Review of The Fabelmans (2022) by Moviemitch96 — 23 Nov 2022

This film chronicles the story of a young boy as we follow his coming of age alongside his family, from the early 50s in Phoenix, Arizona when his parents (Michelle Williams and Paul Dano) take him to see his first film in the theater (thereby igniting his love and passion for filmmaking) to the mid 60s in California as he aspires to become a successful Hollywood filmmaker.

Written, produced, and directed by Steven Spielberg, this is by far his most personal and autobiographical film to date, as he essentially showcases his own personal upbringing and everything that led up to his success and inception of his now legendary Hollywood career.

Sharing with us all of the most tender and personal moments of his life such as, going to see 'The Greatest Show on Earth' as his first film in the theater, his parents' divorce, his struggles with growing up Jewish and suffering bullying and anti-Semitism, splitting his time between Phoenix and Hollywood, etc.

, Spielberg tells all here in his typical grandiose, nostalgic, and endearing fashion. Young actor Gabriel LaBelle as the high school-aged Sammy Fabelman (who is essentially Spielberg) captures the spirit and determination of the filmmaker wonderfully.

Williams and Dano as his mother Mitzi and his father Burt respectively also deliver some of their best and most tender work here. Judd Hirsch even briefly appears in one memorable scene as his uncle, and Seth Rogen also plays his own goofy self here as the uncle-like figure to Sammy.

Production-wise, we are graced with beautiful cinematography that really manages to capture the look and feel of the era quite nicely, and Spielberg's go-to composer John Williams also delivers a beautiful and uplifting score as he always does.

There are times where it feels a little overly sentimental and sappy, but I for one have come to expect this for most Spielberg films at this point anyway, and it almost certainly didn't hinder my enjoyment.

Overall, it's an absolute love letter to film fans all over, and a beautiful and true testament to the power of film and its ability to move, inspire, and simply make us feel something. It's films like this that reaffirm just why I love films so much and am the huge film buff that I am and always have been for as long as I can remember.

They truly shape who I am, and this film is a beautiful, touching, and tender reminder of that. Hats off to you Mr.