Lights Camera Jackson

Reviews, News, and Views from Jackson Murphy

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‘Early Man’ Review

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“Early Man” is the fifth stop-motion feature from iconic British animation studio Aardman. It also marks the triumphant directorial return of Nick Park, the creator of Wallace & Gromit and Oscar-winner for the duo’s 2005 film, “The Curse of the Were-Rabbit”. “Early Man” is packed with Aardman’s trademark comedic style. But with each of their […]
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‘Hostiles’ Review

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Scott Cooper continues to be one of the most fascinating, under-the-radar directors working today. Following his moving music drama “Crazy Heart” (which earned Jeff Bridges an Oscar), the gritty “Out of the Furnace” (with Christian Bale and Woody Harrelson) and “Black Mass” (starring Johnny Depp as gangster Whitey Bulger) Cooper now takes-on a genre that’s […]
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‘Blade Runner 2049’ Review

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For its time, 1982’s “Blade Runner” was mind-blowing, sophisticated science fiction at it’s best. Its long-awaited sequel, “Blade Runner 2049” is equally worthy of such praise. Of course Harrison Ford starred in the original, which came out around the same time as his early “Indiana Jones” and “Star Wars” films. In the past decade, Ford’s […]
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‘American Made’ Review

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Tom Cruise has proven throughout his career that with the right role – he’s money. Cruise was completely miscast in this year’s “Mummy” reboot – and the film flopped. But he’s back as Hollywood’s “Top Gun” action star with “American Made”, re-teaming with  “Edge of Tomorrow” director Doug Liman. This is the story of airline […]
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‘The Hero’ Review

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“The Hero” is the Best Movie of 2017 so far, highlighted by the first Lead Actor nomination-worthy performance of the year. For the most part throughout his career, Sam Elliott has thrived as a character actor, best known for supporting work in films such as “Tombstone”, “The Big Lebowski” and “Hulk” – and for countless TV […]
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‘Lost in London LIVE’ Review

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Woody Harrelson is best known for the classic TV comedy “Cheers”, films “White Men Can’t Jump”, “Natural Born Killers”, “The People vs. Larry Flynt” (for which he received his first of two Oscar nominations) and, more recently, for his role as Haymitch in the blockbuster “Hunger Games” franchise. But his latest film may just be […]
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‘The Founder’ Review

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It’s the Hollywood comeback story of the decade: Michael Keaton was a mega movie star in the 80s and 90s (from “Mr. Mom” to “Beetlejuice” to “Batman”). Then his career took a nose-dive for nearly 20 years. Now Keaton has returned with a vengeance, starring in the past two Best Picture Oscar winners, “Birdman” and “Spotlight”. […]
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‘Sing’ Review

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In the world of “Sing” (as was the case with this spring’s “Zootopia”), animals talk, behave and live like humans. As a young child, koala bear Buster Moon loved going to the theatre with his dad. Years later they decided to open The Moon Theatre. But after countless grand productions, Buster finds himself with an […]
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‘The Accountant’ Review

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“The Accountant” is one of the most unique films I’ve seen this year. In describing the “genre-bending thriller”, director Gavin O’Connor (“Warrior”) told Entertainment Weekly, “It’s such an odd movie, man.” One of the integral lines of dialogue featured in the trailer and the film is when a supporting character says “Different scares people.” But […]
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‘Kubo and the Two Strings’ Review

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In the opening narration of “Kubo and the Two Strings”, our young hero asks of us, “If you must blink, do it now.” Turns-out – it’s difficult to take your eyes off the screen while watching one of the most visually striking and emotionally intense movies of the year. “Kubo” is the latest stop-motion animated […]
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