The Fabelmans (2022)

The Fabelmans (2022)

 7/10

Starring

Michelle Williams

Paul Dano

Seth Rogen

Gabriel LaBelle

 

Directed by Steven Spielberg

 

I have a feeling this movie would have been a box office hit if it had been made a decade or two ago. A lot of people born in later years see filmmakers like Spielberg and Lucas as legends of old cinema and may not be hyped to go see what made them who they are. So, it’s sad that many aren’t rushing to theaters to watch this movie, which is a semi-autobiographical story about Spielberg’s life.

One thing to respect about this movie—and Spielberg in general—is how he consistently proves to be one step ahead of so many filmmakers, both past and present. The movie has a wonderful touch that draws you in and makes you wonder how his life might have turned out if not for his love of movies. In this film, the character Sammy (portraying Spielberg during his adolescence) would have lived a very different life if he hadn’t seen the film that sparked his obsession with train crashes.

The movie does a great job of showing Sammy not as a purely innocent boy elevated by the magic of filmmaking, but as someone who had challenges, flaws, and insecurities, which he hid behind his love for the camera. This isn’t a grand revelation in the film—it’s even something his sister points out to him at one point.

The story begins with young Sammy being taken to see a movie for the first time. We see how the action on the screen ignites his love for cinema. With the encouragement of his mother and his adopted uncle, he turns this obsession into a reality, despite struggling through school and yearning to be accepted by his peers. He even makes a film about their high school trip. Along the way, we witness his battles with bullies and anti-Semitism. What I appreciated was how the movie didn’t pretend he was fearless—he lies and avoids confrontation to escape beatings, making him feel more relatable.

His family’s dysfunction also plays a significant role in pushing him toward filmmaking. As Sammy deals with his parents’ divorce, he finds solace and purpose behind the camera, all while trying to figure out how to become a real filmmaker.

The film focuses more on his life growing up than on the filmmaking aspects of his adulthood, which gives it a grounded and personal touch.

In the end, I feel this movie won’t get the attention it truly deserves, even with all the award nominations it’s likely to rack up. It’s a heartfelt look at how one of the greatest filmmakers of our lifetime fell in love with cinema, but unfortunately, it may not resonate with younger audiences who don’t share the same reverence for Spielberg’s legacy.