Few filmmakers in Hollywood attract audiences to theaters like Steven Spielberg. Ever since he chomped shark’s jaws devour box-office draws in 1975’s “Jaws”, Spielberg’s turned to one of world’s greatest filmmakers deserving round of applause. You immediately recognize characteristics Spielberg’s blockbuster: childlike wonder, Dino-mite special effects and endings driven heavy melodrama. While Spielberg accumulated stardom, his tendencies for sentimentality bitten Jurassic-Park dinosaurs of criticism. Spielberg’s movies criticized turning historical battle into loud spectacle (ex. “Saving Private Ryan”). Nevertheless, criticisms scarcely discouraged filmmaker from manufacturing extraordinary movies. Despite excelling many genres, director never documented childhood trauma caused obsessions with Cinema. Before he achieved stardom in Hollywood, Spielberg experienced painful boyhood characterized divorce likelihood. Parents’ broken marriage set stage Spielberg’s love of moving image at early age. Director scarcely beat divorce befriending E.T. extraterrestrial creature flying bicycle. Movies considered escapism for director bullied high-schools owing antisemitism. Still, Spielberg’s strong drive succeed let him survive bullying. Even when odds against his favor, Spielberg rarely lost sights dreams becoming director. Tackling themes family, career and determination, Spielberg’s story could inspire directors pursue dreams. However, it’s not simple artists expose personal lives onscreen. It’s no wonder, then, director rarely documented life big-screen.
Now, Spielberg returns documenting childhood memories developed obsessions filmmaking latest blockbuster “The Fabelmans”. Intimate, heartwarming and sweeping autobiographical drama, it demonstrates trauma motivated adolescent employing camera become greatest filmmaker Cinema. With semi-autobiographical drama, Spielberg revisits memory lane reminiscing childhood pain. Boasting stellar set-design, sharp storytelling and strong performances, it’s masterpiece. Ultimately, it’s inspiring message resonates everyone has dreams regardless how unattainable could seem.
Amidst 1950’s Arizona, “The Fabelmans” follows teenager embarking journey overcome upbringing pursuing profession filmmaking. Gabriel LaBelle portrays Sammy Fabelman, adolescent driven strong obsession filmmaking. Encouraged by affectionate mother Mitzi (Michelle Williams), Sammy pursues filmmaking earning living. However, Sammy’s love moving image tested discovering mothers’ affairs leading marriage damage. As Sammy experiences pressure, he doubts dream filmmaking anymore attainable.
Steven Spielberg’s obsessed themes children seeking avoid being chomped Jaws parents’ divorce tragedies. Following 1975’s “Jaws”, Spielberg’s transformed into fantastic blockbuster filmmaker. With “The Fabelmans”, however, Spielberg constructs autobiographical drama. It’s Spielberg’s endeavors recollecting life with nostalgia capturing childhood trauma which created lifelong obsession Cinema, but achieves expertly. Through spellbinding cinematography, Spielberg draws viewers into teenager’s journey self-discovery coming to terms troublesome upbringing pursuing profession filmmaking. Perhaps, most common characteristic of Spielberg’s movies ‘Spielberg Face’. In this technique, characters demonstrate expressions astonishment watching extraterrestrial creatures (ex. dinosaurs introductions in “Jurassic Park”). With “The Fabelmans”, Spielberg cleverly uses close-ups showcasing obsessions with Cinema. Evoking “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, Spielberg expertly uses close-up signal child’s astonishment experiencing magic Cinema. Like Roy Neary’s reactions wonder aliens, close-ups showcase Sammy’s awe watching his first movie in theaters. ‘The Spielberg Face’s’ techniques suited showcasing emotion faced WWII soldiers (ex. “Saving Private Ryan”) rather than theater spectators. However, it works immensely. Each frame showcases Spielberg’s love of Cinema. Spielberg revisits roots, crafting big-screen.
If world-famous filmmakers’ troublesome upbringing don’t attract attentions, however, there’s countless reasons see “The Fabelmans”. Assisted Rick Carter, Spielberg employs dining tables objects showcase emotional distance between family experiences dysfunction. For instance, dinner table set-design employed convey marital tensions during family gathering scene. During unforgettable scene, Sammy engrossed tense arguments with his parents over filmmaking being profitable professions. One appreciates dinner table conveys dysfunctional relationships between Sammy and parents magical set-design reminiscent of “E.T. The Extraterrestrial”. Through ingenious set-designs, Spielberg captures his fractured family’s dynamics. Dialogue-driven dinner tables conversations appropriate larger-than-life biographies (ex. “Lincoln”) rather than autobiographical dramas. Nevertheless, technique succeeds. Furthermore, John Williams’ score’s memorable. Emulating “Empire of the Sun”, music captures world through child’s point-of-views. Through production-design, Spielberg captures childhood.
