Lights Camera Jackson

Movie Reviews, Entertainment News and Views from Lights Camera Jackson

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Can’t Stop the (Movie) Music

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Animated and live-action family films are some of Hollywood’s biggest moneymakers. They’re also prime candidates for song opportunities. Several 2016 films (including ones yet to be released) are taking full advantage: Shakira voices pop singer Gazelle and sings the original song “Try Everything” in Disney’s “Zootopia”. It’s upbeat and very catchy, and the lyrics hold […]
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Best. Simpsons. Season. Ever.

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For the record, (unlike with “SpongeBob”) I have not seen every episode of “The Simpsons”. I’ve watch a good amount from the first 15 seasons or so (including most of the “classic” episodes). But I have seen every new episode since 2005. Many diehard fans believe the quality of “The Simpsons” began to fall-off once […]
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Marvel at the Movies

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“Captain America: Civil War” is the 13th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And the comic book mega-giant, with Disney and Sony distributing, have nearly as many films – 12 (both origin stories and sequels) – scheduled from now through 2020. So before this superhero saga really gets (Doctor) “Strange” in November, let’s see how […]
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Why I’m #TeamIronMan

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Marvel’s “Captain America” movies are the most well-made out of all the efforts in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Star Chris Evans has been able to make people forget he was ever Johnny Storm in the original “Fantastic Four” films. And this is the 75th Anniversary of the Marvel Comics debut of The Star Spangled Man […]
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4th Annual May Box Office Predictions

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For the past few years, I have predicted the box office results for every May wide release kicking-off the Summer Movie Season. In 2013, I estimated a record-breaking $1.59 billion combined total of all the May films, led by “Iron Man 3”. The result was still a record, but a little lower at $1.42B. My […]
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Hail to the Chiefs

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In the midst of this crazy Primary Season and with the release of “Elvis & Nixon”, starring Michael Shannon (“99 Homes”) as the King of Rock-N-Roll, and Kevin Spacey as our 37th President, here’s a look at some recent cinematic explorations of the position of Commander in Chief. It’s a toss-up between two for my […]
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Curtain Call for Streep’s “Florence”

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Paramount has announced that Meryl Streep’s latest film, “Florence Foster Jenkins”, will open in the US on August 12th. Streep stars as Jenkins, a New York heiress who is remembered as the World’s WORST Opera Singer. Hugh Grant plays her loving and supportive husband and it’s directed by Stephen Frears – no stranger to capturing […]
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Listen Closely

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Several Hollywood A-listers have and/or will be lending their distinct voices to multiple animated movies this year: Academy Award-winner J.K. Simmons is soon to be seen alongside Susan Sarandon in the indie comedy “The Meddler” (in theaters Apr. 22). But we’ve already heard him in 2016’s two animated blockbusters. He voiced Mayor Lionheart in Disney’s […]
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“I’ll Keep Doing Them Until They Kick Me Out!”

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That’s what Melissa McCarthy told me at the Critics Choice Awards in January when referring to the string of over-the-top, R-rated comedies she’s been starring in. The 45-year-old actress, who got her big break on TV’s “Gilmore Girls” and then won an Emmy for the CBS sitcom “Mike & Molly” (which ends next month), officially […]
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Gyllenhaal v Hardy: Career Showdown

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Men want to be them. Ladies want to be with them. No – I’m not referring to superheroes. Frankly, I’ve come-up with a more interesting, cinematic showdown. Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Hardy are two of the most popular and “hottest” actors working today. Hardy is fresh-off an Oscar nomination for his gritty performance in “The […]
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