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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 2.5 (out of 10) based on 58 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
hal b gave it a6:
Ignore the "0" and "1" reviews. This film, although seriously flawed, is not THAT bad. It's a moderately entertaining suspense/thriller for much of it's running time -- but it's seriously compromised by just plain silly plot turns towards the climax... there are certain implausible actions, by one character in particular at the end, that really turn a potentially decent movie into a 'Oh, my, that's a shame' kind of film. Could have been so much better.
Eddie S gave it a0:
'Lakeview Terrace' is one of those movies that play with your nerves and your patience for no reason. A movie where people are not afraid to use gardening tools against eachother but on the other hand they find it very difficult to confront one another without using cliches, stereotypes, and innuendos. You will find yourselves asking "why did he just do/say that?" very often. Yep. It is one of these annoying/stupid movies where people act as if there are no consequences of what they do. It's the story of a (black) police officer that obviously envies his (white) neighbor for his education, money, job, and gorgeous (black) wife - and spends whatever little time he has off the job to make his neighbor's life miserable. The whole movie is nothing more than a contest of manliness that borders with stupidity as the movie progresses. ALL main characters are at war with eachother and every conversation ends up being a serious arguement. From the point where Jackson first meets his neighbor, it is evident that this is going to get nasty - and retarded. Jackson's character is a man that is not afraid to step into a social gathering, act as a smartass - insult everyone, and leave "knowing" he just achieved something grandiose! My advice: Stay clear of this movie.
Jon gave it a0:
Could have been the worst movie ever made. there is no plot, no nothing. terrible characters, and you don't understand why Samuel L jackson is doing anything that he's doing.
Jay H. gave it a6:
Flawed but it is suspenseful. Well produced, fine performances. It's a bit predictable but I was never bored at least. Good score.
George P. gave it a1:
Arguably the dumbest movie ever made.
David D gave it a7:
Alot of the Critics are too harsh. Read Ebert, as usual he is poignant. I give this movie a 7, because I have issues with the ending, but other than that this deserves a watch.
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.
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