BLU-RAY REVIEW

Lakeview Terrace

Featured In Issue 138, January/February 2009

Picture4.5
SoundNR
WSR Score3
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
25375
(MPAA Rating):
PG-13
(Rating Reason):
Intense thematic material, violence, sexuality, language, and some drug references
(Retail Price):
$39.95
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
110
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A, B & C
(Theatrical Year):
2008
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
01/27/09
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Neil Labute
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
Dolby TrueHD 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Chinese Language):
(Subtitles):
(Cantonese Language):
(Mandarin Language):
(Japanese Language):
(Italian Language):
(German Language):
(Portuguese Language):

What could be safer than living next to a cop? A young couple (Wilson & Washington) find out when they move into their California dream home and become the target of their next-door neighbor, who disapproves of their interracial relationship. Their neighbor happens to be a a tightly wound LAPD officer (Jackson) who has appointed himself the watchdog of the neighborhood. His nightly foot patrols and overly watchful eyes bring comfort to some, but he becomes increasingly harassing to the newlyweds. These persistent intrusions into their lives cause the couple to fight back. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Director Neil Labute and Kerry Washington, eight deleted scenes with commentary by Director Labute (SD 13:49), three Welcome To Lakeview Terrace: Behind The Scenes featurettes (HD 19:31), seven previews, and BD-Live capability.

The 2.40:1 1080p AVC picture quality exhibits excellent contrast with natural-looking exterior scenes both in full daylight sun and at night. Color fidelity is superb, with accurate fleshtones and saturated hues throughout. Images are sharp and clear with excellent resolution and detail exhibited in facial expressions, clothes, and textures. Black levels appear natural, and details in shadows are clearly exhibited. This is a satisfying picture with a natural look that enhances the realism. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby TrueHD 5.1-channel soundtrack is nicely presented with moments of intense surround envelopment. Conventionally produced center channel dialogue is forward sounding with poor spatial integration in the scenes. The ADR-produced dialogue always is intelligible. Subtle ambient sound effects provide effective enhancements, both in the front and surround channels. At times the surrounds are aggressively directionalized. The music score also contributes to the surround envelopment presence. Bass extension is, at times, deep and intense, extending to below 25 Hz. Overall, this is a well-produced soundtrack, though often with a far-forward dialogue presence. (Gary Reber)