The Fabelmans
A coming-of-age story about a young man’s discovery of a shattering family secret and an exploration of the power of movies to help us see the truth about each other and ourselves.
- Released: 2022-11-11
- Runtime: 151 minutes
- Genre: Drama
- Stars: Gabriel LaBelle, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, Julia Butters, Judd Hirsch, Jeannie Berlin, Robin Bartlett, Oakes Fegley, Chloe East, Gabriel Bateman, Art Bonilla, Jonathan Hadary, Sam Rechner, Isabelle Kusman, Keeley Karsten, Sophia Kopera, Greg Grunberg, James Urbaniak, Lane Factor, Meredith VanCuyk
- Director: Steven Spielberg
Comments
- PrinceCharmingHere - 14 May 2024
It's Spielberg so it must be amazing
As a lover of cinema, but nowhere near talented enough to make a movie himself, I was very interested to watch this. A 2.5 hour epic and a love letter to one's passion for filmmaking. Well, I was disappointed.
The family of characters were, quite frankly, boring and uninteresting. The main prodigy filmmaker boy Sammy (a young Spielberg) was average at best when it comes to my interest in his journey and growth. Also, I just can't take Seth Rogen serious in this movie. Everytime I hear his voice I think of a raunchy comedy, not a serious drama.
The first half of the movie focused more on family drama and their life rather than film and art. And I get it. One's upbringing is major inspiration for art... but still... whatever. The family was boring, and nothing remotely interesting happens during the first hour. It's just Sammy taking videos of life events-like home videos. It was a slog.
I skimmed through the last hour and a half hoping it would get better... and it doesn't. This movie is the very definition of a vanity project. If an unknown, new filmmaker made this movie instead of Spielberg it wouldn't have been as highly praised. - Mike_Devine - 28 January 2024
Still a feel-good watch despite heavy subject matter
What do you get when one of cinema's greatest directors writes and directs a semi-autobiographical film? Well, 'The Fabelmans' is probably the closest thing we will see to this.
Steven Spielberg takes an inward look at his early years in this coming-of-age tale of a young film enthusiast who encounters twists and turns as he seeks to convert his passion into a career. While Gabriel LaBelle does an excellent job as the protagonist Sammy Fabelman, it's Michelle Williams whose portrayal as the unstable matriarch Mitzi who steals the show. Williams is no stranger to giving academy award-worthy performances, and the emotional roller coaster she takes viewers on during these two-and-a-half hours is remarkable.
There are also plenty of creative filming techniques and camerawork that is incorporated here, not to mention some crafty dialogue. And while 'Fabelmans' explores some heavy subject matter, the overall story remains positive and forward-thinking.
If Spielberg's life story is anything close to the one depicted here, it makes his contributions to this industry even more impressive. - better_than_the_fabelmans - 23 December 2023
It Went Nowhere Yet Took Forever To Get There
Some movies are cinematic benchmarks. Movies used as standards for merit and excellence for years following their release. Films such as Citizen Kane, The Third Man, The Godfather... films from the oeuvres of masters of the craft such as Hitchcock or Kubrick.
On the other hand, there are movies like Steven Spielberg's The Fabelmans. Did I just say "movies"? Use of the plural here implies that there are other movies out there as bad as this one. Maybe there are, but I'm hard pressed to name one off the top of my head. Even when judged solely on the basis of the leviathan that is the director's self indulgence, The Fabelmans earns its place at the very apex of bad movies, Sadly, that self indulgence is just the tip of the iceberg. An iceberg larger than the one sent the Titanic plunging to the bottom of the sea, carrying thousands to their deaths. If that comparison seems overblown than I must ask, have you no sympathy in your heart for the MILLIONS of movie viewers who died figuratively from soul-crushing boredom brought on by The Fabelmans?
Say what you will about supposedly bad movies; films ranging from 1959's Plan 9 From Outer Space to a more contemporary film like Tommy Wiseau The Room, at least they didn't induce a 2 and a half hour long coma in the audience.
In all seriousness, it took me three days to watch The Fabelmans. Even while using a generous shot of whiskey as a chaser, I could only swallow 10 to 15 minutes of it at a time. While little Sammy Fabelman obsessively crashed and filmed his train set, I obsessively fought the urge to check my watch, fearing that my already challenged sense of reality wouldn't be able to cope with knowing only 3 minutes had passed since the last time I'd checked. And seriously, Judd Hirsch got an Oscar nod for this? As best I could tell he was just reprising his role as Jeff Goldblum's dad in Independence Day. For me, the high point of the film was when Sammy's mom was doing her dance in front of the headlights, which gave me a momentary urge to check online to see if Michelle Williams had ever done any nude scenes.
So why didn't I just stop watching? Because it is a Spielberg movie so surely it has to get better.
PS: It never did get better.
