Here’s LCJ’s list of the Top 10 Best Films of the First Half of 2018
1. “READY PLAYER ONE”
Steven Spielberg’s dazzling, rousing and emotional book to screen action/adventure adaptation is one of the most exciting and entertaining big-budget movies in recent years.
2. “INCREDIBLES 2”
Brad Bird knocked it out of the park again, with his highly-anticipated follow-up to Disney/Pixar’s Oscar winning 2004 animated hit.
3. “ANNIHILATION”
“Ex Machina” writer/director Alex Garland crafted another deep, immersive, sci-fi experience (based on the popular novel), with Natalie Portman delivering a fantastic performance.
4. “EARLY MAN”
“Wallace & Gromit” creator Nick Park’s claymation caveman comedy is sweet and pure fun.
5. “AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR”
The most buzzworthy movie of 2018 so far is an intense and dramatic ensemble piece.
SPECIAL MENTIONS
“EIGHTH GRADE”
A24 and Bo Burnham’s coming-of-age dramedy opens July 13th, so I can’t (technically) put it in My Top 5 of the First Half list, but it is an excellent movie.
“PATERNO”
This HBO movie starring a powerhouse Al Pacino as former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno is absolutely enthralling. Look for it to garner several Emmy nominations.
Lights Camera Jackson (a.k.a. Jackson Murphy) began his career as a film critic/entertainment reporter in 2006 at the age of 7. Jackson has written nearly 1,000 reviews of new releases. All together he has seen more than 1,500 films. In 2010, Jackson became the youngest person to win a NY Emmy Award, for his on-air movie reviews on Time Warner TV station, Capital News 9.
Jackson is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association. The BFCA’s annual Critics Choice Awards is one of the industry’s most respected awards shows. Jackson is also a member of SAG-AFTRA. He votes annually for the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
LCJ appears every Friday morning on WGNA-FM . His movie reviews are also posted on his website, his YouTube channel and the popular website Cultjer.com. He is also a contributing writer for Jerry Beck’s AnimationScoop.com. Jackson hosts the weekly internet pop culture news show “LCJ LIVE” (every Sunday at Noon ET). And “The LCJ Q&A Podcast” features interviews with celebrities and filmmakers.