DVD Review: Lakeview Terrace
Samuel L. Jackson Enters Battle of Wills in Neighbourly Spat
Feb 4, 2009
Chris and Lisa Mattson (Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington) are a young interracial couple moving into a decent, upscale suburban area in a Southern California community. Upon their first day in their house, they come to notice their next door neighbor, a seemingly nice enough, but stern single parent, Abel Turner (Samuel L. Jackson).
First assuming that Chris had been part of the team of movers bringing furniture into the house, Abel soon turns into a problem for the young couple, having issues with the thought of an interracial couple next door. While he already has his hands full with a dangerous job policing the city streets on his cop beat, and raising two difficult kids who have issues with his strict rules, Abel decides to make life hell for his neighbors, finding irritating ways to pass his message along (bright spotlights through their bedroom window, sabotaging their air conditioning, vandalizing their car, etc.). How does a young, innocent couple manage to convince the police that one of their own is the likely suspect in these events? When Chris and Lisa decide to take matters into their own hands, the neighborhood sees a battle of wills that will change both families forever.
Lakeview Terrace Overall Analysis
Given the in-your-face promotional material, posters, and any item related to this movie, it goes without saying that this is a shameless Samuel Jackson vehicle. Despite having been cast as the erstwhile villain in this piece, the viewer can't help but have mixed feelings about his character of Abel, and whether it's okay to root for or against him.
Jackson, whose sheer intimidating screen presence is always hard to miss, commands the screen once again, with yet another strong willed character. This is no different from his usual niche role, that of an opinionated, authoritative man, as seen in Coach Carter, Pulp Fiction, and to a more recent extent, The Spirit. Patrick Wilson is well cast as the more timid, frustrated neighbor, but like most cast members on this project he is easily overshadowed by Jackson (then again, who isn't?). Wilson holds his own well enough, as does Kerry Washington, playing an exasperated wife, whose new life in a new city proves challenging.
The story is tight and well written, custom designed to make the audience uncomfortable, allowing us to empathize with the young couple. Anyone who has ever been antagonized based on a difference of opinion, will react to that uneasy feeling of feeling trapped and intimidated by what seems at first to be a reasonable neighbor.
The suspense builds nicely, but in the end it is still and always Jackson's show. Allowing for a bit more flexibility in spreading the acting wealth around the cast list, would have helped improve the film. Grey's Anatomy's Justin Chambers (who plays Dr. Alex Karev on the hit show) briefly appears here as a loudmouth friend of the young couple; it makes one wonder what the film might have looked like, had he been cast as Chris, the protagonist, instead of Patrick Wilson.
And so, Lakeview Terrace is nothing remarkable; watch it only if you enjoy Samuel Jackson and his ability to chew up the scenery with his antics, which still manage to sell relatively well at the box office.
The DVD is remarkably devoid of interesting extras, save for one feature about location filming in SoCal, and about a half dozen deleted scenes, removed for clarity.
7 out of 10, for consistent suspense, and yet another strong performance by Samuel L. Jackson.
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