hurt, the careless handling of the situation by Affleck sparks events that end up changing both of their lives in the course of one day.
While the viewer can place equal blame on both parties for their actions, this is not a routine revenge flick due to the fact that morality and (seemingly) feelings of regret seem to follow both of these men, despite the fact that they continue on. It also calls into question whether the events that take place would have precipitated the direction their lives eventually take, both personally and professionally. These men are not heroes; rather, their flaws make them entirely human. I am not a fan of Ben Affleck, in fact, I try to avoid his films as much as possible, but he was quite good in this film, as was the usually great Samuel L. Jackson.
Of course, this was not a perfect film. There were some plot holes, overly dramatic moments, and a completely useless scene featuring Ben Affleck in a church, but overall it was a sufficiently good and thought-provoking film. Not exactly what I was looking for, but surprisingly refreshing.
--Shelly