Steve Persall, Tampa Bay Times
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For 382 reviews, this critic has graded:
  • 66% higher than the average critic
  • 2% same as the average critic
  • 32% lower than the average critic
On average, this critic grades 6.9 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)

Steve Persall's Scores

  • Movies
Average review score: 66
Highest review score:
Incendies
Critic Score 100
Lowest review score:
The Change-Up
Critic Score 0
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 254 out of 382
  2. Mixed: 82 out of 382
  3. Negative: 46 out of 382
382 movie reviews
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    • Metascore: 67
    • Steve Persall 67
    Barney's Version
    Giamatti is a superb expressionist of emotional flotsam, with a Golden Globe for his effort.
    • Metascore: 67
    • Steve Persall 75
    Fast Five
    Fast Five is brawny dumb fun, nothing more but that's enough.
    • Metascore: 66
    • Steve Persall 75
    The Girl Who Played with Fire
    It's a welcome chance to learn more about Lisbeth Salander, the kinky, punk hacker and pop culture phenom played by Noomi Rapace.
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    • Metascore: 66
    • Steve Persall 67
    Seven Psychopaths
    Writer-director Martin McDonagh's followup to his more cohesive "In Bruges" is a middle finger to cliches "Pulp Fiction" wrought, while garishly reveling in the same hyper-ironic, pop referenced ultraviolence it lampoons.
    • Metascore: 66
    • Steve Persall 75
    POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold
    Spurlock's meetings with skeptical corporate types are punctuated by comments from filmmakers about how product placement - or in Quentin Tarantino's case, being turned down by Denny's - influences creativity.
    • Metascore: 66
    • Steve Persall 75
    Captain America: The First Avenger
    Succeeds where "Thor" didn't and the "Incredible Hulk" hasn't, twice. Unlike those drags, director Joe Johnston keeps things relatively simple and pleasantly stupid.
    • Metascore: 66
    • Steve Persall 75
    Winter in Wartime
    Nothing about Koolhoven's film is stunning, but it's a solid piece of work, occasionally feeling as tense as life-and-death situations with Nazis should be.
    • Metascore: 66
    • Steve Persall 67
    Renoir
    Renoir is beautifully filmed and scored, yet with the emotional pull of watching exquisitely textured oil paint dry.
    • Metascore: 66
    • Steve Persall 75
    Kick-Ass
    Kick-Ass is a rabid puppy of a movie, energetically bounding off the screen and into your lap, where it proceeds to chew off your face.
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    • Metascore: 66
    • Steve Persall 83
    Another Earth
    Another Earth is stealthily effective, with silences often counting more than words.
    • Metascore: 66
    • Steve Persall 83
    Premium Rush
    Working in tandem they (Gordon-Levitt/Shannon) make Premium Rush a movie that's off the chain, as the kids say.
    • Metascore: 66
    • Steve Persall 91
    Splice
    It's a refreshing change from run-of-the-kill horror. Nothing in Splice feels done merely for the moment -- it's to creep you out later.
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    • Metascore: 66
    • Steve Persall 83
    The Way Back
    This is old-school monumental filmmaking, without CGI tricks or many soundstage comforts for a dedicated cast. David Lean would probably approve.
    • Metascore: 66
    • Steve Persall 75
    The Amazing Spider-Man
    The Amazing Spider-Man is fun, as any summer movie amusement ride can be. But it left me feeling the same as Raimi's version; that groundwork has been dutifully laid for a winning franchise in need of a few surprises.
    • Metascore: 65
    • Steve Persall 75
    Hope Springs
    As Kay and Arnold lurch toward intimacy, the roles bring out a playful side seldom seen in Streep and practically never in Jones, his signature surliness melting into disarming smiles and tenderness.
    • Metascore: 65
    • Steve Persall 83
    The Debt
    Christensen plays him with Lecter-like intensity; the unsettling calmness of someone capable of anything.
    • Metascore: 65
    • Steve Persall 83
    The Runaways
    The Runaways isn't just about rock 'n' roll; it IS rock 'n' roll, as loud, sexy, sometimes sloppy and ultimately exhilarating as the music can be.
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    • Metascore: 65
    • Steve Persall 83
    My Week with Marilyn
    This is a slight movie, but it's Williams' all the way (possibly to an Oscar nod) while the rest of the cast supports her well.
    • Metascore: 65
    • Steve Persall 50
    Salt
    Salt is a movie constantly painting itself into corners then tromping out with arbitrary twists and action distractions.
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    • Metascore: 65
    • Steve Persall 100
    I Love You Phillip Morris
    Think "Catch Me If You Can" mashed up with "Brokeback Mountain" if Mel Brooks directed and you'll get the idea.
    • Metascore: 65
    • Steve Persall 75
    Everything Must Go
    It's a very good performance that isn't for the "Talladega Nights" crowd and indie audiences can appreciate that.
    • Metascore: 65
    • Steve Persall 83
    Made in Dagenham
    When she's (Hawkins) on camera, I'd swear the screen bends into a smile.
    • Metascore: 65
    • Steve Persall 75
    Get Him to the Greek
    The movie is like an old vinyl LP; the best cuts are on the first side, there's a bangup finish and a lot of filler material in between.
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    • Metascore: 65
    • Steve Persall 91
    Prometheus
    Scott briskly blends the high-minded stuff with impressive boo-and-goo sequences, ratcheting tension in tight spots and dark caverns.
    • Metascore: 65
    • Steve Persall 67
    Hanna
    A fitfully entertaining movie in an awkward position; too arty for the action crowd yet too unsubtle for more refined tastes.
    • Metascore: 65
    • Steve Persall 67
    Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I
    Part 1 of Harry Potter's long goodbye is technically impressive as usual, especially an animated shadow play explaining the whole Deathly Hallows myth.
    • Metascore: 64
    • Steve Persall 83
    The Way
    They're an entertaining foursome, and Estevez guides them through lovely scenery, clever sight gags and personal confessions with leisurely skill.
    • Metascore: 64
    • Steve Persall 75
    Mother and Child
    Mother and Child is depressively interesting, with characters constantly ruining their best chances at happiness.
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    • Metascore: 64
    • Steve Persall 83
    Dolphin Tale
    Director Charles Martin Smith presents the kind of movie that gives squeaky-clean a good name.
    • Metascore: 64
    • Steve Persall 100
    A Better Life
    The weight of Carlos' world shows on his rugged face, even with rare half-smiles. This is a masterfully understated performance that should be remembered during awards season.
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