20.4.23
“They tell me you wanna be a picture maker…”
The Fabelmans is an authentic yet unremarkable semi-biopic feature from a master at work. It’s a showcase of Spielberg’s life and skills, which is rich in content and variety. My overall feeling is that it feels a bit ‘safe’ and doesn’t take any risks, which is probably why it didn’t stand out as a prize winner during awards season.
Taking the form as a journey through the early life of Sammy Fabelman, the film displays attentive period detail and an understanding of the experience of middle class Jewish families trying to achieve upwards social mobility. At times I was reminded of early Woody Allen films, with a similar sense of humour, neuroticism and social awkwardness associated with Jewish American culture.
However I think the story involving Sammy and his contrasting yet loving parents takes a back seat compared to how the film is made. As usual with Spielberg, there’s the distinct feeling that he isn’t a man who directs; he’s a director who crafts. In The Fabelmans this is done with precision and signposting. The ‘film within a film’ nature of parts of the narrative serves as an insight into the development of many of the auteur’s signature styles. The sense of control in tight spaces, textured close ups and simplistic yet effective transition shots are used regularly by Spielberg and Sammy. It’s not a subtle narrative technique when used in this way, but it’s done well at several points throughout which pushes the plot forward.
Other parts of the film can be rather hit or miss. Giving nothing away, there is one great scene involving a distant relative, and another one being a fantastic cameo moment with the less being said on it the better. The film evolves into a third part about Sammy’s experience at high school which is by far the least interesting segment of the film, mainly due to the predictable unfolding of events and the introduction of clichè ridden teenage characters.
As a coming of age story on family, adolescence and the sparks of youthful creativity, I was solidly entertained. But knowing this is semi-biographical about Spielberg’s own life makes it more meaningful and enjoyable, especially when you factor in the inclusion of so many technically well made scenes. The Fabelmans may signal the closing chapters in the works of one of America’s greatest living directors; but that doesn’t mean he won’t still be directing household name blockbusters for many more years to come.