Thanks for checking out our Lakeview Terrace reviews. The video version of our Lakeview Terrace review is at the bottom of this post if you’d like to check that out.
Not many people can deny that, love him or hate him, Samuel L Jackson is one of the hardest working and prolific actors in the business today. It seems like his name is on the credits list for 3 out of every 10 films that hit the theaters today. I mean hell… in the last 2 years alone the man has been in Snakes on a Plane, Black Snake Moan, Home of the Brave, Resurrecting the Champ, 1408, Cleaner, Jumper, now Lakeview Terrace, and is coming up in The Spirit and about 5 other project. And to me, he’s usually money. Yes, I’m one of those guys who really appreciates Samuel L Jackson… even when the movies he chooses to be in aren’t all that good. So how does Lakeview Terrace work out for him? Not so well unfortunately.
THE GENERAL IDEA
The synopsis for Lakeview Terrace reads something like this: “Chris Mattson (Patrick Wilson) and Lisa Mattson (Kerry Washington), a young interracial couple, have 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, widowed-single father of two, LAPD officer Abel Turner (Samuel L. Jackson) is 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. The persistent intrusions into the lives of Chris and Lisa ultimately take a turn for the worse when the couple decides to fight back.”
THE GOOD
On it’s surface, the general premise sounds like a promising one. Many of us can relate to having neighbors that we don’t exactly get along with. Maybe we’ve even had some tension with the people next door. Most of us have never had outright hostility with our neighbors, but I think most of us have at least WORRIED about that concept… so there is a degree of relateability in the premise. And the theme of a “bad cop” is one we’ve seen a thousand times… so that one generally works.
The one thing I appreciated the most about Lakeview Terrace is the complexity of Samuel L Jackson’s character. Yes, he’s the “bad guy” of the movie (which is made obvious in the trailers), but he’s not cut and dry bad. He is in principle a good man who has had tragedy in his life which has effected him in terrible (and yet not obvious) ways. He still wants to be a good man… sees himself as a good man… wants the best for his kids and community… but is so bruised and damaged that his actions and attitudes become dictated by his issues. I really enjoyed that aspect of this character, and true to form, Samuel L Jackson played it perfectly.
THE BAD
This is a very boring movie. Look, we all understood from the trailer and the 60 second commercials and even just the posters, that there are 2 sets of neighbors, one is a cop and they don’t get along. There is tension. I got that and understood that clearly from a 60 second commercial. Why then do the film makers feel it necessary to take over an hour of the movie just to establish that. “Oh look… there’s some tension between the neighbors”. “Oh look… now there’s MORE tension between the neighbors”. “Hey look, see how the ension is building between the neighbors”? YES!!!!! I frigging get it! Now let’s see something actually HAPPEN!!!!! It was very frustrating.
The movie tries to intelligently address some race issues… specifically inter-racial relationships (Jackson’s new next door neighbors are a mixed couple with a white husband and black wife). The problem is, it felt completely clueless and about 10 years too late. Yes, as you’ll see in the movie the issues are a specific point of contention for Jackson, but as a whole it felt irrelevant in today’s world. Maybe my person view on this issue is skewed because my last long term girlfriend was black and I (as a very white dude) never had a single issue with anyone. Anyway, the issue felt forced in the film and always stood out to be as a little desperate.
OVERALL
Lakeview Terrace ends up being a very slow, boring, directionless film that is almost compensated by a terrific character and performance by Samuel L Jackson… but it doesn’t quite do it. The movie was all premise and no execution sadly. Overall I give Lakeview Terrace a 3 out of 10.
The video version of our Lakeview Terrace review can be seen here:
