'Changing Lanes' skimps on the extras

Changing Lanes" is one of those movies that turns out to be twice as enjoyable as it might have been because it defies expectation. Earlier this year, when I went to see the film in the theater, I really didn't anticipate anything beyond a pedestrian regurgitation of a legal thriller starring two respectable, but hit-and-miss, actors, Samuel L. Jackson (who had recently starred in "Shaft") and Ben Affleck (who we last saw in "Pearl Harbor").\nSurprisingly, in a gratifying malfunction of my movie barometer, "Changing Lanes" ended up being a stylish and engaging film that, in some ways, functioned as a capable specimen of progress in the realm of Hollywood filmmaking.\nIt seemed reasonable, then, to assume that since the film itself was such a pleasant surprise, the DVD release would be sufficiently supplemented with quality bonus material. But again, "Changing Lanes" spit right in the face of all my assumptions. As it turns out, the DVD is nothing special, with little to offer beyond the film itself.\nLike I said, when it comes to dime-a-dozen Hollywood thrillers, "Changing Lanes" certainly rises above most. The film tells the story of two men -- one a young, high-society lawyer, Gavin Banek (Affleck), and the other a down-and-out recovering alcoholic, Doyle Gipson (Jackson) -- and the unfortunate highway accident that pits one man against the other and throws both of their lives into a tailspin. \nUndoubtedly, much of what keeps "Changing Lanes" afloat is director Roger Michell's skillful aesthetic and editorial sense. Though it sometimes seems as if the film might slip into clichéd narrative oblivion, capable acting and solid direction keep it afloat. Sadly, though, the creators of the DVD presentation didn't hold up their end.\nThe DVD includes little beyond the usual special features: director commentary, a making-of feature, a small featurette, a few deleted and extended scenes and the trailer. The commentary is decent but all the rest is shoddy and dull and does little to supplement the film. There is not much there to merit a DVD purchase, but if you haven't seen "Changing Lanes," it is certainly worth the rental.