Movie Review: Lakeview Terrace

I finally got around to watching Lakeview Terrace (alright, so the DVD came in the mail from BlockBuster). I have to say, the film leaves a few holes and wasn't quite what I expected. Nonetheless, it stars Samuel L. Jackson. Samuel L. Jackson! So it can't be all bad, right? Right!

In all honesty, this film would have been better served if the trailers didn't completely suck balls.

Story Line:
Lakeview Terrace takes place in a neighborhood in Los Angeles. It is about an interracially married couple who just move into a starter home next door to an LAPD officer, Abel, who has a slight problem with interracial marriages. Actually, the movie goes much deeper. The film goes much deeper into Abel's life by showing him correcting his daughters language and his treatment of other African Americans. However his treatment towards the couple receives the bulk of attention.

Review:
The film's plot is amazing. Attitudes towards interracial marriage and race in general is almost never touched upon in public. Lakeview Terrace attempts to bring up taboo subjects and have the audience talking days later about the possible problems with America's real society instead of just Hollywood's wonderland. In that I believe the film was successful.

However, where the film falters is in the plot holes and inaccuracies left behind.

Spoiler:
Why does Abel answer his cellphone towards the end of the film? Does he not recognize the number? Does he not have the number placed in his directory? Not only that, why does Chris even bother calling the number? At the very most he should have turned the phone over to the police and have them deal with it. Even if you can argue he should do something, doesn't the phone have Abel in the directory? How could both of them simultaneously not realize who the other person is on the phone? It just doesn't make sense! Even after all of this, Abel says something about the criminal calling him. Sure Abel, the only problem is you called him last to tell him to get out of the house.

I don't necessarily have a problem with the very end of the film. It is a classic tragedy made with modern characters.

Stars:
Overall I must say the film is overrated. It has some hints of decency, but the (see spoilers) really, really bother me. The film could be much better. Two stars.