By Alyson Powers
@M1ssPowers
The Fabelmans, an Oscar contender? I continue to ask myself the question that seems to be a foregone conclusion given the promotional press that is provided with the trailer and commercials on the media landscape.
In my limited knowledge and experience watching people as they grow older their personalities… well they change in a quirky or radical or eccentric way.
I’ve seen the color of a personality become overwhelmed by a statement they feel they need to make. This is understandable for Steven Spielberg as he has arrived at the winter of his career.
The Fabelmans are a look into his beginnings and his decision to follow his dream of being a filmmaker.
Spielberg takes almost three hours to make a statement that isn’t a statement at all, more like a vague meandering of journal entries. “Let it end so I can understand”, declared my friend Daniel, cracking me up as we entered hour 2 of the 2-hour and 31-minute-long film. Hahahaaa.
Though it ended with a surprise of a sort-a cameo, and I still don’t understand. And that’s ok. But I’m supposed to write a review. A difficult thing for me unless I’m moved, this may be due perhaps to my lack of knowledge of the Jewish faith. Which was a thread run throughout the film.
Based on the life of Steven Spielberg, Sammy’s mother, portrayed by Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn, Manchester By the Sea), offers freedom for a young man and yet he perpetually feels imprisoned by a wonderful but boring father.
The father is depicted by Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood, Little Miss Sunshine) and a computer engineer whose connection to his family may be hindered by his success with electronics.
The Fabelmans want to show you their backstory and accomplish the path of the family from children to young adults. Mostly through the view of the son, Sammy who prefers to be called “Sam” represented by Gabriel LaBelle (Dead Shack, The Predator) who shines in the Spielberg role.
The unique telling of this type of period piece of the ’50s and ’60s, in the telling of the addition of the father’s family friend “Uncle” Bennie played by Seth Rogan (Superbad, Pineapple Express). In an interview admitted, he ‘That he would most likely never work with Spielberg, due to a terrible first meeting, at an award show after-party. When he met Spielberg he lit a joint during the conversation that he felt was ill-received.
The families’ true Uncle Boris, Judd Hirsch (Independence Day, A Beautiful Mind) is the connection between Sam and his dream of making movies and the clean and clear coach’s motivational but realistic speech.
I suppose. Don’t go in with the expectation of a fulfilling and spectacular tale with a blockbuster ending. You won’t be this is a dramatic tale full of an interior look at a family’s life. The film is really a movie about “Sam’s” mother.
Williams gives the performance of a lifetime as Mrs. Fabelman. It could be declared that she is the crazy glue that holds this family together functioning and growing. Give her the Oscar but please don’t make me write about this anymore.
Ha! See it but keep expectations low or choose to watch HBO’s Spielberg documentary
