'The Fabelmans' is a coming-of-age story directed by Steven Spielberg loosely based on his life. When the main character, Sammy Fabelman, sees his first movie with his family, he embarks on a journey to follow his passion for film. Can this semi-autobiography draw attention to the personal life of Steven Spielberg in a realistic way?
With a long list of notable films under his belt, Steven Spielberg takes the audience down the path showing how he becomes one of the most successful directors of all time. The Fabelmans is filmed in a way that makes you feel like you are in the same room as the family while experiencing the same emotions. The range of emotions is widespread as the cast’s actions are unpredictable yet warm so it is easy to wonder what actually happened in the Spielberg home versus what was fabricated for the Fabelmans.
The gloomy yet uplifting tone reappears throughout the Fabelmans similar to the actual ups and downs of life. The highs are high but the lows are low in a well-balanced tune that draws attention and does not let up. At times, however, the moments get cluttered with humor within the drama and it’s difficult to understand what the purpose was. The overlaying tone feels like an Oscar grab in the safe instead of reaching outside of the box to give a fresh look at the idea of a semi-autobiography.
In the end, the Fabelmans achieve being captivating by giving the audience a glimpse at the life of Sammy, or a young Spielberg while being clunky in its execution. The comedic gloss over of moments makes it hard to follow the story but in the end, we get a story that mirrors a passionate coming-of-age tale.
'The Fabelmans' is in Select Theaters November 11th, everywhere November 23rd, 2022.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Ashley Bell (Contributing Editor) is an Orlando native who loves watching movies. Her favorite genres include comedies, thrillers and sci-fi.Click Here to check out Ashley's Articles.