1 Star:
Samuel L. Jackson's movies have made more money than any other actor. I believe he dethroned Harrison Ford, although I have to imagine that Will Smith is getting close. One of the main reasons I think Sam Jackson does so well is because he'll do anything. He's fun to watch whether you're watching "Pulp Fiction," "Star Wars" or "Snakes on a Plane." He's been in some of the best movies ever, but holy shit as he been in some crap.
"Lakeview Terrace" would fall in the crap category. Jackson plays a cop in a suburban neighborhood in Los Angeles. His wife is dead and he has two kids. The best scene in the whole movie is when his son walks in wearing a Kobe Bryant jersey and Jackson makes him change into a Shaquille O'Neil Miami Heat jersey because they blame Kobe for the team falling apart. Unfortunately, by the time this movie came out the Lakers and Kobe Bryant were able to turn everything around, but I still found it funny.
An interracial couple played by Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington moves in next door. You can tell Jackson is disgusted by this and doesn't approve. Jackson isn't the only one who disapproves, Kerry Washington's dad does too. I'm not going to pretend that interracial couples don't deal with idiot racist bastards, but the fact that this movie has to turn it into a violent showdown is kind of ridiculous.
There are a couple of different routes this movie could have taken. One route is a straight forward approach. Make the movie about the struggles that this couple has to deal with and use the "some people never change" ending. It doesn't have to be happy or violent. The other approach would be the sappy version where this couple is able to make Sam Jackson see the error in his ways and he becomes a better man.
This movie is just a waste of time. I really like when a movie can tackle a weighty issue such as racism, but you need to be able to challenge your audience or at least shock them. "Gran Torino" is the movie you need to see if you're looking for a movie that handles prejudices. "Lakeview Terrace" tackles racism much like "Rocky IV" tackled the cold war in Russia.
BYLINE:
Bob Zerull is a frequent movie and concert goer who talks about his ventures to arenas and theaters more than any person should be allowed to do. Now, he puts them down on paper. Email him your thoughts at: bzerull19@gmail.com.
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