The Fabelmans (2022) or, My Wonderful Upbringing

3/29/2023

The Fabelmans (2022) or, My Wonderful Upbringing

♥♥♥

A life captured on film rolls by over the head of Sam Fabelman walking on the Paramount studio backlot on this neat poster for Steven Spielberg's The Fabelmans

Sam Fabelman grows up in post WWII America with 3 sisters and two doting parents, who mostly encourage his passion, which from an early age becomes the art of filmmaking.

The Fabelmans is written by Tony Kushner (Lincoln (2012)) and Ohioan master filmmaker, co-writer/co-producer/director Steven Spielberg (The Sugarland Express (1974)), whose 33rd feature it is. It is an autobiographical account of Spielberg's own childhood with the names altered.

Probably the most seen and most known modern filmmaker, - the man behind Jaws (1975), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Jurassic Park (1993), Saving Private Ryan (1998), The Post (2017) and several more cinematic knock-outs, - here opens the doors for us to come to know him on a more personal level through seeing the story of his childhood and family. Our parents shape us more than probably any other people in the world, and this influence certainly makes sense in Spielberg's case; an over-emotional mother and a nerdy-technical, grounded father, both of whom were caring and supportive of their son: Spielberg's films are precisely characterized by equal measures intense emotion - and technical brilliance and entrepreneurship.

Spielberg affords his largely happy and sweet memories of growing up epic playtime length here, and perhaps it is the lack of utter heartbreak and really serious obstacles that make it feel a bit cushy. Who wouldn't have liked to have this kind of upbringing? Sam Fabelman is also a sweet and uncomplicated teenager. He doesn't act out, fail a lot or get nervous or weird. Gabriel LaBelle (The Predator (2018)) is adorable in the part, perhaps too adorable, and certainly his very noticeable colored contact lenses are an irritating ('reptile eyes') distraction. Michelle Williams (Wonderstruck (2017)) and Paul Dano (Looper (2012)) are on-point as the good parents, while Judd Hirsch (Uncut Gems (2019)) and David Lynch (Lucky (2017)) give memorable supporting performances.

Of course the film is well-made, told with nostalgia and emotion as it is. Spielberg's arrival as a filmmaker is interesting to see for anyone with a heart for the movies. There's wise words behind every corner, as Sam receives golden nuggets from mother, father, uncle, John Ford and others. The lessons and polished nature of the film is a clear lacquer that rests over The Fabelmans. It is astute and comes from a master filmmaker and a great guy (with a great family.) But many of his other films are simply put much more interesting and riveting.

The 2000s in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess

2005 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]

2005 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess

Munich (2005) - Spielberg wrings a brilliant spy thriller from fraught real-life massacre and its aftermath

2001 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess
Band of Brothers - TV mini-series (2001) - WWII-sacrifice and -comradeship portrayed with skill and integrity (producer)

Top 10: Best future-set movies
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) - A robot fairy tale with both heart and mind
Amistad (1997) or, Must... Free... Slaves!
Empire of the Sun (1987) - Spielberg's grand production of boy-in-China-during-WWII is a misfire

The Goonies (1985) - Sweet child performances drive Donner's beloved, uneven adventure (story)
Twilight Zone The Movie (1983) - Fear takes many forms in tragedy-struck anthology

Top 10: Best family movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) - Spielberg's greatest accomplishment
1941 (1979) - Spielberg's bizarre 'comedy spectacular' sinks like a rock
Top 10: Best car chases in movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Duel (1971) - Spielberg's truck terror is ideal afternoon fare

Watch a trailer for the film here

Cost: 40 mil. $

Box office: 42.2 mil. $ and counting

= Huge flop (returned 1.05 times its cost)

[The Fabelmans premiered 10 September (Toronto International Film Festival) and runs 151 minutes. As far back as 1999 Spielberg was thinking about making the film. His sister Anne Spielberg's script I'll Be Home was a basis for the project. Only when their parents passed away in 2017 and 2020 did serious development begin. Shooting took place from July - September 2021 in Arizona and California. The film opened #16 to a 161k $ first weekend in 4 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #7 and in 1,962 theaters (different weeks), grossing 17.3 mil. $ (41 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were France with 6 mil. $ (14.2 %) and the UK with 4.2 mil. $ (10 %). The film was nominated for 7 Oscars, winning none. It lost Best Picture to Everything Everywhere All at Once, Actress (Williams) to Michelle Yeoh in Everything Everywhere All at Once, Supporting Actor (Hirsch) to Ke Huy Quan in Everything Everywhere All at Once, Director to Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Original Screenplay to Kwan & Scheinert for Everything Everywhere All at Once again, Production Design to All Quiet on the Western Front and Score (John Williams) to Volker Bertelmann for All Quiet on the Western Front. The film was also nominated for a BAFTA, won an AFI award, 2/5 Golden Globe nominations and 3 National Board of Review awards, among many other honors. Spielberg is set to return with an untitled Frank Bullitt project. LaBelle returned in American Gigolo (2022, TV-series) and theatrically in The Snack Shack; Williams in Fever; and Dano in Pantheon (2022, TV-series) and theatrically in Spaceman (2023). The Fabelmans is certified fresh at 92 % with an 8.20/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of The Fabelmans?

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William Friedkin has died

Born in Chicago, Friedkin accrued TV credits prior to his advance to the big screen as the director of Good TImes (1967), The Birthday Party (1968), The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968) and The Boys in the Band (1970) before his major breakthrough, The French Connection (1971), for which he won his only Oscar. He followed it up with the even bigger smash, The Exorcist (1973), arguably the best horror film of all time, for which he was Oscar-nominated. Later credits include Sorcerer (1977), Cruising (1980), To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), Rampage (1987), Rules of Engagement (2000), Killer Joe (2011) and The Devil and Father Amorth (2017, documentary). Friedkin passed away at age 87. R.I.P.