In 1851, Herman Melville gifted us with his classic novel Moby Dick. A man vs nature story in which Captain Ahab, acting with equal measures of obsession and hubris, pursues his nemesis, the great white whale. That story ends with Ahab's death. In 2022 Spielberg provided us the dubious gift of a story that served as a metaphorical fight between a movie director and his own ego. That story ends with the death of Spielberg's reputation.
For me, The Fabelmans has become the benchmark to which all other movies will be compared - just not in a good way. Like Diogenes, lamp held high and fated to wander through Athens in search of an honest man, I will devote myself to seeking out a movie worse than The Fabelmans. Wish me Godspeed and good luck in my quest. - gabriutkuel - 12 January 2023
Master did it!
His name always meant something for me. I am a huge fan of his and I have been a collector of his movies for a long time. I adore the way he directs and tells a story. You can always find the same unique taste in his movies.
I feel that having this coming of age film, depends on his own real life, from him is a phenomenal chance for me. Especially being able to watch it at the cinemas, where movies are supposed to be seen! Seeing frames from his childhood with this amazing cast was indescribably amazing.
Michelle Williams, my lover in every movie she acts in, was always sparkling with her amazing acting skills. Paul Dano has gotten better and better from the first movie I've watched of him throughout the years. He's become a real hollywood star for me. And speaking of stars, I feel like saying this, no one but Gabriel LaBelle could have fit into this role more than him. I am perfectly sure he's put so much effort onto this role and all that perfectly paid off. He looks amazing, he sounds, acts amazing! Without a doubt Spielberg felt so proud of him. I hope LaBelle has a bright future in this business and he never stops because I know that he'll be the rising star. I appreciate Spielberg so much for giving this chance to him.
The colour grade is remarkable, not the one Spielberg always uses but for this exact film it worked out so well. I'd had a worry that the aspect ratio would be classic wide 2.39 : 1 but when the movie started and I saw 1.85 : 1 was chosen, I was more excited than ever because I'd really wanted to watch this speacial piece of art on a full screen.
Long story short, I adore this film. It made me think so much about my life, about his life and everything. Definitely one of my favorite movies at all times. I can't wait to own a poster and of course a bluray copy.
That's was it :) - emiliemoskal - 9 January 2023
Best movie ever
Sensitive and funny.
How arts help to transcend the craziness of reality !
From the little boy to the young man, we follow the heart and the eye of the young Sam. Each character from his parents, to his sisters, to Benny, to the eldest grandmothers and uncle offer such a diversity of portraits.
Never condescending, this movie shows how even loving parents can not protect their child from life. It's happening and there is nothing the main character can do except filming it.
I didn't want it to stop. Spielberg by being so vulnerable touches something universal. There is not much that we can control in life except what we create.
What a journey! Thank you. - nicholasvalenzuela - 6 January 2023
A Great Inspirational movie
I saw this movie with my friends Juan, Gael, and Jackson. We had such a fun time watching the movie, we climbed the seats walls and were throwing things (we even went behind the screen) During the actual movie Juan and I moved up just like Sammy did in the movie. This was a really great movie, I feel like it brought me closer to my friends, and the story telling was really good, often I picture making a movie about my life, and it would turn out something like this. When we left the theater I was in awe, I felt like making movies would be the only thing I could ever do. Seeing a story like that, about a kid just like me, made me want to work hard (I woke up the next day at 9:30 lol, but I'm trying to get better!) Great work Steven! - IonicBreezeMachine - 2 January 2023
Steven Spielberg's semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story is a deeply reflective work delving into Spielberg's past and the influences upon his work
Sammy Fabelman (Gabriel LaBelle-teen/adult, Mateo Zoryon Francis-Deford- young) grows up dealing with his anxieties by discovering a love of film that is encouraged by his pianist mother Mitzi (Michelle Williams) while Sammy's father Burt (Paul Dano) sees it more as a hobby. As Sammy goes through childhood, his teenage years, and finally early adulthood, Sammy also must deal with the flaws of his family that leads to the Fabelman family coming apart.
The Fabelmans is the latest film from director Steven Spielberg and is based upon the director's childhood. The origins for the film date back to 1999 wherein Spielberg had discussions with his sister Anne Spielberg for the project titled "I'll Be Home" but Spielberg put the project on the backburner out of respect for his family as he wasn't comfortable due to the possible responses from his family notably his parents. Spielberg revisited the idea many times notably in 2004 with a discussion with screenwriter and playwright Tony Kushner to whom Spielberg told his life story with Kushner telling Spielberg he'll have to make a movie about it. Following work development began on the film during the filming of Spielberg's 2021 version of West Side Story with Spielberg co-writing the script with Kushner in his first credited screenwriting role since A. I.: Artificial Intelligence. The movie as expected for an award season prestige piece is as expected a celebration of filmmaking and the power of cinema, but it's also a very vulnerable film and easily ranks as one of Spielberg's finest films.
