|
LAKEVIEW TERRACE Send This Review to a Friend
The idea of a white bigot plaguing an interracial couple is reversed in “Lakeview Terrace,” with a black bigot being the culprit this time around. When you have Samuel L. Jackson playing the villainous Los Angeles Police department officer, the film has a basic strength as a result of Jackson’s forceful presence. With Neil LaBute as director, the film also gains from his skill at pushing audience buttons. Yet, when all is said and done, there is hollowness to the project even though one’s attention has been gripped throughout.
In the plot, written by David Loughery and Howard Korder based on a story by Loughery, a young interracial couple, Chris and Lisa, played effectively by Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington, move into an upscale area. They quickly encounter the hostility of Jackson as neighbor cop Abel Turner, a widower. There’s a personal reason for his anger gnawing at him, about which we eventually learn, and he is also having problems in the LAPD as a result of his excessive use of force. A psychotic aspect of his personality and behavior is clearly evident as and he is overly moralistic and strict in raising his daughter.
Turner takes to harassing the couple and confronting them with an edge whenever they meet. The situation will escalate toward a melodramatic finish. However, the plot also involves issues between Chris and Lisa, with problems stemming from differences as to when they will have a child and opposition to the marriage by Lisa’s father.
All of this is a lot to pack into the story, but the driving force is always the scary behavior by Turner and the fear of the situation exploding into tragedy. Unfortunately, it all feels overly manipulative and valid issues descend into mere fodder for a conventional thriller. A Screen Gems release.
|