Review of Lakeview Terrace (2008) by Andy A — 31 Oct 2009

The trailer for this movie was a prime example of how advertising can so utterly fail. For those of you groaning about this just being another suburbanite thriller then you'd be only half-right. Beneath it all there's a not-too-subtle modern psychology at work.

Though the physical nature of this film is all-too-familiar, where a seemingly benign neighbor becomes the object of tension in what would otherwise be a candyland of nuclear families and whiteness, it's an interesting quote on interracial relations.

Patrick Wilson is apt and sort of comes into his own but with time, his performance sort of fades from memorability since the yuppie husband he plays is something a bit bland. Sammy J. is the real saving grace, surprise surprise.

Anyone unconvinced of his ability since "Snakes" should at least give him his dues. He's not spouting profanities or killing people left and right. He's a cop but it's almost tangential to his character.

First and foremost he's a widower and helicopter dad with two kids that can barely stand him. Who'd have guessed? And yet he quietly dominates his scenes with a passive menace that only occasionally surfaces for some bitter air.

See it for him if for nothing else.