The Perfect Neighbor

Netflix trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNp85HGJtoo

This is the one you've got to see. Kathryn Bigelow's "A House of Dynamite" is the one getting all the hype, but "The Perfect Neighbor" will get to you. This is America.

My favorite story about a bad neighbor was told to me by Al Kooper. I was complaining to him about my problem neighbor and he interrupted me to tell me about his. He was living in the Hollywood Hills and his next door neighbor left their garbage cans blocking his driveway again and again and again, there was nothing he could do or say to stop them. So I asked Al what he did...and he said "I MOVED!"

Entitlement. That's the scourge of America today. The people who feel that they alone rule their space and they're entitled to live sans interference. But last I checked we live in a society. And we all have to get along. But we don't.

So what we've got here is a lower class area in Ocala, Florida where everybody is a renter and most people are Black. But there's this one elderly white neighbor who believes she's entitled to peace and quiet. She doesn't want the kids playing in the empty lot next door, even though they have permission to do so. And she keeps calling the cops.

Know how many times I've called the cops in my life? ZERO. NONE! That's just not what you do. If you can't solve the dispute, if you can't back off, back away, extricate yourself... Who cares if you're right. Can't you learn that life is not about being right? Life is about getting along. So you pussyfoot around the bad actors until...

It just becomes too much. You can only poke people so many times until they get angry. And then you've got to stand your ground.

My next door neighbor couldn't believe I blocked her online. But if I even dropped the needle on a record she contacted me to turn it down. Even if I had all the windows shut. I mean can't you be reasonable?

But too many cannot. They're bugged by the behavior of their brethren.

I just don't get it. I mean if your neighbors are partying to four a.m. every weekend, maybe go over and speak to them, nicely. Even better, if you're having a party, invite your next door neighbor, show that you're aware of them. Because as soon as you take to the mattresses, as soon as you start calling the police, as soon as you start causing trouble...there's no turning back.

People just want to live. Kids just want to be kids. Don't want any interruptions? Go live out in the country, alone.

And be aware of where you're moving anyway. I'm never going to move next to a school, I'm never going to live on a main drag, I don't want to tolerrate that noise. But if you choose to live there...come on, that was part of the bargain.

So not everybody in America is a star, not everybody is an influencer. Can you have sympathy/identify with those less fortunate who have kids or are you going to judge them right off the bat?

You'll be faced with this question right away in this film.

And are you the type who is duplicitious. Never telling the truth... You've got to know, others have your number.

And there's only so much the police can do anyway... Never mind when you bring in the police you ratchet up the contention to a new level, and the odds of calming the situation down to nothing are nil.

So something happens.

And you realize the people involved...the victims, are really no different from you and me. One false move and your entire future is compromised, can be in an instant.

Now this is a fascinating documentary in that the story is not told by talking heads, there are no recreations, it's all bodycam footage. So think what you want, but we can't argue over the facts.

Everybody in America should see this film, so we can have a national discussion about getting along.

But instead, we demonize our enemies, believing that they must comport with the behavior we desire, that they have no choice, that we rule.

And this is patently wrong.

And ten percent of the country is positively insane anyway.

And you don't want them involved in a dispute.

"The Perfect Neighbor" is not a huge commitment. It's barely longer than an hour and a half. And you my not be gripped for a while, might think it's repetitive, BUT HANG IN THERE!


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