Lakeview Terrace (Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Wilson, Kerry Washington) – As my son always warns as a movie axiom: Don’t mess with Sam Jackson. Make no mistake about it, Jackson’s character, Abel Turner, is “bad.” Growing up in South Central L.A. and 28 years on the police force in some “bad” areas have hardened the man. But the soft side is evident, too. He worked overtime, extra shifts, and private security to be able to buy a house in an upscale neighborhood on a street called Lakeview Terrace, and he appears to be a good dad albeit with lots of rules. But much is amiss with Abel. His wife died three years ago and he is raising two kids – a rebellious 15-year-old girl and a bright younger son. His house is his castle and he is hell-bent on protecting it, the street and his family. But his definition of protection unfolds in terrifying ways.
When a young mixed racial couple moves in next door, Abel wants to make sure that Chris and Lisa understand the rules. Maybe more importantly, he lets his many biases show, including the one that says that the cop is always right. Lakeview Terrace is a first-rate psychological suspense drama. Make no mistake about it, this is Sam Jackson’s movie and he shows all of his considerable range as an actor. I always believed that his best performance was in Jackie Brown. He’s a little in that mode here but he also has those positive characteristics of some of his recent roles, like Coach Carter.
This is not a comfortable movie to watch and it is certainly formulaic. You never doubt where the end of the movie will go. But this film is about the journey. The couple next door, featuring relative unknown Patrick Wilson and the more accomplished Kerry Washington (Save the Last Dance, Ray, The Last King of Scotland and the soon-to-be-released Miracle at St. Anna), is just fine here so the movie doesn’t depend on them in any way. They’re just young enough not to remember that you don’t mess around with Sam Jackson.