The Fabelmans review
The Fabelmans is a movie that has inspired creative moments of greatness, but too often feels shrewdly calculated to garner Oscar glory above all else. If audiences are entertained that’s a bonus yet make no mistake nabbing as many of those golden statuettes is the main priority.
That’s not a bad take though considering The Fabelmans understands its true target audience and how best to reach them. The Fabelmans is acclaimed director Stephen Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical account of his childhood and the fascination with cinema that would make him a legend. Spielberg reunites with screenwriter Tony Kushner (West Side Story, Lincoln) to co-write the film.
In a big moment in his young life, young Sammy Fableman (Mateo Zoryan) gets taken to his first movie. His parents, Burt (Paul Dano, The Batman) and Mitzi (Michelle Williams), don’t realize what they’ve started as Sammy gets obsessed with the art of movie making.
He immediately sets out to recreate what he saw on the big screen much to Burt’s chagrin. Burt envisions his son taking after his old man and being a computer whiz capable of supporting his family, in-laws and his best pal (Seth Rogen).
Nothing can restrain Sammy’s imagination and with the help of his sisters, Reggie (Birdie Borria) and Natalie (Alina Brace), Sammy starts whipping up movies and dutifully editing them like those he sees on the big screen.
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As a young teen, Sammy (now played by Gabriel LaBelle) has become even more daring with his films and his cast includes Reggie (Julia Butters, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood), Natalie (Keeley Karsten) and his Boy Scout troop members.
Repeatedly, these scenes prove the film’s most magical and engaging moments. It’s like getting a glimpse into the mind of a cinematic prodigy creatively come up with ways to make his movies look more authentic from the mastermind who initially envisioned them.
To Spielberg’s credit, these scenes don’t feel like a puffed-out chest celebration of his genius. Rather they come off like invaluable steps along his journey we might not otherwise see short of seeing his home movies.
With a run time just shy of two and a half hours, the film isn’t pressed for time so it would have been fascinating to get more insight into Sammy’s mindset. How he cast his heroes, villains, camera angles and technical shortcuts.
There’s also fun in spotting the origins/first takes of films like Saving Private Ryan, E.T. the Extra Terrestrial and Schindler’s List. While Burt is convinced Sammy is just focusing on a fruitless hobby, it’s Mitzi who is constantly encouraging and supportive to his dreams.
The longer run time also allows Spielberg to be less critical about what is and isn’t essential to the story. Some subplots feel underdeveloped while other, less vital moments get way too much time.
A scene with Sammy’s religious girlfriend, Monica (Chloe East), is cute, but goes on far too long. Numerous scenes with Mitzi feel needlessly extended scrapping viable scenes for a director’s cut or bonus footage extras.
Williams is a tremendous actress evidenced by her four Oscar nominations – split between Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress nods. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Williams garner a fifth nomination from this role even if this is easily her showiest, over the top and grating performances.
Some of the problem is the seeming reluctance from Spielberg to vilify even this fictional account of his mother. Even as Sammy’s parents’ marriage crumbles and Mitzi clearly seems the biggest culprit, Spielberg and Kushner constantly paint her in an unearned sympathetic light.
Dano’s low-key, steady performance is deserving of more award support though Judd Hirsch’s brief, but memorable cameo might be a stronger bet for Best Supporting Actor nominations.
LaBelle also warrants some attention as he plays off his more experienced co-stars without feeling like he’s being constantly carried through those scenes.
The Fabelmans has pockets of superior filmmaking — it’d be hard for Spielberg’s magic to fade completely –- but given the inspiration it still feels massively underwhelming.
Rating: 5 out of 10
Photo Credit: Universal Pictures