Review of The Fabelmans (2022) by Bertobellamy — 30 Jan 2023

Just as in 'Roma,' 'The Hand of God,' and 'Armageddon Time,' 'The Fabelmans' blends memories with fiction to give insight into the state of mind of an artist, in this case, the legendary Steven Spielberg.

As the movies I mentioned earlier, Spielberg's new one shows the fragile balance between art and family; what happens when parents or brothers get in the way of talent? Our director, of course, shows no regrets; the tale articulates the painful experience of letting your relatives know that you don't want to follow their path in some way or another, just as little Paul in James Gray's 'Armageddon Time.'

'The Fabelmans' is a simple coming-of-age story, but what elevates it is the honesty of the screenplay, the acting, and the way it focuses on the mother — played brilliantly by Michelle Williams. As an artist herself, her struggle shows the consequences of not finding yourself and being held down by your own family — in her case, her mother.

This is Steven Spielbergs most intimate movie in maybe decades, but it's not short of spectacle; the amateur filming sequences are outstanding. 'American Graffiti' and 'E.T.' come to mind when you're watching this; memories of a great time mixed with the urgency of the present. Oh, and the last scene is just memorable. Don't look for it before and let you be surprised by it.