The Fabelmans Movie Review

If there was a Mount Rushmore of filmmakers, Steven Spielberg’s head would be front and center. The man’s filmography is easily one of the most diverse, but also one of the most recognizable. His stamp on popular culture can be seen in nearly every modern blockbuster, with many donning him as the father of the blockbuster, with his 1975 hit Jaws. Since this success he has given us classics such as: The Indiana Jones trilogy (yes trilogy…), Close Encounters of The Third Kind, Hook, Minority Report, E.T, War of The Worlds, Lincoln, Munich, Catch Me If You Can, The Terminal, Bridge of Spies, The Post, Ready Player One and West Side Story just to name a few. He is one of few filmmakers who are universally recognized for their craft, but also their celebrity, which as a director, is barely heard of. In 2022, we got an insight into his love of filmmaking, with the deeply personal and somewhat autobiographical film ‘The Fabelmans’ which saw a fictionalized re-telling of Spielberg’s family life and how his love of film grew over the years. This is easily Spielberg’s best film in years, as we finally get a bit of an insight into the story behind the greatest living filmmaker.

The Fabelmans’ stars Gabrielle LaBelle as a young Sammy Fabelman (the Spielberg surrogate of the film), who uncovers a life-shattering family secret, that his mother is in love with another man, a family friend Benny (played by Seth Rogen) that allows the young man to see the world through a different lens. The cast here are all wonderful with both Michelle Williams as Spielberg’s mother and Judd Hirsch playing a ficitonalised version of Spielberg’s great Uncle, in a very brief sequence, both receiving Oscar nominations for their work in this film. They are truly remarkable together on-screen with other supporting roles by Paul Dano, Seth Rogen and David Lynch also stealing their scenes throughout the film, with David Lynch’s portrayal of John Ford being among the best scenes in the entire film.

The biggest takeaway from this film though, is how Steven Spielberg showcases moviemaking and his love for the craft. It’s done here unlike any other film I have seen before, showcasing them in a childlike fashion, putting the audience front and center as we see one man’s obsession blossom from a hobby to what we know to be one of the best filmmaking careers of all time. The films are re-creations of Spielberg’s actual short films he made as a kid, but with obviously a larger budget.   Getting this insight into one of the best modern-day filmmakers is inspirational and at times quite emotional. Sammy Fabelmans journey is not all jolly and full of glee, the film deals with some realistic themes of grief, depression and adultery and does so in a way that is both heartfelt and at times melancholy. The balance is struck beautifully, providing the audience with a complete narrative, full of realistic depictions of each of these themes.

Spielberg does an excellent job here as well blending drama with humor, as he has done oh so well for decades now. Some of the film's best moments are when these two genres meet, and it provides the audience with moments of levity mixed with moments of true sadness and again melancholy. Spielberg’s long time writing partner Tony Kushner (West Side Story, Lincoln, Munich), understands this story, hearing Spielberg talk about it for years and then during the COVID-19 pandemic, whilst filming West Side Story, agreeing to finally undertake the project and turn it into a feature film. The culmination of the story to a beautiful crescendo at the end of the film, is exactly what we needed and is a testament to the talent of Spielberg as a creative but also his understanding of a complete narrative.

The Fabelmans is a true masterpiece, highlighting childlike innocence and imagination in ways I haven’t seen before in a film. The film perfectly encapsulates wonder and serves as an inspirational tale of discovery and following one’s passion, with a coming-of-age story sprinkled throughout, as we see a boy become a man. The film inspired me in ways I didn’t think were possible and in ways I also didn’t expect. This is a must watch for fans of cinema and fans of Mr Spielberg’s incredible body of work. I loved this film. The Fabelmans is now available on DVD and Blu-Ray from Sanity’s online store. Click here to secure your copy today!

Christopher Pattison from Oz Movie Geek wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here