4 Stars
When a man loses his children in court, it can easily be said that he's having a bad day. Likewise, a lawyer who loses vital evidence on the way to court also can be labeled as having a bad day.
But what do you get when each of the above men are responsible for the other's woes?
You get "Changing Lanes," a twisted tale of revenge, full of one-upmanship, conspiracy and the lowest of low blows.
Starring opposite Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Affleck portrays upwardly mobile lawyer Gavin Banek, a man who finds himself falling deeper and deeper into his bosses' semi-legal dealings.
Jackson eschews his smooth-as-silk "Pulp Fiction" persona as Doyle Gibson, an awkward loser and recovering alcoholic on the verge of losing all that he holds dear.
The film, directed by Roger Michell, revolves around the vicious cycle of revenge generated by a minor car crash. Due to the accident, Jackson winds up late for a custody battle, and Affleck loses the key piece of evidence in a dubious law case. Then all chaos breaks loose.
The simplicity of the catalytic fender-bender belies the twisted, complex nature of "Changing Lanes." Both Affleck and Jackson are superb, going at each other's throat in roles that blur the lines between what's justifiable and what's over the line.