Louise Fletcher has passed away

Born in Alabama to deaf parents, Fletcher got her first credits in late-1950s TV-series.She took a 10 year-long sabbatical to devote her time to motherhood after the release of A Gathering of Eagles, but then came back and soon saw her career's most important part, as Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), for which she won her sole Oscar. Later credits include Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977), The Lucky Star (1980), Brainstorm (1983), Two Moon Junction (1988), Cruel Intentions (1999), A Perfect Man (2013) and many more. Fletcher passed away at age 88. R.I.P.

Jean-Luc Godard has passed away

Born in Paris, France, Godard lived much of his life in Switzerland. He wrote for French film criticism magazine Cahiers du Cinema and became foundational for the New French Wave that inspired new waves in scores of other countries across the world with his Breathless (1960). Later credits include A Woman Is A Woman (1961), Vivre Sa Vie (1962), Le Petit Soldat (1962), Contempt (1963), Alphaville (1965), Pierrot le Fou (1965), 2 or 3 Things I Know About Her (1967), Weekend (1967), Every Man for Himself (1980), King Lear (1987), Century of Cinema (1995, documentary), Goodbye to Language (2014) and many more. Godard died of assisted suicide at age 91. R.I.P.

Wolfgang Petersen has died

James Caan has died

Caan was born the son of Jewish immigrants from Germany in New York. He got his start on TV in the early 1960s. His credits include El Dorado (1966), The Rain People (1969), Brian's Song (1971, TV movie), The Godfather (1972), - for which he earned his only Oscar nomination, - Slither (1973), The Gambler (1974), Funny Lady (1975), Rollerball (1975), Silent Movie (1976), Hide in Plain Sight (1980), - the only film he also directed, - Thief (1981), Misery (1990), Honeymoon in Vegas (1992), Bottle Rocket (1996), Eraser (1996), Dogville (2003), Elf (2003), Las Vegas (2003-07), Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) and many more. Caan passed away at age 82. R.I.P.

Jean-Louis Trintignant has died

Born in Vaucluse, France, Trintignant's theatrical debut as an actor was in If All the Guys in the World... (1955). Later credits include ...And God Created Woman (1956), The Seven Deadly Sins (1961), Inferno (1964), A Man and A Woman (1966), My Love, My Love (1967), A Man to Kill (1967), The Great Silence (1968), Z (1969), The Assassination (1972), Three Colors: Red (1994), Amour (2012), Happy End (2017) and many more. He also wrote and directed two films in the 1970s. Trintignant passed away at age 91. R.I.P.

Ray Liotta has died

Adopted from an orphenage at a young age, Liotta got hooked on acting in high school. He had various TV credits in the late 1970s and early 80s, with his film debut in The Lonely Lady (1983). Later credits include Something Wild (1986), Field of Dreams (1989), Goodfellas (1990), Cop Land (1997), Hannibal (2001), Blow (2001), Narc (2002), John Q (2002), Identity (2003), Observe and Report (2009), Youth in Revolt (2009), The Details (2011), Killing THem Softly (2012), The Place Beyond the Pines (2012), Shades of Blue (2016-18), The Simpsons (2018, TV-series), Marriage Story (2019), The Many Saints of Newark (2021), Black Bird (2022, TV-series) and many more. Liotta passed away at age 67 in his sleep while on production in the Dominican Republic. R.I.P.

Philip Baker Hall has died

Born in Ohio, Hall didn't start acting until he was 30. His long list of credits include Zabriskie Point (1970), Miami Vice (1987, TV-series), Midnight Run (1988), Ghostbusters II (1989), Cheers (1993, TV-series), Hard Eight (1996), The Rock (1996), Air Force One (1997), Boogie Nights (1997), Seinfeld (1991-98), Rush Hour (1998), The Insider (1999), Magnolia (1999), The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), Bruce Almighty (2003), Dogville (2003), The Zodiac (2005), Zodiac (2007), Curb Your Enthusiasm (2004-09), Mr. Popper's Penguins (2011), Modern Family (2011-12) and many more. Hall passed away at age 90. R.I.P.

William Hurt has passed away

Born in Washington D.C., Hurt's first film role was the lead in Altered States (1980). Later credits include Body Heat (1981), The Big Chill (1983), Gorky Park (1983), Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985), for which he earned his only Oscar as Best Actor; Chilrdren of a Lesser God (1986), for which he was also Oscar-nominated; Broadcast News (1987), for which he was again Oscar-nominated; Smoke (1995), A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001), A History of Violence (2005), for which he was again Oscar-nominated; The Good Shepherd (2006), Into the Wild (2007), Robin Hood (2010) and many more. Hurt passed away at age 71. R.I.P.

Ivan Reitman has passed away

Born in Chechoslovakia, now Slovakia, Reitman's family fled the Soviet regime to Austria, then Toronto, when he was 4 years old. Reitman broke into movies as a director with Foxy Lady (1971). Later credits include Cannibal Girls (1973), Meatballs (1979), Stripes (1981), Ghostbusters (1984), Twins (1988), Ghostbusters II (1989), Kindergarten Cop (1990), Junior (1994), Father's Day (1997), Evolution (1998), No Strings Attached (2011), Draft Day (2014) and more. Reitman's son Jason Reitman is also a great filmmaker. Reitman passed away at age 75. R.I.P.

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3/29/2023

The Fabelmans (2022) or, My Wonderful Upbringing

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