Ben Affleck: 10 greatest movies of all time (so far)
By Sandy C.
10. Changing Lanes
Original Release Date: April 12, 2002
Box Office Earnings: Changing Lanes turned its budget of $45 million into $94.9 million worldwide ($66.8 coming domestically and $28.1 internationally), which is not bad for a movie in the early 2000s!
Critical Acclaim: At Rotten Tomatoes, Changing Lanes has a favorable score of 77% from critics. The rating from audiences, however, isn’t as glowing, in fact, it’s a little confusing. Audiences voted in to give the movie a 53%. Why? We believe it is underrated and perhaps too ahead of its time. Let’s admit that the finale is a tad confusing and unsatisfying, but we also can’t ignore the brilliant performances and suspense throughout.
What’s it about: The drama thriller follows a Wall Street lawyer, Gavin (Affleck), and a recovering alcoholic insurance salesman, Doyle (Jackson). Their paths cross when they crash their cars into each other. Gavin flees the scene, leaving behind a distraught Doyle, who had somewhere important to go. Though their cares and themselves suffer minor damage, something major occurs. Gavin leaves a very important folder behind, which Doyle finds.
Gavin’s career and even life is on the balance without that file, but the incident made Doyle late for an appointment that would have given him a clean slate. For leaving him behind, Doyle tries to get back at him, and Jackson does the same.
Simply the best: The first and second act of the movie feature great storytelling, while also showcasing a talented cast that also consists of Toni Collette, Kim staunton, Sydney Pollack, Amanda Peet. Though the third act does lack poor delivery and makes audiences feel like it was all for nothing, it’s easy to look past it.