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

Arts & Life

Spring Box-Office Busts Have Hollywood Looking Ahead

After disappointing returns from The Alamo and The Punisher, Hollywood awaits next weekend's opening of Van Helsing. It's a traditionally slow time of year for movie theaters. Los Angeles Times critic Ken Turan speaks with NPR's Bob Edwards about why that is.

Spring Box-Office Busts Have Hollywood Looking Ahead

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1863338/1863339" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Arts & Life

'Noi': Bleak But Pleasing Icelandic Film

Noi is a new film from Iceland about a disaffected Albino high school student. The film blends comedy and tragedy in its approach to its subject. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan has a review.

'Noi': Bleak But Pleasing Icelandic Film

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1848319/1848320" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Arts & Life

Movie Review: 'Mayor of the Sunset Strip'

The new documentary Mayor of the Sunset Strip looks at the life of Los Angeles disc jockey Rodney Bingenheimer, who helped introduce such artists as David Bowie, the Sex Pistols and Nirvana. Director George Hickenlooper considers his subject the personification of America's obsession with fame. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan has a review.

Movie Review: 'Mayor of the Sunset Strip'

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1839784/1839785" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Arts & Life

Movie Review: 'Girl Next Door'

The new film The Girl Next Door appears to be a typical teen comedy with an adult twist: what happens when a stunning former porn star moves in next door to a lucky high school senior. Some critics find its attempt to make the world of pornography seem mainstream disturbing. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan has a review.

Movie Review: 'Girl Next Door'

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1830796/1830797" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Arts & Life

Movie Review: 'Walking Tall'

The 1970s movie Walking Tall, about a man who takes the law into his own hands after his town becomes a sinkhole of iniquity, became a B-movie classic, inspiring a TV movie and a short-lived network series. A new remake, starring wrestler-turned-actor the Rock, opens this weekend. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan has a review.

Movie Review: 'Walking Tall'

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1806818/1806819" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

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'

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1792849/1792850" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

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'

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1778062/1778063" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

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'

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1762434/1762435" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

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'

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1699005/1699006" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

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'

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1687074/1687075" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

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

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1673908/1673909" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

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'

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1647726/1647727" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

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

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1608927/1608928" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

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'

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1590432/1590433" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

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

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1580010/1580011" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">