Lights Camera Jackson

Movie Reviews, Entertainment News and Views from Lights Camera Jackson

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‘Straight Outta Compton’ Review

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“Straight Outta Compton” is a biopic that chronicles the highs and lows in the careers of rappers Dr. Dre, Eazy-E and Ice Cube, who together formed the legendary ghetto rap group N.W.A. back in the late 80s. And while I can’t write what N.W.A. stands for, I can state that this is a solid and […]
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‘The Gift’ Review

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Australian actor Joel Edgerton is best known to American audiences as the star of the MMA drama “Warrior” and as Tom Buchanan in Baz Luhrman’s version of “The Great Gatsby”. “The Gift” is Edgerton’s feature film directorial debut. It’s a tense and genuinely suspenseful thriller which he also wrote, co-produced and co-stars in, alongside the […]
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‘Vacation’ Review

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As the son of loving husband and father Clark W. Griswold (who, in the previous “Vacation” movies, may have looked like he did everything wrong, but actually did everything right), Ed Helms is the grown-up version of Rusty in this modern version of “Vacation”, which is just as zany and uneven as the original. Jonathan […]
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‘Southpaw’ Review

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“Southpaw” is about a down-on-his-luck boxer trying to make a comeback. Sound familiar? There are a few unique elements to this story, but ultimately, “Southpaw” relies on its knockout performances to carry you through a solid, but predictable, two-hour melodrama. Jake Gyllenhaal continues his winning streak, following excellent work in “Prisoners” and “Nightcrawler”. Here he […]
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‘Irrational Man’ Review

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Woody Allen continues to prove that he may just be the most prolific director working today. Every year, without fail, we get a new Allen creation. His 2015 offering is “Irrational Man”, and it’s one of the most engrossing movies of the year. About a half-hour into the film, after Allen establishes his standard, complicated […]
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‘Trainwreck’ Review

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The first half an hour of director Judd Apatow’s latest comedy, “Trainwreck”, lives-up to its title. Emmy nominated Comedy Central star Amy Schumer plays Amy – a writer for a NYC men’s magazine. She’s into heavy drinking, partying and hooking-up with lots of men, with no relationship commitments. This section of the film is made […]
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‘Amy’ Review

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The documentary “Amy” powerfully chronicles the successful and sad life of singer Amy Winehouse, who died in 2011. The Grammy-winning Jazz artist from England rose to fame with her “Back to Black” album and hit songs such as “Rehab” and “I Heard Love Is Blind”. However, her personal life was more often in the spotlight […]
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‘Ted 2’ Review

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“Ted” was “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane’s first feature film, co-writing and directing the tale of a foul-mouthed teddy bear who comes to life. Saying the film was a success is an understatement, so it’s no surprise that – 3 years later – we have “Ted 2”. What is surprising is that this sequel is […]
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‘Dope’ Review

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The indie drama “Dope” was one of the darlings of this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Open Road, best known for distributing the animated comedy “The Nut Job” and the excellent Jake Ghyllenhaal thriller “Nightcrawler”, won the multi-studio bidding war. Writer/director Rick Famuyiwa (“Our Family Wedding”) collaborated with the powerhouse production team of Pharrell Williams, Sean […]
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‘Spy’ Review

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“Bridesmaids” and “The Heat” director Paul Feig has returned for a third go-around with the Academy Award nominated star of those blockbuster comedies – Melissa McCarthy. “Spy” is a slick, sophisticated, very solid action comedy. McCarthy is CIA analyst Susan Cooper. For years, Cooper has been the voice inside the earpiece of suave secret agent […]
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