The Fabelmans is a love letter to cinema in which Steven Spielberg sprinkles nods to his own life and the magic he is known for throughout.
Steven Spielberg is one of the greatest directors of all time, there is no denying that. Sometime he brings to all of his films is a touch of magic, and The Fabelmans is no different. This movie might not be as magical as some of his others, but it is still touching. A complete joy to watch from start to finish, The Fabelmans is love letter to cinema and the art of making movies.
The story follows young Sammy Fabelman, who is inspired by his first movie-going experience to make films of his own. Over the course of the next two and a half hours he goes on a journey as he learns different techniques and directing skills. When editing up a film for his mother, he discovers a family secret that changes everything. The Fabelmans perfectly encompasses the true power of movies and the effects that they have on us.
Gabriel LaBelle takes over as Sammy for Mateo Zoryan pretty early in the film, considering the runtime, but Zoryan certainly leaves a lasting impression. The look in his eyes as he stares up at the screen for the first time, and then at his own film a little later on, shows the instant that the spark started in him. LaBelle seamlessly takes over the role from him, continuing the same mannerisms and attitude, making the transition very believable.
Michelle Williams and Paul Dano play Sammy’s parents, Burt and Mitzi Fabelman. They both give stellar performances, but it is Williams that stands out the most. Besides Sammy, she is very much the lead character of the film. She is quirky and weird, but she loves her son as well as his passion for movies.
There are multiple times throughout The Fabelmans that Williams very quickly changes the way that her character is acting, only further solidifying the influence she has over Sammy. Their relationship is a bizarre one, especially during the second half of the film, but it is what had such a profound impact of Sammy’s life and career.
Seth Rogan portrays Burt’s best friend Bennie, whom the Fabelman children call Uncle, even though they aren’t really related. He is definitely a supporting character, however his role is significant in Sammy’s life as well. Rogan often plays the funny man in movies, so it is a nice change of pace seeing him as this caring (maybe a little too much) man who has a smaller, subtle, but important part to play.
Spielberg brings a different kind of magic than fans are used to in The Fabelmans, and that is the magic of movies. This is a more serious movie, that actually deals with some heavy family issues that people go through every day. It addresses marriage, mental health, and even abuse. There are no aliens, mystical creatures, or far off realms to explore.
The pacing is quite slow at times, which often doesn’t work for a movie that is two and a half hours long. But somehow, it does. The Fabelmans is certainly a slow burn, and it won’t be for everyone, but it maintains this pace for a reason. The audience is able to connect more with Sammy and his family this way. They learn more about his inspirations, his aspirations, and his life long goals. The movie could have been cut down to a two hour runtime and it might have worked better for more viewers, but it is still works with this longer length.
Overall The Fablemans captures the magic of movies and the profound effects that it has on most people. After all, our lives really do often play out like movies, with our memories being the film, do they not?
There are some heavy themes in this film, and it won’t be for everyone, but Steven Spielberg is able to deliver yet another magical work of art. It is apparent that he took inspiration from his own life here, and because of that there is a lot of heart and emotion in the film. Add in the incredible and powerful performances, and this is a movie fans won’t soon forget.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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About The Fabelmans
“Movies are dreams that you never forget.”
A deeply personal portrait of 20th Century American childhood, Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans is 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.
The Fabelmans is playing in theaters now.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.