Accessibility links
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.
thumbnail
Stories By

Kenneth Turan

Review

Culture

Pixar's Fish Story: 'Finding Nemo'

The new animated movie Finding Nemo tells the story of a fish family learning life's lessons. The computer-generated film is from Pixar Animation, the pioneering force behind Toy Story, A Bug's Life and Monsters, Inc. Film critic Ken Turan of the Los Angeles Times offers a review.

Pixar's Fish Story: 'Finding Nemo'

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1280009/1280010" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Culture

Sequels, Indies and Foreign Films on Tap for Summer

Movie-goers this summer can expect an onslaught of sequels and a surprising number of independent and foreign films, according to Los Angeles Times and Morning Edition movie critic Kenneth Turan. Hear NPR's Renee Montagne and Turan.

Sequels, Indies and Foreign Films on Tap for Summer

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1265523/1265524" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Review

Culture

'Blue Car': Intimate, Thoughtful Teen-Centered Film

Blue Car is a movie about a teenager who embodies all of the contradictions, confusions, yearnings and suspicions of someone who is growing up too fast but wants things to happen faster still. The movie is finally opening in theaters across the country after garnering rave reviews at last year's Sundance Film Festival. Los Angeles Times and Morning Edition movie critic Ken Turan says acting is the reason to see the film. Hear Turan's review.

'Blue Car': Intimate, Thoughtful Teen-Centered Film

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1257967/1257968" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

'Lawless Heart'

Los Angeles Times and Morning Edition movie critic Kenneth Turan reviews the new movie Lawless Heart, a British production that shows how one man's death affects the lives of four friends. Turan calls it a "charming, disarming and humbling film."

'Lawless Heart'

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1245871/1245872" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Culture

Fellini's Vision Captured in 'Born Liar'

Director Federico Fellini called an interview he gave to filmmaker Damian Pettigrew, "the most detailed conversation ever... of my personal vision." That interview is now the basis of Fellini: I'm a Born Liar, a new film from Pettigrew. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan offers a review.

Fellini's Vision Captured in 'Born Liar'

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1228515/1228516" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Review

Culture

German Oscar-Winner 'Africa' Makes U.S. Debut

The Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Film is Germany's Nowhere in Africa, a fact-based story of refugees in a time of war. Now showing on U.S. screens, the movie follows a German-Jewish family that fled to Kenya in 1938 to escape the Nazis. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan offers a review.

German Oscar-Winner 'Africa' Makes U.S. Debut

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1210575/1210576" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

'Bend it Like Beckham'

Morning Edition movie critic Kenneth Turan says the story of Bend It Like Beckham sounds familiar -- young Indian girl in London clashes with traditional mother over love for soccer. Turan says it could be predictable but instead offers real heart and insight. Director and co-writer Gurinder Chadha grew up in London and created the movie as a tribute to her dad.

'Bend it Like Beckham'

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1192325/1192326" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Culture

'Tears of the Sun' Creates Its Own Genre

The latest action movie, Tears of the Sun, finds actor Bruce Willis portraying a veteran officer of a Navy SEAL unit in Africa who finds himself conflicted between following military orders and his own conscience. Los Angeles Times and Morning Edition film critic Kenneth Turan says the film is actually a humanitarian action flick.

'Tears of the Sun' Creates Its Own Genre

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1185514/1185515" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Review

Actors as Directors

Host Bob Edwards talks to film critic Ken Turan about actors who turn to directing movies. The latest is John Malkovich, whose picture The Dancer Upstairs opens in April. Turan talks about why directing appeals to actors and gives examples of successes and failures.

Actors as Directors

Listen · 4:26
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1174015/1174016" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Review

Culture

'Blind Spot' Chronicles Hitler's Last Days

Hitler's secretary recalls the dictator's final days in Blind Spot, a minimalist documentary from Germany. After wide acclaim at Berlin Film Festival attendees a year ago, it's finally opening in U.S. theaters. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan offers a review.

'Blind Spot' Chronicles Hitler's Last Days

Listen · 3:53
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1162478/1162479" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Review

Culture

Film Tracks Gilliam's Quixotic 'La Mancha' Effort

It's a film about a film that never was. The documentary Lost in La Mancha follows director Terry Gilliam -- of Brazil and Monty Python fame -- as he attempts a screen version of Don Quixote. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan offers a review.

Film Tracks Gilliam's Quixotic 'La Mancha' Effort

Listen · 4:18
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/954272/954273" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Culture

Seeking Independents at a 'Corporate' Sundance Festival

The independent nature of the annual Sundance Film Festival has been eroded in recent years as more films shown there have already landed distribution deals. But despite criticism that it's become too "corporate," Sundance still produces surprises. Hear NPR's Bob Edwards and Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan.

Seeking Independents at a 'Corporate' Sundance Festival

Listen · 3:35
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/935456/935457" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Review

Culture

Vintage French Film 'Quai des Orfevres' Returns

The French film noir classic Quai des Orfevres makes a new tour of U.S. theaters half a century after its 1948 release, with a restored print. It features a lost Paris full of music halls, cigarette smoke and a criminal investigation. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan offers a review.

Vintage French Film 'Quai des Orfevres' Returns

Listen · 3:40
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/923770/923771" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">