Lakeview Terrace

Year: 2008

Grade: B+

Country: USA

Director: LaBute

Review

great thriller. i think that samuel jackson has had some great roles in the past, but until i saw this one i thought that his serious acting career was all behind him. this one, while not as good as his part in jungle fever or pulp fiction (which was a different kind of role completely), is a scary good role for him. on the other side, patrick wilson balances out the film with his performance. it’s a bit like training day in that you have a cop who plays both sides of the law. whereas denzel’s character in that one only gives the appearance of goodness, jackson actually has some compassion here. of course, things eventually spiral out of control and he has to commit to a drastic course, but this is out of self-preservation rather than simply being an evil character. loved the impending wildfires, the racial stuff, and the general discomfort that the film had.

Watched in theater