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Lakeview Terrace
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MPAA RATING: PG-13 for intense thematic material, violence, sexuality, language and some drug references
Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Wilson, Kerry Washington, Eva La Rue, and Bitsie Tulloch
In Lakeview Terrace, a young couple has just moved into their California dream home when they become the target of their next-door neighbor, who disapproves of their interracial relationship. A stern, single father, this tightly wound LAPD officer has appointed himself the watchdog of the neighborhood. His nightly foot patrols and overly watchful eyes bring comfort to some, but he becomes increasingly harassing to the newlyweds. These persistent intrusions into their lives ultimately turn tragic when the couple decides to fight back. (Sony Pictures)
| GENRE(S): | Drama | Suspense/Thriller |
| WRITTEN BY: |
David Loughery
Howard Korder |
| DIRECTED BY: | Neil LaBute |
| RELEASE DATE: |
DVD: January 27, 2009 Theatrical: September 19, 2008 |
| RUNNING TIME: | 110 minutes, Color |
| ORIGIN: | USA |
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
The average user rating for this movie is 1.9 (out of 10) based on 49 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Chad S. gave it a7:
From out of the mouths of puppets, no truer words about race have ever been expressed in the popular arena than in the song "Everyone's A Little Bit Racist"(from the Tony Award-winning musical "Avenue Q), when Princeton and Kate Monster sing in tandem, "Look around you and you will find/No one's really color blind/Maybe it's a fact/We all should face/Everyone makes judgments/Based on race." In spite of its zombie-like commitment to genre conventions, "Lakeside Terrace" manages to illuminate the little documented fact about middle-class black racism with enough provocative elan to rupture the film's commercial surface. Set in Riverdale County, an area prone to brush fires, the filmmaker suggests that "Lakeside Terrace" could climax by metaphorical means(instead of "Crash", the movie could be dubbed "Burn"), instead of resolving the conflict between neighbors with prosaic expediency; a gun. But Abel Turner(Samuel L. Jackson) wasn't always a racist; he used to be just a little bit racist, like Lisa's dad, who accepts Chris(Patrick Wilson) for his daughter's sake. Since Harold(Ron Glass) never comes to his daughter's defense by having a few words with Abel, however, he is, in essence, complicit in the LAPD cop's harassing techniques; in particular, the floodlights that he shines into the interracial couple's bedroom. "Lakeside Terrace" gets to the root of racism by politicizing the sexual congress between men and women from disparate ethnological backgrounds. The floodlights make their love look like a crime. This seemingly routine thriller is smart about bringing racial taboos to the surface, even when the narrative itself degenerates into imbecility. When Chris thanks Abel, after the police officer comes to his wife's defense, his naivety strains the credibility of the film. After all, this is a man who waved a power-saw in his direction. But in a previous scene, Lisa(Kerry Washington) tells her husband, "Don't be nice because he's black," before he ventures off to speak with Abel about the bright lights. In this context, Chris' behavior looks less like naivety, and more like condescesion. He cuts Abel some slack because of his race. Now even Chris seems a little bit racist, too.
Saw the matinée with a buddy and it was a ride. I love Sam the man Jackson. I had a neighbor like this and people do crazy stuff to protect themselves.
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