We’ll file this one under “Y” for “YAWN.” Looks like quintessential schlub’s schlub Neil LaBute has just signed a two-picture deal with Screen Gems following the improbable success of “Lakeview Terrace.” If you’re lucky enough to have blocked that one out, it was the tepid-looking “good cop or bad cop???” racial drama starring Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington that performed better than anyone could have predicted at the end of last summer. On the back of that, LaBute has scored himself at least two more spins in the director’s chair.
It looks like LaBute’s ship, if not sailing, is at least making its final preparations to shove off. Though “Nurse Betty” was a lot of fun and “The Shape of Things” wasn’t a complete disaster, he’s running out of good will around here. After the debacle of “Wicker Man” and the exercise in asinine tripe that was ‘LT,’ neither of these projects look like they can reinvigorate his former arty cred. We guess the real question is which one of these dudes is the real Neil LaBute?
