Rating: 
Summary: Changing Lanes
Review: I enjoy new movies on a Sunday night as the theater tends to be less crowded. I read a review on Changing Lanes which was not particularly glowing, especially in terms of Ben Affleck. However, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, et al are actors that movie critics tend to hate regardless of their performance. The critic was especially glowing of Samuel L. Jackson and to some degree, Sidney Pollocks, and while, he pointed out, the plot had weaknesses, Samuel Jackson's performance was worth the two hours.
So, Sunday night, off I went to Changing Lanes. The truth is, the plot was good, and all the performances, in my opinion, were quite excellent. Amanda Peet's performance as a Stepford Wife was chilling. Sidney Pollock was believably, and impressively corrupt. Ben Affleck's role was tailor made for him. You were easily inspired to dislike him. Samuel L. Jackson was, correctly, brilliant. I dont know if Mr. Jackson studied at the Actors Workshop, but he was Doyle Gipson in every way. Every nuance, every expression. His subtle, and angry performance in the film should be used in acting classes as an example of what acting can and should be. His facial expressions, his body language transcended his expertly delivered lines. Best performance by an actor Ive seen this year.
Rating:
Summary: Good God.......Didn't Expect it to be THIS good!! Awesome!!
Review: I definetly got my moneys' worth on this movie. I was afraid that there was too much information given on the trailers. Not so with this movie. Just about every 15 minutes or so, there would be a twist in the plot giving you something new to wonder and think about. Actually, when this movie was about one hour through, I was thinking that the movie was over. I was about to get upset, because even though the plot was very intertaining, the movie was too short. But in actuallity, I was taken by suprise. The movie is actually close to two hours long, and because of that, there is so much more to this movie than expected.
I am still blown away. I think that the problem with this movie is its being under-rated. I went to see "Changing Lanes", on its day or release into theatres. There was not anywhere near a full theatre. I was a bit annoyed but glad at the same time. This movie did come out first on the box office this last weekend, but still....it only brought in 17 million dollars. My suggestion is that if you are wondering about seeing it, whether that be because you don't know if its good, or if your moneys going to be well spent.
Trust me, It will be. To even give the movie a bit more credit, It even has a check or moral in it. The movie actually has a point to it. See if you can catch it!..... Enjoy!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Wait for rentals
Review: An interesting premise, but not executed well. The story grabs you from the beginning, but then drags on through several scenarios that seem too disjointed to allow the story to flow well. I found myself checking my watch and thinking about personal errands during this middle part. Then, near the end of the movie, when the characters make some ethical decisions and MOVE ON, I was more interested and could actually understand the reasoning for some of the boring parts. At least I was able to enjoy some movie house popcorn! I would recommend this as a rental only when you can't find anything else you're dying to see.
Rating:
Summary: Great story, A1 acting
Review: Samuel L. Jackson is a recovering alcoholic who is trying to salvage his family; Ben Affleck is a high-powered attorney trapped in a life of corruption and politics. They meet when their cars collided by accident and this 20 min occurrence turns both their lives upside down. Jackson mistakenly picks up a folder Affleck needs to insure the corrupt attorneys don't get sued for fraud (he's part of it by marriage as well as occupation) and does everything he can to get that folder back. Jackson loses everything and is hell-bent on revenge. To reveal too much more would give away the meat of the story which is steeped in lessons to be learned by all but not fed to us in a patronizing tone. It is a very intense film that shows all too easily how one moment can change a person's life forever. A must-see for drama lovers. The acting is beyond reproach and the cinematographer also gets high praise. This is one helluva story!
Rating: 
Summary: Jackson delivers...
Review: I watched this film and High Crimes this weekend, and they both have two things in common -- Amanda Peet and a silver Mercedes C240. I just thought that was interesting. Ok, now back to what I thought of this film. Well, I thought the plot was more clever than High Crimes. It better captures the desperation on the part of Ben Affleck's and Samuel Jackson's characters. They each carried out their roles with aplomb. Though I must say that Ben Affleck's role as a lawyer who suddenly has the urge to gain a conscience is rather trite. On the other hand, Samuel Jackson delivered a wonderful performance as Doyle Gibson (an insurance agent).All in all, an enjoyable film. LEAP rating (each out of 5):
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L (Language) - 4 (Jackson tells a choice story in a bar)
E (Erotica) - 0 (n/a)
A (Action) - 0.5 (barely)
P (Plot) - 4 (slight twist in the end)
Rating:
Summary: Great movie
Review: Saw this movie and thought it was great. I think Ben is a great actor and soooooooooo cute. Samuel L Jackson did a great job in this movie too. I have to see this one again and again until it comes out on video. It was a well done movie with a great plot. I thought it had a great twist in the ending of the movie. This is a must see to appreciate the movie.
Rating:
Summary: It was good.......
Review: My thoughts of this movie....Well it wasn't what I'd expect it to be and Samual L. Jackson and Ben Affleck did a good job. It was about a father and a lawyer. They end up in a accident so a file is missing. And I won't spoil the ending. It was good but could of been better.
