The Fabelmans
The Fabelmans
7.592%83%
Growing up in post-World War II era Arizona, young Sammy Fabelman aspires to become a filmmaker as he reaches adolescence, but soon discovers a shattering family secret and explores how the power of films can help him see the truth.
Kevin Ward reviewedJuly 5, 2025
Spielberg is the šin my opinion. Iām a huge fan of the way he moves the camera and finds ways to make a shot interesting. One in particular stuck out.Ā A really small moment where Mitzi, (Michelle Williams) is practicing piano, but the camera movement captures 4 different interesting shots/angles and ends on a low angle shot looking up at Mitziās hands on the keys and capturing her face in the reflection on the front of the piano. Spielbergās films are typically filled with this kind of dynamic camerawork, not only in the action set-pieces, but also in these smaller moments. My love of his interesting camera work also happens to make that last cameo and that final shot so resonant.Ā āØI really loved all of the stuff showing him as a young filmmaker, as well as all of the tricks he came up with to simulate explosions, live gunfire, etc. Ā I spent a fair amount of time making home movies as kid with friends and family. That kind of ingenuity and problem solvingāfiguring out how to capture that shot that you want in cameraāwere some of the most fun and rewarding parts of the whole experience.Ā āØAs for the rest of the film, I really like Gabriel LaBelle. He was excellent as Sam (our stand in for Spielberg himself). I really liked the scene with Judd Hirsch as his scene with LaBelle felt like the central thesis of the film. āArt will give you crowns in heaven and laurels on Earth, but also, it will tear your heart out.āāØWhen it comes toĀ The Fabelmans, it pains me to say that that is kind of the extent of what I loved about it. Didnāt care much for the depictions of the familial drama, nor his relationship with his christ loving girlfriend. I came in expecting to really love this, so maybe expectations got the best of me. Iāll put on my re-watch list because clearly, Iām in the minority. Ā Still a recommendation, especially for Spielberg enthusiasts.Ā