Five star

THE action in this pulsating film takes place over one working day. Much longer than that has probably been knocked off my life expectancy so involved was I in such relentless anquish.

Changing Lanes is a compelling morality tale, told flawlessly by Samuel L Jackson, Ben Affleck, Sydney Pollack and the wondrously adaptable Toni Collette.

Samuel and Ben are both men with a serious mission, and when their cars crash on a main New York arterial road, their schedules are shattered with devastating consequences.

Samuel's character is rushing to a court hearing which will determine custody details surrounding his two little boys, while Ben's is also tearing to a court but, in his case, to hand over documents vital to settle a multi-million dollar legal battle. One leaves the scene of the crime, while the other is abandoned in the middle of the city's highway. It is here that war begins

What ensues is a vicious crusade between the two of them, as they stoop lower and lower to wreak retribution. It is frustrating and mesmerising stuff and almost too painful to watch.

DVD extras are well worth a look. Explore the background, lose yourself in detail and discover why scenes including the Twin Towers were not deleted.

SCC