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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

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Gleeson Shines As Irish Anti-Hero Cop In 'The Guard'

Los Angeles Times and Morning Edition film critic Kenneth Turan has a review of The Guard, a black comedy starring veteran Irish actor Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle.

Gleeson Shines As Irish Anti-Hero Cop In 'The Guard'

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'Captain America' Unexpectedly A Humble Hero

It was just a few months ago that comic book superhero Thor had a movie, and now Marvel Entertainment teammate Captain America has one too. Captain America: The First Avenger is not the best of the Marvel comics movies — but it does have something the others do not: Chris Evans in the title role.

'Captain America' Unexpectedly A Humble Hero

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Last 'Potter' Movie Is One Of The Best

Harry Potter has headlined seven films over 10 years, and brought in $1 billion in domestic box office sales. The eighth film opens at midnight, and it already has sold more than $32 million in tickets.

Last 'Potter' Movie Is One Of The Best

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'Larry Crowne' Is 'Hollow And Unconvincing'

Larry Crowne stars Tom Hanks, who also directed and co-wrote the movie. It co-stars Julia Roberts. This movie's love connection between student and teacher is one of the most unconvincing in memory.

'Larry Crowne' Is 'Hollow And Unconvincing'

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'Cars 2' Uses 3D Better Than Most Live Action Films

It's the 25th anniversary of Pixar Animation and the studio is marking the occasion with a new Cars film. The original came out five years ago and was very successful. Cars 2 is so close to the heart of John Lasseter that he carved out time from being the creative czar of both Pixar and Disney animation to direct it himself.

'Cars 2' Uses 3D Better Than Most Live Action Films

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'Green Lantern' Is A Far-Fetched Superhero Flick

Green Lantern is the latest superhero movie out in theaters. The new film is directed by Martin Campbell who did The Mask of Zorro and "Casino Royale.

'Green Lantern' Is A Far-Fetched Superhero Flick

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'Super 8' Leaves Little To Get Excited About

Super 8 is the story of what happens when half a dozen middle school kids from Ohio set out to create a student short and end up enmeshed in something much bigger and scarier. Steven Spielberg is the film's producer and it was written and directed by J.J. Abrams.

'Super 8' Leaves Little To Get Excited About

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'Submarine' Examines Teenage Boy's Coming Of Age

In Hollywood, now is the time summer blockbusters start being released. But some good smaller films work their way into the mix too. The coming of age story, Submarine, may be one of the best.

'Submarine' Examines Teenage Boy's Coming Of Age

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Werner Herzog's 'Cave Of Forgotten Dreams'

There's an underground cave in the south of France with contents so valuable a big steel door guards the entrance. Director Werner Herzog's new documentary, Cave of Forgotten Dreams, is about that treasure. The Chauvet cave paintings are the oldest cave paintings on record.

Werner Herzog's 'Cave Of Forgotten Dreams'

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Romance Doesn't Show Up In 'Water For Elephants'

Water For Elephants gives off an air of self-satisfaction. It's got a best-selling book as source material, a circus as its setting, and actors like Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson and Oscar winner Christoph Waltz as its stars. While the visual spectacle of a Depression-era circus is splendid, the romance that sold all those copies of the book is not there.

Romance Doesn't Show Up In 'Water For Elephants'

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'Source Code,' A Sci-Fi Version Of 'Groundhog Day'

A soldier must relive the last minutes of another man's life — repeatedly — to stop the terrorist who killed him, and who looks likely to strike again.

'Source Code,' A Sci-Fi Version Of 'Groundhog Day'

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'Win Win' Is A Victory For Writer-Director McCarthy

Writer-director Tom McCarthy is best known for independent hits The Visitor and The Station Agent, but his latest film, Win Win, might be his best. Paul Giamatti is Mike, a lawyer and high school wrestling coach whose life is unraveling because his business is on the verge of going under.

'Win Win' Is A Victory For Writer-Director McCarthy

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Damon, Blunt Shine In 'Adjustment Bureau'

In The Adjustment Bureau, Matt Damon stars as a loose-cannon politician who is watched by mysterious, nattily dressed men after he strays from his chosen destiny to find Emily Blunt, the woman he loves.

Damon, Blunt Shine In 'Adjustment Bureau'

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9 French Monks Face Crisis In 'Of Gods And Men'

The French equivalent of the Academy Awards were given out in Paris on Friday. The film Of Gods and Men won three. The film opened over the weekend in the U.S.

9 French Monks Face Crisis In 'Of Gods And Men'

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Liam Neeson's 'Unkown' Is reminiscent Of 'Taken'

If you've seen Taken, where Liam Neeson played a relentless berserker, who terrorized France looking for his kidnapped daughter, then there's something familiar about Unknown. Neeson's character is in Berlin, this time worried about his wife, not his child. It's another story that allows Neeson to lose his temper and take on the world.

Liam Neeson's 'Unkown' Is reminiscent Of 'Taken'

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