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Kenneth Turan Kenneth Turan is the film critic for the Los Angeles Times and NPR's Morning Edition, as well as the director of the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes.
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Kenneth Turan

Arts & Life

Movie Review: 'Jersey Girl'

Director Kevin Smith's latest film, Jersey Girl, stars Ben Affleck as a single father raising a young daughter. It's a departure from Smith's past work. The biting, iconoclastic humor of films such as Clerks, Dogma and Chasing Amy had established Smith as a force outside Hollywood's mainstream. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan has a review.

Movie Review: 'Jersey Girl'

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Arts & Life

Movie Review: 'Broken Wings'

The new Israeli film Broken Wings has garnered international praise, winning top prizes not only in Israel but at film festivals in Toyko and Berlin as well. Critics say the melodrama about a dysfunctional family could take place anywhere. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan has a review.

Movie Review: 'Broken Wings'

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Arts & Life

Movie Review: David Mamet's 'Spartan'

Spartan, the latest film from acclaimed writer-director David Mamet, is an espionage thriller involving a president's missing daughter, white slavery and political chicanery. The movie opens in U.S. theaters Friday. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan has a review.

Movie Review: David Mamet's 'Spartan'

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Arts & Life

Movie Review: 'The Passion of the Christ'

The Passion of the Christ opens Wednesday in 2,800 theaters. Mel Gibson's interpretation of the final 12 hours of Jesus' life has already generated much talk, anticipation and controversy. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan has a review.

Movie Review: 'The Passion of the Christ'

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Movie Review: 'Kitchen Stories'

The new film Kitchen Stories opens in New York and Los Angeles theaters Friday. It's a Swedish-language film, but critics say its comic look at a Swedish study on kitchen efficiency will translate into any language. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan has a review.

Movie Review: 'Kitchen Stories'

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Arts & Life

'The Return,' a Russian Family Drama

The Return, a new Russian-language film, tells the story of two brothers whose prodigal father returns unexpectedly after more than a decade. The intense family drama marks the feature-directing debut of 40-year-old former actor Andrei Zvyagintsev. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan has a review.

'The Return,' a Russian Family Drama

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Arts & Life

Movie Review: Bertolucci's 'The Dreamers'

The Dreamers, the latest film from director Bernardo Bertolucci, explores sex and youth against the backdrop of the 1968 student riots in Paris. Los Angeles Times critic Kenneth Turan has a review of the sexually explicit film, which earned a rare NC-17 rating.

Movie Review: Bertolucci's 'The Dreamers'

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Promising Movies at Sundance

NPR's Bob Edwards talks with Los Angeles Times and Morning Edition film critic Kenneth Turan, who's in Park City, Utah, for the Sundance Film Festival. They discuss promising features in this year's line up, and the legendary Sundance soirees.

Promising Movies at Sundance

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Arts & Life

Movie Review: 'The Battle of Algiers'

The Battle of Algiers, a 1965 film depicting Algerian uprisings against French troops occupying their country, is being re-released in theaters Friday. Many filmgoers say the movie is as relevant today as it was a half-century ago. Los Angeles Times and Morning Edition film critic Kenneth Turan offers a review.

Movie Review: 'The Battle of Algiers'

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Arts & Life

Hollywood Sees Slight Dip in 2003 Ticket Sales

The U.S. film industry reports a solid year at the box office, but most of the big money is tied to a few major successes, led by the Disney animated film Finding Nemo. Overall ticket sales are down a bit from 2002. NPR's Bob Edwards talks with Los Angeles Times movie critic Kenneth Turan.

Hollywood Sees Slight Dip in 2003 Ticket Sales

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Appreciating 'House of Sand and Fog'

The movie based on Charles Frazier's novel Cold Mountain opens in theaters Thursday. But another movie based on a memorable novel -- the "step by step tragedy" House of Sand and Fog -- has captured critics' attention, too. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan offers a review.

Appreciating 'House of Sand and Fog'

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Arts & Life

Movie Review: 'Lord of the Rings'

Return of the King, the final installment in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, opens in theaters Wednesday. The series, about a quest to rescue the world from evil, has held many filmgoers firmly in its grip from the start. Los Angeles Times and Morning Edition film critic Kenneth Turan has a review.

Movie Review: 'Lord of the Rings'

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Arts & Life

Movie Review: 'Girl with a Pearl Earring'

A softly lit oil portrait of a young woman with a pearl earring is one of Johannes Vermeer's best-known paintings. The new film Girl with a Pearl Earring brings the story behind the famous image to the silver screen. Los Angeles Times and Morning Edition film critic Kenneth Turan has a review.

Movie Review: 'Girl with a Pearl Earring'

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Movie Review: 'The Triplets of Belleville'

Los Angeles Times and Morning Edition film critic Kenneth Turan reviews the French film The Triplets of Belleville. The animation movie sends up cultural cliches with bizarre wit and no dialogue.

Movie Review: 'The Triplets of Belleville'

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