Michelle Williams

Paul Dano

Seth Rogen

Gabriel LaBelle

Mateo Zoryan Francis-DeFord

Keeley Karsten

Alina Brace

Julia Butters

Birdie Borria

Judd Hirsch

Sophia Kopera

Jeannie Berlin

Robin Bartlett

Sam Rechner

Oakes Fegley

Chloe East

Isabelle Kusman

Chandler Lovelle

Gustavo Escobar

Nicolas Cantu

Cooper Dodson

Gabriel Bateman

Stephen Matthew Smith

James Urbaniak

Alex Quijano

Kalama Epstein

Connor Trinneer

Lane Factor

Greg Grunberg

David Lynch

Jan Hoag

Carlos Javier Castillo

Ezra Buzzington

Paul Chepikian

Brinly Marum

Mason Bumba

Mary M. Flynn

Adriel Porter

Tia Nalls

Larkin Campbell

Harper Dustin

Crystal the Monkey

Art Bonilla

Meredith VanCuyk

Vera Myers

Cody Mitchell Key

Caroline Anna-Kaye Green

Rob Shiells

Julyah Rose

Jonathan Moorwood

Ari Davis

Jared Becker

Kendal Evans

Trang Vo

Alejandro Fuenzalida

Orion Hunter

Samantha Rose Gomez

Taylor Stone

Sarah Hamilton

Paige Locke

Marissa McBride

Malachi Mickelonis

Max David Weinberg

Cameron Hennings

Nicole Alicia Xavier

Josh McLaglen

Kristie Macosko Krieger

Tony Kushner

Cindy Tolan

David Stickler

Michael Kahn

Carla Raij

Demelza Cronin

Pez Zee

Merie Weismiller Wallace

Dustin Weathers

Chris Cook

Garrett Warren

Brian Barlettani

Steven Spielberg

Benny Bailey

Chris Culliton

Aimey Beer

Davis Clark DiLillo

Keith Campbell

Mike DeMille

Eric Cortez

Claudia Abrego

Kelli Barksdale

Dana Arnold

Eric Corriea

Justin Ellings

Chris Palermo

Omar Zaki

Travis Brady

Mitch Dubin

Shauna Duggins

Kara Petersen

Elizabeth Swaney

Steve Freebairn

Adam Jeffrey

Ezra Bassin-Hill

Mario Bugarin

Pierre Mayer

Chad B. Daring

Andrew Degnan

Matt Floyd

Whitney Ortega

Ryan Copeland

Brian M. Fisher

Donny Bailey

Colin Anderson

Michael D. Gonzalez

Zachary Helmer

Michael S. Beckman

Seth Gallagher

Magdalena Górka

Rafael Gomez

Nathan M. Hadden

Steve Irwin

Tommy James Lewis

Jared Jordan

Greg Patterson

Lucas Staley

John Vladic

Cindy Shute

David O'Brien

David Presley

Daniel Rodríguez

Mark Spath

Dustin Gardner

Bradford Ralston

John Mang

Phil Pastuhov

BJ McDonnell

David H. Neale

Erik F. Hill

Jonathan Kurt

Ray Garcia

Steve Koster

Julian McDougald

Michael Hatzer

Helena Cepeda

Kevin Schneider

Chris Armstrong

Gloria Pasqua Casny

Miki Caporusso

Erick Villanueva

Roxie Hodenfield

Matthew Waltz

Jason Chandler Pettus

Dan Urbain

Victor Manuel Fernandez

Joseph Oberle

Sam Bassett

Jeffrey Kalmus

Alex Guri

Georg Kaltenbrunner

Jennifer Silver

Laura Kutchen

Mark Hawker

Drama

The Fabelmans

Amblin Entertainment

Reliance Entertainment

United States of America

Peter McGinn

I saw several negative reviews before I watched this, and I assumed there was an element of grading someone a bit more harshly when they have achieved wild success or, heaven forbid, if they do stellar work in one genre such as sci-fi or adventure and then have the chutzpah to create a film in a different genre not appreciated by the sci-fi etc. fans. Maybe there was some of that baggage involved; how else to explain one-star reviews. Really? A disgusting gross-out comedy might get 4 stars, but a serious biopic gets one?

But I have given it six stars, probably my low for a Spielberg movie. I thought the film was too episodic. Here is where he saw his first movie; here is him with his first camera; here is where he learns something upsetting about his parents’ marriage; here is some bullying and then that part in every coming of age movie it seems, where a pretty girl throws herself at him. Sure wish that had happened to me at that tender age. And some of the scenes felt rather cliched to me. Also, and this is a bit of a spoiler, at one point his mother assures him she has not done ”that” with Bennie, and she loves her children and husband more than anything, but she still can’t live without Bennie? I had trouble with that revelation.

