Commuter virus (From Western Telegraph)

Commuter virus

Director: Roger Michell Starring: Ben Affleck, Samuel L. Jackson, Kim Staunton, Toni Collette, Sydney Pollack. Dur 99 mins Cert 15

I can't be sure, but I think I just got that Christmas feeling. Maybe it was the smell of fireworks that herald the arrival of the elongated run-up to the season of goodwill. Or maybe, as I cast my eye down the list of upcoming releases, it is because I see the next Harry Potter, the next Bond and the next 'Lord of the Rings' are winging their way to us faster than Santa's sleigh could possibly carry them.

And on the subject of peace and goodwill, this week sees the release of a morality tale that isn't Christmas-based, but which nevertheless should do well to make us better people.

Changing Lanes comes from director Roger Michell, who is best known for Notting Hill. But this production is a long way from the world of floppy-haired Hugh.

'Changing Lanes' is serious and hectic, a stressful film set on the hard streets of New York

The film opens with fantastic and edgy photography of a city like a giant anthill; millions of humans climbing all over each other to go somewhere in a hurry. Ben Affleck plays one such human, Gavin Banek, an attorney in a rush to make a court appointment.

On route, he has a minor car crash, the kind that can happen to anyone, any time, any day.

But what happens next is extraordinary...

The driver of the other car is Doyle Gibson, a recovering alcoholic insurance salesman played by Samuel L. Jackson. He's also in a rush for a court appointment, but his involves an attempt to win joint custody of his children.

Affleck's need is pressing. There's an awful lot of money at stake and so he leaves the scene of the accident, leaving Samuel L. Jackson stranded. Jackson misses his custody hearing but, during the roadside post-crash discussion, Affleck accidentally drops the court papers. The judge gives Affleck until the end of the day to present them, so Affleck has to find the guy he hit and get him to hand over his property. What ensues is a gut-wrenching game of cat and mouse, fuelled by bitterness and rage. Both Jackson and Affleck are superb in this intriguing, if not brilliant, movie. The events cause both characters to question the way they live their lives, especially Affleck.

It is not perfect, but it is a cracking yarn to mull over on the way home from the cinema... Just drive carefully.

Also released is a film that I really want to be brilliant... but I haven't seen yet, so I don't know.

28 DAYS LATER is the latest from the 'Trainspotting' partners, director Danny Boyle and producer Andrew McDonald. The writer is Alex Garland, famous for his novel 'The Beach', which the film duo so disastrously adapted while somehow fostering a friendship with Garland. 28 Days Later is Garland's homage to zombie movies, but given a trendy 'story of our times'redressing.

The creepy story tells of a powerful virus, which escapes from a British research facility and spreads like wild fire. 'The Infected' are ridden with a permanent state of murderous rage and, within 28 days, the country is overwhelmed. Only a handful of survivors can begin their attempts to salvage a future, little realising the deadly virus is not the only thing that threatens them.

Bar Christopher Eccleston, it stars unknowns, which is good for the genre. It will be moody, horrific, atmospheric and definitely a cult classic - but that doesn't mean it is any good. Go and see it and send me a psychic message.

For something gentler, there's MR DEEDS (PG), the latest attempt by American comic Adam Sandler, to get any serious interest over here. Sandler plays a sweet-natured, small-town guy who inherits a controlling stake in a huge media conglomerate. Despite the supporting cast's natural abilities (Winona Ryder, John Turturro and Steve Buscemi) it's lame, lame, lame.