Steve Crum

Tomatometer-approved critic

Publications: Kansas City Kansan, Video-Reviewmaster.com, Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers

Critics' Group: Kansas City Film Critics Circle

Official Websites: kansascitykansan.com

Movie Reviews Only

Movies

	T-Meter	Title \| Year	Review
A	89%	1917 (2020)	Among THE best movies set during WWI ever produced. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Jan 10, 2020
B	83%	Just Mercy (2020)	This above average movie deals with racism, a corrupt prison system, and determination. Like other films of this ilk, the audience's shock, disgust, and anger grow as the story progresses. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Jan 10, 2020
B	52%	Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)	Lacks the outright fun and originality of the previous episodes, but it achieves its goal of providing big scale closure. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Dec 19, 2019
A	92%	Ford v Ferrari (2019)	Pistons and torques aside, 'FvF' is really about friendship, love, trust, and risk. It is a balancing act superbly orchestrated. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Nov 15, 2019
C+	73%	Harriet (2019)	The film looks and feels more like a well done History Channel reenactment. The facts are solid, but the emotional impact is lacking. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Nov 1, 2019
A-	83%	Judy (2019)	Zellweger captures Judy Garland's person and-surprisingly-her voice and performance demeanor. She is enough like Judy to convince this longtime Garland fan. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Sep 27, 2019
B-	84%	Ad Astra (2019)	The mundane aspects of space travel are definitely shown, but thankfully broken with some action- space monkeys and moon pirates included. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Sep 20, 2019
A	91%	Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)	A doozy of a story packed with visual surrealism and clever plot surprises. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Jul 2, 2019
C	49%	A Dog's Journey (2019)	A scattershot story line, covering many years and leaving plot holes and unanswered questions. Coincidences abound to the point of ridiculousness. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted May 17, 2019
A-	91%	Gloria Bell (2019)	Julianne Moore's extraordinary performance convinces us that Gloria will not only survive, but conquer. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Mar 22, 2019
B+	93%	Us (2019)	You know a movie is really scary when audience members at the preview keep yelling at the screen, "Don't open that door!" and "Look out!" (I didn't say such, but I sure thought it.) - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Mar 22, 2019
C+	78%	Captain Marvel (2019)	The fun of 'Captain Marvel' is not so much Danvers/Marvel, but her pal Nick Fury, portrayed by the ubiquitous Samuel L. Jackson. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Mar 8, 2019
A	93%	Stan & Ollie (2019)	To play upon Mr. Hardy's catchphrase, 'Stan & Ollie' is quite the opposite of a mess The Boys have gotten us into. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Jan 25, 2019
B+	74%	On the Basis of Sex (2019)	A fascinating, well crafted, accurate bio-drama about the early life-personal and professional-of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Jan 11, 2019
B+	66%	Vice (2018)	Bale's transformation is incredibly uncanny and stunning. This is far from an Alec Baldwin burlesque of Donald Trump-funny as that is. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Dec 25, 2018
B+	79%	Mary Poppins Returns (2018)	Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda are practically and perfectly cast. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Dec 19, 2018
A	90%	A Star Is Born (2018)	I will go out on a short limb to predict Academy Award nods to Cooper, Gaga and Elliott. Lady Gaga's days of wearing a meat dress are history. A born movie star is she. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Oct 5, 2018
B-	66%	The Little Stranger (2018)	Low on the creepazoid meter, but it tingled a couple of nerves along my spine. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Aug 31, 2018
A-	80%	Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018)	This sequel to 2008's 'Mama Mia!' is a delightfully winning romantic-musical-comedy. In a couple of ways, it outshines the extremely popular original. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Jul 20, 2018
B+	48%	Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)	Prepare for typical 'Jurassic Park' action, tinged with the dark humor of men and women at risk of losing their limbs and lives. Bring the family. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Jun 22, 2018
B	70%	Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)	...A fun and exciting, though imperfect, addition to the Star Wars array. 'Solo' is well worth seeing, particularly for fans. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted May 25, 2018
A	86%	Tully (2018)	Charlize Theron's portrayal...is nothing short of brilliant, and certainly Oscar worthy. Adding Diablo Cody's screenplay and Jason Reitman's direction equals a trifecta supreme. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted May 4, 2018
B-	51%	Rampage (2018)	Essentially turning to formula plotting, we get a hero (or three) versus some mad scientists who have unleashed monsters. We have seen this before, but it works very comfortably here. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Apr 12, 2018
B	72%	Ready Player One (2018)	Gamers will get a kick out of this nearly non-stop racing movie loaded with familiar pop culture images. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Mar 28, 2018
C+	97%	Black Panther (2018)	I had hoped for so much more than what was delivered. The loyal fan base will no doubt think otherwise. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Feb 16, 2018