Another extraordinary aspect of “The Fabelmans” is screenplay. Spielberg’s greatest screenwriting strength’s proficiency demonstrating repercussions marriages separations children through minimal dialogues. If there’s downsides Spielberg’s movies, often minimize divorce. Case-in-exemplars: “A.I. Artificial Intelligence” implied couples could easily mend broken relation achieving mutual acceptance adopting children blessed A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Fortunately, however, Spielberg avoids stereotypes. Emulating “Catch Me if You Can”, Spielberg captures negative repercussions divorce inflicts on lives children through sequences of silences. Recalling Frank Abagnale’s breakdowns following discovery of parents’ divorce, Sammy becomes speechless discovering truths parents. As exemplars, silence captures emotions felt children of divorce home-video footage sequence. During memorable sequence, Sammy unearths shocking evidence demonstrates mother extramarital affairs through camping footage. Despite lack of dialogues, Sammy’s expressions speak louder than words. Using silences, Spielberg conveys complicated emotions he faced as child of divorce. Silence is tricky technique employ family dramas. Sequences without sounds appropriate historical dramas emphasizing negative repercussions wars (ex. “Schindler’s List”) rather than divorce. Nevertheless, it succeeds. Through sensational script, Spielberg captures impacts separations.
One acknowledges powerful performances.
Gabriel LaBelle delivers breakthrough performances as Sammy Fabelman. In first-ever significant role, LaBelle emerges superstar possessing extraordinary abilities portray famous filmmaker. It isn’t easy personify childhood trauma motivated formations greatest filmmaker Cinema. However, LaBelle achieves deftly. Emulating Ellar Coltrane in Richard Linklater’s “Boyhood”, LaBelle creates teen coping parents’ declining marriage through moving image. With riveting expressions, he conveys angst, drive and passion of teen battling parents’ separation. It’s brilliant performance proving LaBelle destined stardom.
Supporting cast’s superb, sharing Fabelman-ous chemistry. Michelle Williams’ marvelous, imbues warmth compassionate mother fully supports son’s dreams fulfills capturing moving stills even though it scarcely pays bills. Paul Dano’s powerful, bringing humanity father struggling understand son’s love for filmmaking. Concluding acknowledgements Judd Hirsch. As uncle offers advice, he brings wisdom.
Finally, “The Fabelmans” deserves everyone’s appreciation for Hugo-mongous celebrations of filmmaking profession. Emulating Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo”, Spielberg pays tribute toward Cinema being precious art-form in need of saving. Spielberg discusses timely topics such as adolescence, divorce and family that will resonate everyone. As movie-buff whose hobbies conflicted life’s responsibilities, I identified Sam’s journey. Consequently, “The Fabelmans” will appeal everyone.
Steven Spielberg’s fans will certainly enjoy “The Fabelmans” and so will moviegoers looking heartwarming entertainment. Awe-inspiring autobiographical achievements, it proves stardom stories of world-famous filmmakers worth retelling. Like flipping through photo album, it made me relish childhood memories remembering first time acknowledgements visit theater expressing astonishments Jurassic-Park monstrosities which sowed seeds uncontrollable passion writing movies.
As an inspirational role model motivated my obsessions with filmmaking, it’s rousing tributes to living Hollywood legend without whom probability out-of-the-question my dream becoming entertainment critic critically review movies become realities.
For all uphill battles he endured being bullied for Schindler’s-List Jewish identities, coping with parents’ divorce tragedies and struggling with Dyslexia learning disabilities, Spielberg capitalized upon these experiences as inspiration for his movies.
Ultimately, Spielberg’s inspirational life story suggests being child of divorce isn’t necessarily end of world could motivate children raised dysfunctional families overcome hurdle for whom any goal attainable weaponizing parents’ separation inspiration leading creation E.T. Extraterrestrial.
Hopefully, it will persuade modern filmmakers pursue dream not be afraid entering profession isn’t as scary as dipping feet into ocean occupied Jaws disregarding parents arguing art tears hearts apart advising importance choosing profession possible earning living.
At time when future of Cinema in danger, it’s reassuring be reminded “movies-are-dreams-you’ll-never-forget” by one of world’s greatest filmmakers.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 