Legendary director Stephen Spielberg finally turns the camera on himself (kind of) with his latest film, The Fabelmans, which acts as a semi-autobiographical take on his youth.
While the film has ties to Spielberg’s personal journey in film and life, it tells an original story following Sammy Fabelman (Gabriel LaBelle) as he juggles his growing passion for film while his family goes through turbulent times. Right from the first sequence of a young Sammy watching Cecil B. DeMille’s The Greatest Show on Earth, Spielberg taps into that love bug for movies that viewers could have, and he definitely has. It captures that magic moment of first being entranced and captivated by a film that’s uniquely nostalgic, and you really feel like you’re seeing Sammy’s love for film emerge and grow. Once Sammy is older and starting to make films with his friends, The Fabelmans really becomes a love letter to filmmaking and features a lot of standout moments.
The Fabelmans could honestly be considered kind of a starter’s guide for filmmakers with how it captures Sammy’s experience. While the technology is certainly not as advanced compared to what’s available now, the creativity and ingenuity Sammy shows is timeless and meaningful. From seeing him create gunshot flares and explosions in practical ways, to watching him direct a first-time actor for a pivotal scene, Sammy’s story can easily inspire those looking to follow a similar journey. Plus, with his story being inspired by Spielberg’s own experience, audiences will feel closer to him on a personal level than ever before. Even if you’re not a cinephile looking for inspiration from Sammy’s story, watching him in action feels like a peek behind the curtain of filmmaking that’s entertaining and engaging.
There are even great moments that simply touch on the power of film and it’s great how these revelations influence Sammy’s and others’ respective arcs. Some of the most emotional parts of Sammy’s personal story come from him and others watching his films back and making discoveries about themselves and those around them. At times, they bring back warm memories or gut-wrenching realizations that act as cathartic instances that are literally life-altering. As much as The Fabelmans is an ode to the early days of a filmmaker, it also touches on the power that film can have on audiences and its impact on cultural mindsets making it a much richer experience for every kind of viewer.
The Fabelmans is nearly equally as strong when it delves into Sammy’s family strife, as the performances continually add new emotional threads. At times, the film can feel like it treads familiar ground with how it explores the growing divide between Sammy’s opposite parents. The idea of Sammy’s mother (Michelle Williams) being a fantastical dreamer and Sammy’s father (Paul Dano) being a grounded family man eventually leads to them slowly dividing as their interests grow diverge. It just feels like typical family drama storylines unfolding for the most part, but Spielberg’s storytelling and the performances definitely keep Sammy’s dysfunctional family wrapped around your heart.
The way that Sammy’s budding love for film intertwines and even plays a role in some of the issues with his family creates more heartbreak when Sammy deals with his parents’ deteriorating relationship. Williams and Dano plays their roles perfectly, to the point where their relationship feels harmonious and loving like a perfect sitcom family, but can’t escape reality setting in. Their love for each other still burns and exists even when they hit a low, but neither can fully accept their diverging paths.
At the center of it all, is a grounded and engaging coming of age story for Sammy that touches on personal obstacles and even discrimination for being Jewish. LaBelle delivers one of the best breakout performances of the year, making Sammy feel nostalgic for his youthful ambition and wonder while creating good balance between the biggest emotional points of the film. It all culminates in a finale that not only delivers some satisfying nods to Spielberg’s start to film and a cameo from another legendary director, but also some warming moments of acceptance and support that make The Fabelmans’ end have some good emotional gut punches.
The Fabelmans feels like a real passion project from Spielberg. It is both an ode to his journey as a filmmaker as well as an emotional narrative about family and personal passion that contains some of the best performances of the year.
