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Samuel L. Jackson is Doyle Gipson, a working class man who is running late to court for custody of his kids. He, while on the freeway, bumps into Gavin Banek (Ben Affleck), an important lawyer late for a case, too. Gipson's car is inoperable, but Banek, worried that he'd be late for his court case, leaves Gipson standing in the middle of the freeway. Banek accidentally left an important file with Gipson, one that could cost him winning the case or not. Tempers heat up when Gipson is very late to his court, but Banek needs his file.
It's a compelling dramatic thriller; it's not a thriller where you're wondering when the ax-weilding maniac is going to jump out, it's the thriller where you don't know what's going to happen next. You can guess one thing, and be completely wrong. It's been awhile where there was a thriller where little violence was shown and people don't go on killing people. It tangles with your emotions. You feel bad for Gipson, you might feel mad about Banek just leaving him there. Not many movies can do that.
Of course, the best part of the movie is the acting. Sam Jackson was simply mesmerizing. He can control his anger (in the movie) for some time, but when he snaps, wow! What a great actor at work. Affleck was surprisingly good (a whole lot better than The Sum of All Fears); his emotions, though not as emphasized as Sam's, are pretty well made. I liked how it seemed someone was the good guy and someone else was the bad guy, and then it got reversed. That is good filmmaking.
What didn't I like about it, you ask? Well, the ever-popular Amanda Peet needed a bigger role, and it had a not-so-intense ending, but other than that, it's solid. I know when I'm old enough to drive (be afraid, be very afraid), I'll be cautious whenever I'm driving down a New York freeway in the rain (on Good Friday, of course). A thing that wasn't so great was it's trying to get religion into play. Why did we need it to take place on Good Friday, what was the point about the church? But, director Roger Michell might be very religious himself and want to put in various themes. That's fine with me.
If you want a human dramatic thriller, this is it. If you want a good, original story, this is it. If you want great (nay...superb) acting, fast-paced plot, tense scenes, this is it. Human emotions are abound here. It can make you feel good and bad at the same time. As I've said before, not many movies can make you feel like that. Basically, don't rent this if you're not a fan of good movies with excellent acting. One thing I just remembered-the sub-plot about the affair seemed unecessary, but it still didn't bother me that much. There's one thing I'm trying to say in this review: RENT IT, or even better, BUY IT!
One afterthought: who names their kids Gavin or Doyle?
Rated R for some language.
Review Date: September 15, 2002