Film reflects hope in human experience

4/27/2002

Thank goodness I didn't follow the recommendation of film critic Christopher Borrelli and decided to see the new film Changing Lanes, which I enjoyed very much. In Mr. Borrelli's cynical view, redemption is a “crock” and righting wrongs is “Hollywood script hokum.”

Frankly, I've had enough of the low-life, profanity-laden, gore-infested, dreary hopelessness, and drug-infested films that pass as real life and are praised by critics. While those films certainly show a slice of life in the darkness, why should we demean a film that turns the corner on goodness?

Changing Lanes is by no means a G-rated film. It shows people dealing with issues, making mistakes, creating predicaments, and escalating from the proverbial “bad to worse.” No one is exempt from identifying with these characters. The difference is the resolution. It may seem superficial and trite to believe that people can have a change of heart and find redemption by seeking forgiveness. The reality is that it happens everyday, otherwise we wouldn't have an ethic of good will triumphing over evil.

The two main characters in this movie also actually break the Hollywood stereotype in their attempted resolution. Gavin Banek (Ben Affleck) shows that wealthy people do have a conscience that can't be overcome by financial gain and greed. Doyle Gibson (Samuel L. Jackson) portrays a father who is willing to do whatever he can for his two sons, including fighting the demons and shortcomings in his own life. His scene alone, as a recovering alcoholic sitting in a bar staring down a drink he had ordered in desperation, is worth the price of admission.

Changing Lanes is a metaphor about changing directions in your life.

See for yourself and experience the hope of our human experience.

RANDY WHITMAN

Forestlawn Road

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Last fall a precinct in North Toledo was voted dry. Similar local option measures are on the ballot for May 7.

Neighbors have every right to demand action when an establishment or patrons act in an unruly manner. The books are filled with laws to address such matters. However, voting an entire precinct dry punishes the entire area for isolated misconduct. A solution may be to encourage law enforcement to work with neighborhood groups to solve the problem before it gets completely out of hand.

History shows that prohibition causes more problems than it solves. Let's not repeat the mistake.

PHILIP W. VARNER

Consaul Street

In a period of less than a week, The Blade's readers were inundated with an overdose of the diatribes of right-wing fanatics, namely, Mona Charen, Bill O'Reilly, and Jack Kelly. Those “beasts” are very obviously Arab-Muslim bashers and haters, employed in the service of the Zionist propaganda machine. Those fanatics are in fact “terrorists” who employ the effective weapons of words to terrorize the “truth.” Their poisonous propaganda makes me feel like throwing up.

I am thinking about a “frivolous” lawsuit against The Blade for being hazardous to my health!

FADEL ABDALLAH

Glen Ellyn Drive