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Changing Lanes

Changing Lanes

Thriller · Drama · 2002

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 on this day, at this time, a minor collision will turn two complete strangers into vicious adversaries. Their means of destroying each other might be different, but their goals, ultimately, will be the same: Each will systematically try to dismantle the other's life in a reckless effort to reclaim something he has lost.

Movie details

Changing Lanes

“One wrong turn deserves another.”

2002 Thriller · Drama 1h 38m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.3 / 10

Community rating

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 on this day, at this time, a minor collision will turn two complete strangers into vicious adversaries. Their means of destroying each other might be different, but their goals, ultimately, will be the same: Each will systematically try to dismantle the other's life in a reckless effort to reclaim something he has lost.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Changing Lanes?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Roger Michell

Written by

Chap Taylor · Michael Tolkin

Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck

Gavin Banek

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson

Doyle Gipson

Toni Collette

Toni Collette

Michelle

Sydney Pollack

Sydney Pollack

Stephen Delano

William Hurt

William Hurt

Doyle's Sponsor

Amanda Peet

Amanda Peet

Cynthia Delano Banek

Richard Jenkins

Richard Jenkins

Walter Arnell

Court is in session

Put Changing Lanes on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.