Lights Camera Jackson

Movie Reviews, Entertainment News and Views from Lights Camera Jackson

Navigation

‘Out of the Furnace’ Review

By

“Out of the Furnace” is an unconventional, gritty drama from director Scott Cooper (“Crazy Heart”). Christian Bale is very good as Russell, a steel mill worker in rural Braddock, Pennsylvania whose brother Rodney (played by Casey Affleck) is about to serve his fourth tour of duty in Iraq. A fatal DWI accident sends Russell to […]
CONTINUE

‘Nebraska’ Review

By

When I was younger, I used to go through my grandmother’s mail with her. Every once in a while we would come across one of those contest entries claiming that she could win a large cash prize, when all they really wanted was to sell magazines or get her personal, private information. Sometimes we’d play […]
CONTINUE

’12 Years a Slave’ Review

By

“12 Years a Slave” earned strong critical praise at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award. It’s no surprise director Steve McQueen’s latest drama won 3 Oscars, including Best Picture of the Year, and deservedly so. This is a heartbreaking, moving and inspiring film that needs to be seen. Based […]
CONTINUE

‘Dallas Buyers Club’ Review

By

Up until a few years ago, Matthew McConaughey was best known for starring in a series of bland, predictable romantic comedies. But thanks to critically acclaimed work in “The Lincoln Lawyer”, “Killer Joe”, “Bernie”, “Mud”, and even last year’s “Magic Mike”, McConaughey is establishing himself as one of Hollywood’s top dramatic actors. And, with the […]
CONTINUE

‘Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa’ Review

By

In “Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa”, star Johnny Knoxville doesn’t attempt daredevil stunts with his buds as he did on the TV show and in previous film installments (including 2010’s highly-successful “Jackass 3D”). Instead, Knoxville is “Bad Grandpa” – 86 year-old Irving Zisman. There’s a ridiculous and irrelevant plot, involving Irving having to take his 8-year-old […]
CONTINUE

‘The Fifth Estate’ Review

By

2013 was a break-out year for actor Benedict Cumberbatch. As if his playing (you know who) in “Star Trek Into Darkness” wasn’t enough, he also had roles in Awards Season contenders “12 Years a Slave”, “August: Osage County”, and “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”. And there was some early buzz surrounding Cumberbatch’s work as […]
CONTINUE

‘Rush’ Review

By

The tagline for “Rush” is “Everyone’s Driven by Something”. I was driven to see Ron Howard’s latest because of the very promising trailer (even though it gives away too much). “Rush” has a good cast, a well-respected director and an Oscar nominated screenwriter – Peter Morgan. And I was driven by something during the film: […]
CONTINUE

‘Prisoners’ Review

By

Academy Award nominee Hugh Jackman was marketed as the star of “Prisoners”. Jackman plays the father of one of two abducted children in this mystery/crime/thriller. But it’s Jake Gyllenhaal who receives most of the screen time as the intense, straight-forward detective in charge of solving the case and saving the kids. “Prisoners” immediately grabs you, […]
CONTINUE

‘The Family’ Review

By

Making a dark comedy based on one family’s life on the run from the mob: Interesting. Casting Robert De Niro and Tommy Lee Jones as the two main characters: Genius. Having Martin Scorsese as executive producer of the film that not only references the great director but works his classic movie, “Goodfellas” (which starred De […]
CONTINUE

‘Riddick’ Review

By

Vin Diesel is best known for the hugely-successful “Fast & Furious” movies. One of his other breakout roles was introduced in 2000’s “Pitch Black”: Richard B. Riddick. A sequel, “The Chronicles of Riddick”, followed in 2004. Nine years later, the cult character returned in the definitively titled – “Riddick” – one of the worst films […]
CONTINUE