But it isn’t all negative stuff. I thought a lot of the acting was strong, with a few exceptions, and most of the dialogue was good, but when a film is 2 and a half hours long, consistency is hard to come by, and there were a few hiccups here and there. The scene with John Ford was intriguing, but they could have done a bit more with it. I liked the two sisters as characters, but again, not enough depth was given to them. A bit of a lost opportunity.

“The Fabelmans” is a movie loosely based on the true story of Steven Spielberg’s own childhood. Produced after the death of his mother Leah Adler and using the fictional family name of the Fabelmans the movie focuses primarily on the iconic film makers family and the impact his parents divorce had on his young life.  “The Fabelmans” is rich in  exposing the influences behind classic movies like E.T. ( Set in a broken home ) and some early techniques at effects the film maker used to better his home movies. 

“The Fabelmans” starts in the 1950’s with Sammy Fabelman experiencing for the first time the magic of cinema with his parents. Slightly traumatised by the movie, particularly a train crash scene, it’s from this emotional experience the first glimpses of becoming a film maker appear. Who of us that have delved into the arts ( film making, actors , singers , performers , etc ) didn’t start off creating these types of home made replicas?  The idyllic family set up, with the ever growing confident and more adept young home movie maker,  becomes derailed when after editing his 8mm footage of a family camping trip he discovers all was not as he remembered.  The impact of what Sam discovers about his concert pianist mother and that fateful trip results in the eventual breakdown of his parents. 

As the movie moves into the early 1960’s and Spielberg’s high school years “The Fabelmans”touches on religion, race issues and first love. Due to the impact of that fateful camping holiday and therefore following a hiatus of not wanting to make any further home movies, Sam is persuaded by his girlfriend to film the end of school year beach party get together.  The impact of Sam’s return to film making is clearly visible after the graduation film he produced is shown at the school prom to great acclaim.  

“The Fabelmans” is well documented as being a love letter to cinema but equally it is Spielberg’s love letter to his family. This is the movies key fact, the acceptance of multiple things happening all at once. Vocation is driven by both fear and talent, loving relationships break down, and movies that appear simplistic are highly sophisticated. With an extremely satisfying ending “ The Fabelmans” is a beautifully crafted work of art and remarkable insight into one of the most famous and influential directors Hollywood has ever produced

CinemaSerf

Gabriel LaBelle is great in this generally entertaining and interesting tale of a young lad ("Sammy") growing up in post-war America who has a penchant (and eye) for film making. Growing up in an happy environment with mother "Mitzi" (Michelle Williams), father "Burt" (Paul Dano) and sister "Natalie" (Keeley Karsten) they all rub along amiably enough. His father is a developer in the computer industry, and together with their best family friend "Bennie" (Seth Rogan) relocate to a better opportunity in Arizona. It's after a family camping trip - and the death of his grandmother - that the young "Sammy" is asked to make a short movie from the film he shot whilst they were all messing about in the wilderness. His attention to the detail of his photography gradually reveals something that upsets him, and threatens the very equilibrium of their erstwhile happy family. What now ensues demonstrates how, gradually, all come to terms with his discovery and he determines just where his future career lies. I am not really a fan of Williams - I find her sterile most of the time; but here she is on really good form. The character of "Mitzi" is probably the most interesting, certainly the most conflicted - and she delivers it well. There are two lovely little, inspirational in differing ways, cameos from Judd Hirsch and from David Lynch at the end of this film that has a distinct lusciousness to it. Like the performances, the photography and the soundtrack are natural and engaging and could easily convince any of us that a career in film making is possible - indeed, straightforward! I don't know the extent to which it is autobiographical of Steven Spielberg's life, but to be honest I didn't really care. This is just a fine film to watch.

The film is eminently watchable. The acting and directing are, of course, excellent. The script, however, meanders aimlessly like Moses in the desert. Where's the point? What are the important take-aways? These questions and more are not answered. For such a long film, the character development of the supporting roles was wholly absent. In my movie list of Directors About Themselves (https://boxd.it/iEWZO), this is weakest of the whole bunch.

English

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The Beginning of Dreams Extended Preview

How It All Started

Steven Spielberg on how he made THE FABELMANS

I'm Asking You To Do This Now, For Your Mom

Follow Your Dreams - Don't Break Your Mother's Heart!

Mitzi Tells Sammy They Are Going To Film

Creating the World of The Fabelmans: Reflections

Crafting the World of The Fabelmans: Composition

Creating the World of The Fabelmans: Recreating the 8mm Films

The Fabelmans comes to The Ritzy

A Personal Journey – Jewish Characters

Steven Spielberg & John Williams Featurette

Official Trailer 2

Home Featurette

Cast Featurette

A Look Inside

Academy Conversations with Steven Spielberg , Michelle Williams, Paul Dano & more

Time of My Life

The Fabelmans U.S. Premiere

THE FABELMANS Q&A | TIFF 2022

Official Trailer