FilmSnobReviews

Title: The Fabelmans
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Gabriel LaBelle, Michelle Williams, Paul Dano
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 2 hr 31 min

What It Is: Growing up in post-World War II era Arizona, young Sammy Fabelman aspires to become a filmmaker as he reaches adolescence, but soon discovers a shattering family secret and explores how the power of films can help him see the truth.

What We Think: Movies. Films. Pictures. They provide something intangible yet extremely vivid – in our cultures, in our minds, in our lives. Remembering those first experiences at a theater, or a glimpse of something larger than life during one’s youth… those are moments that are sometimes terrifying, magical, or simply breathtaking. This is a film about one of those moments, and how it led a dreamer on a path to create stories for others to relive anew through the screen – while also living through a story of his own. It also just so happens to be the coming of age story of one of cinema’s most cherished directors – Steven Spielberg.

What The Fabelmans does so well is explore how movies shape us, in particular young Sammy (Mateo Zoryan), who after watching The Greatest Show on Earth at a very young age and being struck by a certain scene, falls in love with what moving pictures can do. As we progress through his later adolescent days, Sammy (Gabriel LaBelle) oozes passion about storytelling and the powerful emotion that it can convey – a scene comes to mind where Sammy directs a fellow scout during a war movie shoot and the incredible connection that is made in mere minutes. A connection, might I add, that is also felt through the performances of the actors who portray Sammy’s friends and family.

Michelle Williams and Paul Dano deliver strong, endearing performances as Sammy’s parents – playing two sides of the same coin. Mitzi is more understanding of the artistic core of Sammy’s passion, whereas Burt tends to lean towards the methodical logic behind it. Both of them see Sammy’s passions and there is a tense conflict present throughout the story. It’s a conflict many filmmakers have surely experienced and, if you are one, it will deeply resonate within your heart. Seth Rogen shows his talents as a terrific dramatic actor once more, and Judd Hirsch makes an impactful presence in the scenes he’s in. With that being said, there’s no doubt that Gabriel LaBelle gives a standout performance here – a truly captivating character that struggles to find the answers within his family, within himself, and ultimately within his passions.

As a picture, the film looks gorgeous. Once again, the Janusz Kaminski/Spielberg duo create images of nostalgia and such ethereal enlightenment, with images that could’ve been plucked straight from a home movie and others that belong in museum. The excellent screenplay by Tony Kushner and Spielberg himself (one of the fastest scripts he’s written, he remarks) is a tremendous composition made from real-life events, written from Spielberg’s own memories and approved by his family. It also goes without saying that the music of John Williams is a resounding addition to this story, and the history between him and Spielberg echoes through the pieces. It’s really something to marvel at – two artists who have worked together for over 40 years, now telling such a personal story. 

Our Grade: A+; This one is truly a gift from Steven Spielberg. Through delightful and heartwarming moments, and one of the best ending scenes I’ve ever seen… I don’t think anything like it has ever happened before, where a director could bring so much of his personal life to the screen in this way. It might help people understand how empathetic of a storyteller he really is based on what he experienced as a human being. And for that, we must thank him.