“You do what your heart says you have to. Because you don't owe anyone your life. Not even me. ”
Spoilers ahead...
Plot: Loosely Based on the Childhood of Steven Spielberg
Sammy
Fabelman (Gabriel LaBelle),
at a very young age, realizes his obsession with the camera and aspires to be a
filmmaker. The story follows the struggles he faces while living in a family
where his parents, Burt Fabelman (Paul Dano) and Mitzi Fabelman
(Michelle Williams), are going through an unhappy marriage.
The movie
is a semi-autobiographical portrayal of the early days of Steven Spielberg's
life. The opening scene beautifully establishes how Sammy is mesmerized
watching his first movie at a theater. Later, Mitzi discovers the reason Sammy
wants to recreate the train crash scene with toys: he seeks control over what
frightens him.
As the
story progresses, we see how innovative and smart Sammy is, especially when he
realizes that a shot in his short movie looks fake due to the gunshots. He
quickly finds a way to make it look real. Whenever the movie focuses on Sammy
and his camera, it feels great to watch.
What Doesn’t Work in The Fabelmans
However,
the other subplots don't resonate as strongly with me, whether it's the
bullying at high school, the anti-semitism, or the coming-of-age elements. My
main issue lies with the Mitzi-Burt storyline, where Mitzi's affection
for Burt's friend Bennie Loewy (Seth Rogen) feels too stretched and
never-ending. This point could have been made more effectively without the
self-indulgent long scenes. Despite a wonderful performance from Michelle
Williams, I couldn't fully connect with her character. I do love two of her
scenes: the one where she drives her children to see a tornado and then
realizes what a reckless thing she did as a mom, and the other where she tells
Sammy to follow his heart and not listen to anyone, not even her.
Performances of Gabriel LaBelle and Judd Hirsch
There's a
lovely cameo by Judd Hirsch, who plays Uncle Morris, Mitzi's
brother. He bluntly warns Sammy about where he is eventually heading,
explaining how artists and filmmakers often prioritize their work over their
loved ones. However, I don't think the role was significant enough to earn an Oscar
nomination for him.
I loved Gabriel
LaBelle's performance, especially in the scene where Sammy discovers his
mother's feelings for Bennie while editing the camping trip video. Another
standout moment is when Sammy talks to his dad, expressing his uncertainty
about where he is headed—a dilemma almost every teenager faces.
One scene
that will always stick with me is the one involving Sammy's girlfriend Monica
Sherwood (Chloe East), where she insists Sammy bring Jesus inside him
before they can make love. It was tough to control laughter during this
hilarious scene.
Verdict on The Fabelmans
Overall, The
Fabelmans provides some insight into the early days of Steven Spielberg.
There's plenty to like and enjoy, but I just couldn't love it.
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