The Fabelmans, 2022
In a quasi-autobiographical story, Spielberg shows us the life of Sam (Gabriel LaBelle), a young man who is much beloved by his father, Burt (Paul Dano) and mother, Mitzi (Michelle Williams). But things are not all sunshine in Burt and Mitzi's relationship. As Sam begins to develop a passion for movies and filmmaking, he also becomes aware of his mother's romantic interest in family friend Bennie (Seth Rogan).
Overall I enjoyed this film, which was at once a story of childhood/teenagehood grounded in some very specific dynamics, and a loving ode to the power of art.
The aspect I enjoyed the most was Sam's developing awareness of the way that telling a story---via inclusion or omission--gives the storyteller power and control over the narrative. Early on, Mitzi realizes that Sam's need to crash his toy trains together is about having control over frightening imagery he saw in a movie theater. This idea takes on a potent twist when Sam must edit together footage he took of his family's camping trip, choosing to include or leave out moments he captures of his mother and Bennie making eyes at each other or casual physical contact.
There's also the thrill of watching a person discover and innovate in a field that they love. Sam discovers how he can create simple effects within his films, use music to heighten emotion, and use staging to create more emotional impact.
The performances are also very good, with LaBelle and Williams being the standouts for me. I also really enjoyed Keeley Karsten as Sam's eldest sister, who seems to be aware of the Mitzi/Bennie tensions before anyone else, and whose anxiety is at times almost hard to watch. Chloe East also shows some fun comic timing as Monica, a girl Sam dates in high school but who wants him to find Jesus.
For all that is strong about the film, it didn't totally click with me. At times the conflict between logic and art feels like it's presented as too much of a simplistic binary. Should Sam be like his dad, who programs computers? Should he be like him mom, who is musical and dances in her nightgown under the stars? I didn't like how frequently and how nakedly this contrast was presented.
There were also a few things that felt like they needed to be fleshed out more, such as a classmate's surprisingly negative reaction to being given a hero edit in one of Sam's films.
A good film, and especially for anyone who is a Spielberg fan.