Rating: 
Summary: provocative, thought provoking thriller
Review: ***1/2 Gavin Banek and Doyle Gibson are two gentlemen having one hell of a bad Good Friday. While millions of people around the world are commemorating the crucifixion and atonement of Jesus Christ, Banek and Gibson find themselves acting out a little morality play of their own in the streets and skyscrapers of downtown Manhattan. Along the way, they too will confront the issues of right and wrong, sin and redemption - and find out just how far into the depths of depravity their own moral codes will allow them to go. Interestingly, the heightened unreality of some of the characters' more extreme actions brings to the tale much of the quality of a parable. As a result, we don't have to believe every twist and turn of the plot in order to validate and appreciate it. As the title of the film suggests, the theme revolves around what happens when the paths of two very distinct lives "accidentally" intersect. These two individuals are total strangers before fate, chance, providence, the gods - whatever you want to call it - conspire to bring them together. Banek is a hotshot young attorney who has married into his father-in-law's wealthy firm, while Gibson is a recovering alcoholic and AA member who is trying desperately to close the deal on a house so that his fed-up wife won't move with their boys to Oregon, far away from Gibson's deleterious influence. Both desperate to get to their respective court dates - Banek to argue an important case and Gibson to plead for one more chance to keep his family from moving away - the two harried men meet up in a mild fender bender during morning rush hour traffic. When Banek callously palms Gibson off with a blank check and leaves him stuck in traffic to fend for himself, the wheels are set in motion for the strange, offbeat tale of revenge and recrimination that ensues. In the confusion of the accident, Banek does not realize that he has accidentally left a crucial folder in Gibson's possession. Gibson, mistreated by Banek at the scene of the accident and refused a hearing by the court because of his tardiness, finds himself in no mood to turn the other cheek and help Banek by returning his folder. The resultant game of cat-and-mouse, which could so easily have devolved into a cheap, tawdry melodrama of violence and revenge, instead achieves surprising moments of thought provoking depth and insight. "Changing Lanes" is, indeed, that rarity among American films: a drama more concerned with issues and ideas than with cheap thrills and emotional exploitation. Within the context of a densely plotted thriller, writer Chap Taylor has fashioned a film that is nothing less than a study of the part ethics plays in our daily lives. Like all of us, Banek and Gibson contain within their beings both the seeds of goodness and the germs of evil. The question becomes how far each is willing to go to cultivate those qualities when faced with the dilemmas and vicissitudes life throws their way. Both men, though basically decent at the core, find themselves doing deeds that surprise even themselves when pushed into a corner by despair and desperation. Rarely in the movies do we find characters this concerned with analyzing both the motives and the consequences of their actions. In fact the film plays out like a classic morality play, with each man engaging in an internal struggle with his conscience as well as with the other person. The underlying cynical subtext is, of course, that, in the corporate business world, all morality is relative, a fact Banek, in particular, is ultimately forced to face up to - and, by extension, to act upon. Although it does seem to strain a bit to make its point every now and then - employing overemphasis when subtlety is what is really called for - the film boasts a number of beautiful and haunting moments such as when the director, Roger Michell, intercuts between a quiet, but highly charged and revelatory conversation Gibson has with his longsuffering wife and a scene of Banek seeking surcease from his guilt in a quiet confessional. Ben Affleck and Samuel L. Jackson both do superb work at getting to the bottom of their respective characters' innermost feelings and thoughts. David Arnold's somber musical score and Salvatore Totino's moody cinematography lend an appropriately otherworldly quality to this stark morality play, making the everyday world of city streets and soaring skyscrapers seem strangely twisted and menacing. "Changing Lanes" does lose its nerve a little at the end, as evidenced by a certain softness in its resolution. Nevertheless, it still deserves enormous credit for attempting to do what few other films even have the courage to try. It's truly refreshing to see a film that respects the intelligence of its audience and which provides moviegoers with a little nutritional sustenance to go along with all that cinematic junk food Hollywood normally provides for us in such abundance.
Rating:
Summary: Road Rage To The EXTREME.......
Review: A simple traffic accident causes two very different men, who ordinarily would never come into each others orbits, to become inextricably linked in a day-long game of cat-and-mouse, with each man's future hanging in the balance. Ben Affleck plays your typical slimy uptown Lawyer. He's involved in a shady deal, where he and his partners are bilking a charity they're representing, he's cheating on his wife, etc., etc. Samuel L. Jackson is a recovering alcoholic trying to pick up the pieces of his shattered marriage. When a poorly-timed (Both men are due in court- Jackson for a custody hearing, Affleck for the aforementioned Charity-bilking scheme...) lane change on Affleck's part causes the two men to meet, Affleck's rude handling of the situation causes Jackson to be late for Court. He loses custody of his Kids, and it looks as if he may never see them again. But Affleck is missing an important file...it seems as if he handed it to Jackson at the accident scene, and without it, not only might he lose his case, but he might lose his freedom as well. The movie screams along as the two resort to ever-increasing levels of anti-social behavior (Affleck needs the file back, Jackson wants his LIFE back.), and even though it's pretty much a big morality play (Be nice to others and play fair!), it never bogs down into preachiness, and the ending is a nice change from what I went in expecting. Very different. The performances are solid, especially the ever-dependable Jackson. Sidney Pollack is very manacing as Affleck's boss.... A very impressive effort all around.
Rating:
Summary: Great and Exciting Film!!!
Review: This is a great movie. Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Affleck give superb performances. This is filled with many twists and surprises, excellent movie. The only reason i give it 4 stars is because in the middle it was a little slow, but still a great film. I definitely recommend it!!
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