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Movie Reviews Reviews of new movies, classic and art films, foreign films, and popular movies. Featuring Bob Mondello, Kenneth Turan, David Edelstein, and Mark Jenkins.

Movie Reviews

Friday April 30, 2004

Culture

Spring Box-Office Busts Have Hollywood Looking Ahead

April 30, 2004 • 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

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Friday August 15, 2003

Culture

Western: 'Open Range'

August 15, 2003 • Kevin Costner's latest film is Open Range, a western that takes the actor and director back to familiar territory. Robert Duvall and Annette Bening co-star. Los Angeles Times film critic Ken Turan offers a review.

Western: 'Open Range'

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Friday August 8, 2003

Culture

'Mondays in the Sun'

August 8, 2003 • Mondays in the Sun, a Spanish film, focuses on the lives of half a dozen men who lost their jobs -- but not their senses of humor and the absurd -- in a labor dispute. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan offers a review.

'Mondays in the Sun'

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Monday July 14, 2003

Morning Edition

'The Hard Word'

July 14, 2003 • Morning Edition and Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan reviews The Hard Word, the new Australian film staring Guy Pearce and Rachel Griffiths.

'The Hard Word'

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Friday May 30, 2003

Culture

Pixar's Fish Story: 'Finding Nemo'

May 30, 2003 • 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'

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Friday May 9, 2003

Culture

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

May 9, 2003 • 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

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Friday March 28, 2003

Culture

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

March 28, 2003 • 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

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Monday February 24, 2003

Morning Edition

Actors as Directors

February 24, 2003 • 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

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Friday February 14, 2003

Culture

'Blind Spot' Chronicles Hitler's Last Days

February 14, 2003 • 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

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Friday January 31, 2003

Culture

Film Tracks Gilliam's Quixotic 'La Mancha' Effort

January 31, 2003 • 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

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Friday January 17, 2003

Culture

Vintage French Film 'Quai des Orfevres' Returns

January 17, 2003 • 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

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Friday January 10, 2003

Culture

A Film Trip Through St. Petersburg's Hermitage

January 10, 2003 • The new movie Russian Ark takes viewers on a journey through St. Petersburg's famed Hermitage museum. And it's shot in a single, uniterrupted take. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan offers a review.

A Film Trip Through St. Petersburg's Hermitage

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Friday January 3, 2003

Culture

Kidman, Streep and Moore Fill 'The Hours' on Film

January 3, 2003 • The Hours is a new film based on Michael Cunningham's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about the writer Virginia Woolf and two women living in a later time who Woolf profoundly influences. Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore star. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan offers a review.

Kidman, Streep and Moore Fill 'The Hours' on Film

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Friday December 13, 2002

Culture

'Drumline' a Diversion from Holiday Blockbusters

December 13, 2002 • It's holiday film season and that usually means big budgets and special effects. But the film Drumline puts the emphasis on storytelling. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan offers a review.

'Drumline' a Diversion from Holiday Blockbusters

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Friday November 22, 2002

Culture

Greene's 'Quiet American' Comes to Screen

November 22, 2002 • The new film The Quiet American -- based on the Graham Greene novel -- comments on western attitudes toward Vietnam in the 1950s. Michael Caine stars. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan offers a review.

Greene's 'Quiet American' Comes to Screen

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