Changing Lanesis an underrated film inBen Affleck’s career, one that highlights his strengths as an actor. Affleck rose to fame alongside his good friend Matt Damon with theirOscar-winningGood Will Hunting. Since then, Affleck has built a career in Hollywood marked by highs and lows.
Affleck’s most prominent work has been a mix of massive blockbusters, likeArmageddon, and critically acclaimed films, like theBest Picture winnerArgo. However, while there have been some critical disasters in Affleck’s career, there have also been some overlooked gems that show how good an actor he is with the right role to shine in.
Changing Lanes Is An Underrated Thriller With Complex Characters
Changing Lanesisa thriller released in 2002, starring Ben Affleck and Samuel L. Jackson. The movie follows up-and-coming lawyer Gavin (Affleck) and recovering alcoholic Doyle (Jackson), each on his way to an important meeting, only to collide on the freeway. As the small accident details both of their lives, they target each other for revenge.
Changing Laneswas a success upon release, scoring 77% onRotten Tomatoesand earning $95 million on a $45 million budget(viaBox Office Mojo). Since then, the movie has largely faded from public attention. However, when looking back on his career withGQ, Affleck expressed his pride in the film:
“I really like that movie, and it was the first time I felt like I got the chance to do a script that was really good and I could sink my teeth into. And I felt like a really wanted to prove something with that movie and I was ultimately proud of it on balance.”
It’s a strong premise grounded in a relatable conflict that escalates into a thrilling battle.The characters are also a strong point of the movie as neither Gavin nor Doyle is portrayed as a bad man, but rather as desperate and flawed men pushed to their breaking points.
Affleck is excellent in his overlooked performance. He’s not concerned with making Gavin a likable character, and plays his flaws to the point that it’s sometimes hard to root for him. However,Affleck also connects to the humanity of the character and shows how he has principles he will not abandon, even if they come too late.
Ben Affleck Is At His Best When Playing Flawed Protagonists
While Gavin inChanging Lanesmight not be as popular as some ofBen Affleck’s other characters, it’s a role that reminds us how great the actor is at playing morally gray characters. Though he has played villains and bullies before, such as inDazed and Confused, Affleck is best when playing protagonists we don’t always agree with.
Gone Girlis Affleck’s strongest performance, playing a man wrongly accused of being behind his wife’s disappearance. However,even though he is not guilty of that terrible crime, Affleck’s Nick Dunne is not innocent either.From having an affair with a student to his general lack of effort as a husband, Nick is a frustrating character.
Affleck’s performance inThe Way Backis another complex one, as the audience sympathizes with his character, Jack Cunningham, a grieving father whose life has become consumed by alcoholism.It is triumphant to see him turn things around over the course of the movie and devastating to see him slip back into his destructive tendencies.
EvenAffleck’s take on Batmanhighlights these strengths, especially in his first DCEU appearance, inBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.Affleck’s Batman is a hero, but also a bitter and dark man whose dedication to protecting the innocent leads him on a murderous path with Superman.
LikeChanging Lanes, these roles differ from Affleck’s more perfect action hero and leading man roles. They make for raw and real characters that Affleck explores in deep and profound ways. It moves away from his movie star persona and reminds audiences that he is a great actor.