A-	88%	The Post (2018)	The cinematic takeaway here is a combination of the factual story, the superb supporting cast (Sarah Paulsen, Bob Odenkirk, Carrie Coon, and Tracy Letts among them), and the film's powerhouse leads, Streep and Hanks. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Jan 10, 2018
A-	91%	Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)	Director/screenwriter Rian Johnson has truly delivered the galaxy goods on this event-the second installment of the sequel trilogy. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Dec 12, 2017
B-	31%	Wonder Wheel (2017)	Though contrived, 'Wonder Wheel' has stunning color and Kate Winslet as pluses. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Dec 1, 2017
B-	79%	The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)	Compelling? Well, so-so. A unique take on the familiar Charles Dickens tale, 'A Christmas Carol'? Definitely. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Nov 22, 2017
B	87%	Only the Brave (2017)	Two factors elevating 'Only the Brave' above the norm are the film's location photography and realistic forest fire sequences. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Oct 20, 2017
A-	93%	Dunkirk (2017)	Important to the film's success is Hans Zimmer's unique score, which becomes a living entity unto itself due to pulsating sounds. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Jul 21, 2017
A	92%	Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)	This one is the best Spider-Man movie ever, and among the best of any in the history of superhero films. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Jul 7, 2017
B	93%	Wonder Woman (2017)	When 'Wonder Woman' is good, it is compellingly fun. But when the Amazonian warrior is shown for the 37th time in mid-air, slo-mo battle pose, it is a yawner. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Jun 2, 2017
B+	85%	Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)	This second volume is pretty terrific, a must-see. It suffers a bit from being a sequel in that characters are already firmly defined. (The revelation of their personas was a plus in the previous film.) - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted May 5, 2017
B	63%	The Zookeeper's Wife (2017)	Emotionally wrenching in many ways, 'The Zookeeper's Wife' succeeds as a fact-based a story of love and perseverance. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Mar 31, 2017
B+	75%	Kong: Skull Island (2017)	Stereotypical in many ways, 'Kong: Skull Island' is great fun to watch, thanks to a literate, savvy script, fine acting, and visuals that should please the most discriminating monster movie fan. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Mar 10, 2017
B	93%	Logan (2017)	Combining these two blade runners, working side by side, is a recipe for stunts, special effects, and big box office. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Mar 3, 2017
A-	83%	Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)	Stylistic touches and new characters make 'Rogue One' seem fresh, which also invigorates the ongoing franchise. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Dec 16, 2016
B	75%	Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)	The joyful absurdities and frightful images peppering the self-described 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' are reason enough to see this fun flick. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Nov 18, 2016
B	64%	Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)	Besides being overlong and having a slapdash ending, 'Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children' is a sensory treat. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Sep 30, 2016
A	85%	Sully (2016)	It is the totally engrossing in-flight sequence that dominates 'Sully.' Prepare your adrenaline. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Sep 9, 2016
D-	25%	Ben-Hur (2016)	'Ben-Hur' looks less like a true movie spectacle, and more like the lackluster 'Christian produced' message movies released over the past decade. Like them, the acting, dialogue, cinematography and score are pedestrian at best. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Aug 19, 2016
A	88%	Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)	'Florence Foster Jenkins' is undoubtedly the best movie of 2016 so far, and seems out of place in-as usual-a summer of comic book superheroes. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Aug 12, 2016
B+	74%	Ghostbusters (2016)	There are enough plot variations and new inclusions to satisfy diehard fans of the original franchise. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Jul 15, 2016
C	36%	The Legend of Tarzan (2016)	In this 49th official Tarzan feature, Alexander Skarsgård ranks a tad above average....which is better than the overall film. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Jul 1, 2016
B+	75%	The BFG (2016)	As director Steven Spielberg's second fantasy-adventure film, the other being 1991's mediocre 'Hook,' 'The BFG' turns out to be more satisfying but no classic. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Jul 1, 2016
B-	47%	X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)	It all makes for a fantasy-fun, if not deafening, two hours and 24 minutes. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted May 27, 2016
A	94%	The Jungle Book (2016)	The story has never been more captivating. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Apr 15, 2016
C-	28%	Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)	After 2-1/2 hours of sitting through relentless CGI violent visuals and deafening sound effects, I was exhausted. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Mar 25, 2016
A-	86%	Hail, Caesar! (2016)	The Coens have laced 'Hail, Caesar!' with enough visuals and double entendres that beg for multiple viewings to appreciate them all. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT Read More \| Posted Feb 5, 2016