Leatherheads (C+ or 2.5/4 stars)
Abel Turner (Samuel L. Jackson), will stop at nothing to rid a new couple from 'Lakeview Terrace', a thriller directed by Neil LaBute. The couple is Chris & Lisa Mattson (Patrick Wilson, Kerry Washington). Though initially ecstatic to move into their California dream home, they become disenfranchised as they realize that their not-so-friendly African-American neighbor disapproves of their interracial relationship. Little do they know the lengths he'd go to to assert himself as neighborhood inforcer. 'LT' is a half-baked film. It wants to say a lot about racism. It wants to send shivers up our spines & 'thrill' us in the end. But it falls short on both accounts. Still, the performances, and the different-from-the-norm subject matter made this a mildly & oddly satisfactory venture to the theater.
Chris & Lisa are newlyweds. Though she works from home, & he's in the supermarket business, they're somehow able to afford some nice property in Lakeview Terrace (gorgeous in-ground pool included). Living next door is an LAPD officer named Abel, a strict, intimidating single father of 2. Though they're amiable people, Abel immediately dislikes the newlyweds because he doesn't agree with their union (there's another reason, it comes up late in the proceedings).
There's a growing unease. Tensions arise (side comments here, forboding glances there). But things really heat up when Abel finds his kids spying on the couple making love in their sparkling pool. From here on in, Abel slowly but surely makes his increasing disgust known to them (using vile, psychological tactics). Will his evil cat & mouse games wear them down? Will they move away? Can they stay strong & fight back? OR, has Abel succeeded in planting a bad seed in the hearts of the young couple? Can their marriage survive this recent turmoil? And can they survive, at all?
A lot of the suspense generated from the first 2/3's of this film is genuine (like a pot bubbling, brewing, waiting to boil over). It's a provocative & challenging film because of the subject matter. That said, it really should have been even more disturbing. The directing in the 1st 2/3's is slow & methodical (with success). The acting goes hand & hand with this. Samuel L. Jackson's portrayal of a man who wants to do good (by his job & children), but is tormented by his inner demons, is stellar. He's an intense guy; NOT a complete wacko, but it all falls apart for him in the end (perhaps an err in the direction). Wilson & Washington tackle the interracial couple card; but they do well with it. It's the performances that elevate the level of this very average, conventional thriller.
Racial intolerance is the film's main draw. And I wish 'Lakeview Terrace' explored this more. It's a bizarre movie because while I was never bored, & fairly engrossed, some subplots mysteriously disappear midway through, and the ending gives-out (like an airless balloon). There's a particular moment near the end where I 'literally' rolled me eyes & said, "Oh, geez, they're REALLY going there, huh?" The potboiler component of the movie stopped & I watched a carbon copy ending that I've seen a dozen times (where most of the characters onscreen just start acting completely stupid and/or inconsistent with how they've been the rest of the story). You know, 'LT' is the classic Friday night movie. You grab some dinner, head to the theater, etc. The movie is just fine. But when all is said & done, there'll be a lot less deliberating over it afterwards than you would have expected.
Chris & Lisa are newlyweds. Though she works from home, & he's in the supermarket business, they're somehow able to afford some nice property in Lakeview Terrace (gorgeous in-ground pool included). Living next door is an LAPD officer named Abel, a strict, intimidating single father of 2. Though they're amiable people, Abel immediately dislikes the newlyweds because he doesn't agree with their union (there's another reason, it comes up late in the proceedings).
There's a growing unease. Tensions arise (side comments here, forboding glances there). But things really heat up when Abel finds his kids spying on the couple making love in their sparkling pool. From here on in, Abel slowly but surely makes his increasing disgust known to them (using vile, psychological tactics). Will his evil cat & mouse games wear them down? Will they move away? Can they stay strong & fight back? OR, has Abel succeeded in planting a bad seed in the hearts of the young couple? Can their marriage survive this recent turmoil? And can they survive, at all?
A lot of the suspense generated from the first 2/3's of this film is genuine (like a pot bubbling, brewing, waiting to boil over). It's a provocative & challenging film because of the subject matter. That said, it really should have been even more disturbing. The directing in the 1st 2/3's is slow & methodical (with success). The acting goes hand & hand with this. Samuel L. Jackson's portrayal of a man who wants to do good (by his job & children), but is tormented by his inner demons, is stellar. He's an intense guy; NOT a complete wacko, but it all falls apart for him in the end (perhaps an err in the direction). Wilson & Washington tackle the interracial couple card; but they do well with it. It's the performances that elevate the level of this very average, conventional thriller.
Racial intolerance is the film's main draw. And I wish 'Lakeview Terrace' explored this more. It's a bizarre movie because while I was never bored, & fairly engrossed, some subplots mysteriously disappear midway through, and the ending gives-out (like an airless balloon). There's a particular moment near the end where I 'literally' rolled me eyes & said, "Oh, geez, they're REALLY going there, huh?" The potboiler component of the movie stopped & I watched a carbon copy ending that I've seen a dozen times (where most of the characters onscreen just start acting completely stupid and/or inconsistent with how they've been the rest of the story). You know, 'LT' is the classic Friday night movie. You grab some dinner, head to the theater, etc. The movie is just fine. But when all is said & done, there'll be a lot less deliberating over it afterwards than you would have expected.