Gabriel LaBelle is really strong as Sammy Fabelman and he does a good channeling the passion for filmmaking as well as the emotional turmoil as he struggles with his uneasy family dynamic. Michelle Williams is also very good as Sammy's troubled mother Mitzi who while a loving and encouraging mother also hides a sadness and pain behind her smile that eventually becomes too great to hide. Paul Dano is also very strong as Sammy's father Burt who is a very careful and softspoken man who while appreciative of Sammy's talents tries to encourage Sammy towards more "practical" avenues and the contrast and friction between Mitzi and Burt is a key part of where the story's core is and neither parent is "the bad guy" as Sammy gets life lessons and practical knowledge from both to make him who he is but that same friction eventually serves to drive the two of them apart. Seth Rogen does well playing an against type role as the Fabelman's family friend Bennie Loewy and while he keeps a lot of his likability and humor from certain performances he's given added depth when his relationship to the Fabelmans is explored further in. Despite the movie having moments of heartbreak and emotional turmoil, the movie also shows the beauty that can come from family, even in the case of very messy ones. Sammy's interactions with his sisters Anne and Reggie when he makes his short films due endear us to the family and make us love them as characters. Aside from the strong writing and emotional resonance of the way in which Spielberg and Kushner tell Spielberg's life story, stylistically speaking the movie is a love letter to cinema and also includes subtle nods that link back to the director's iconic works and you can see the DNA of scenes from Poltergeist, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Goonies, E. T. and even Jaws in the way Spielberg sets up and frames these scenes from his past and you get the sense of where his approach for those films came from in his life.
I loved the Fabelmans and this is probably in my "top 10" of films of 2022 you owe it to yourself to see. Spielberg and Kushner's script is rich with humor, heartbreak, and hope and the cast all do amazing work in their respective roles. The film is stylistically rich with a love of moviemaking and I wholeheartedly recommend this film not just to fans of Spielberg or moviemaking, but to anyone who wants to see a strong familial drama. - novagirl11 - 1 January 2023
not worth the trip to the theater
Honestly, I didn't think it was well-made. It was disjointed and the elements were not assembled successfully: acting, writing, cinematography, score, etc. I left the theater feeling confused and uncomfortable. I was unable to suspend reality or immerse myself into the plot, but instead was very aware that I was watching a movie the entire time. The characters were not relatable, and the story was boring and did not inspire empathy.
When watching some of the scenes, I didn't know what emotion to feel: sadness, anger, sorrow, frustration, or something else? The script was awful; I didn't know what some of the lines meant or even the sentiment they were intended to convey.
There are still parts that I don't understand. There were so many loose ends and lingering questions, even at the end of the movie. I understand that, in real life, there might be remaining uncertainties; but why did he decide to give everyone fake names if he wasn't going to slightly alter the events/details for the better of the movie?
I suppose Michelle Williams played a complex character interestingly, but Paul Dano seemed kinda creepy, which I don't think was the intention. I liked seeing the behind-the-scenes of Sam creating scenes in his amateur movies. The set design/prop curation were spot-on! In my opinion, that would be the only category for which it deserves an Academy Award. - martinpersson97 - 28 December 2022
Spielberg strikes gold yet again
As of late winter 2022, this movie actually hasn't been released in my country of Sweden yet - but I was thrilled to see it was being screened earlier as part of the annual "Christmas wake" in cinemas. It was a film I was very excited for.
And to say the least, it lived up to my expectations and more. Spielberg gives a love letter to films that should both inspire and satisfy movie fans in equal amounts. It is such a beautiful film with incredible acting, and providing a bit of a retro American Graffiti kind of feel in some ways.
It is truly a testament to Spielberg's abilities as a filmmaker and how he started his career in the first place. I would recommend it to anyone with even a remote interest in film, it is truly a masterpiece. - akoaytao1234 - 26 December 2022
A Biased View of Someone's Past
I do not get the hype for this film. Its just ok.
Visually, clearly Spielberg is more than competent though nothing really special.
As usual, I personally hated the way its coded which character we should like and be apathetic too, which is very Spielberg. The story perhaps is the weirdest and weakest portion of the film. It just goes for the emotional gut punches and it never really relish to it or much precedent. Sadly, it made the film bizarrely paced and uneventful. The dialogue is pits too. It also weirdly hateful of the dad character. I felt that there is a real detachment that Spielberg has for that character. He is almost always left on his own with his thoughts, which is unlike the mother who is saved time and time again by external voices, especially from this roman à clef's representation of Spielberg himself.
Acting wise, there is nothing really to write about. Williams is subpar due to the uneven script. Dano is fine. Gabrielle Labelle was competent but would have been better if the writing was build up better.
Personally, this film left me really cold. Its a nice footnote but lacks the self reflection that would pushed it into another level. I feel really sad about it given that these are deeply personal stories from his life. Looking back few years from now, especially with how the New Hollywood directors are going their 70s to 80s, it would be just a few years and they will be dunzo and I still do not feel he reached his highest potential. He cannot fully let go of his inhibitions and expectation but I guess he will always have his "blockbusters".
