Steve Crum

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

T-Meter Title | Year
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- 92% 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+ 94% 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+ 73% 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 89% 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- 65% 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+ 47% 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- 52% 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- 30% 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 88% 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- 92% 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+ 84% 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 62% 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- 84% 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 74% 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 65% 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 86% 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 95% The Jungle Book (2016) The story has never been more captivating. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT
Read More | Posted Apr 15, 2016
C- 27% 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
A- 92% Anomalisa (2015) Its bizarreness will grab from the get-go. Ready yourself for filmed eccentricity, ladies and gentlemen. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT
Read More | Posted Jan 22, 2016
A 78% The Revenant (2015) Don't expect a passionate love story or even Leonardo batting a passing eye at some lady of the trail. This is a man's man movie. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT
Read More | Posted Jan 8, 2016
B- 72% Youth (2015) 'Youth' is a handsomely photographed, well acted movie. It is also distant and uninvolving. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT
Read More | Posted Dec 25, 2015
A 97% Brooklyn (2015) Central to the story's theme are love, family and homesickness, ingredients perfectly blended and served by director John Crowley. What a truly lovely film. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT
Read More | Posted Nov 25, 2015
A 91% Bridge of Spies (2015) What superb, must-see storytelling 'Bridge of Spies' certainly is. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT
Read More | Posted Oct 16, 2015
A- 73% Black Mass (2015) Depp's superb work here is a major turnaround in a career fallen to hats and Halloween costumes. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT
Read More | Posted Sep 18, 2015
C- 66% The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015) Calling this (lackluster) movie 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' is misleading. Naming it 'The Future Men from U.N.C.L.E.' is probably too cumbersome, but truthful. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT
Read More | Posted Aug 14, 2015
C+ 82% Ant-Man (2015) 'Ant-Man' will appeal mostly to ant-people. Translated: children. Factor in fans of Paul Rudd and Marvel superheroes, and you could have a box office community picnic. - Video-Reviewmaster.com EDIT
Read More | Posted Jul 17, 2015