Of all his many films, Steven Spielberg has never brought one to TIFF…until now. His last movie, The Fabelmansis certainly his most personal film to date, and while it struggles with a few excesses, it’s mostly an excellent all-around film.
Inspired by Spielberg’s own childhood, the film follows a young Jewish boy who grows up in America and finds a deep love for cinema. Comparisons with last year Belfast are obvious – a filmmaker telling a semi-autobiographical story of how they found a deep love for filmmaking against the backdrop of tumultuous social change.
At half past two, some may wonder if the film feels bloated, and for most, the answer is no. Spielberg, along with frequent collaborating screenwriter Tony Kushner, have crafted an entertaining, crowd-pleasing film that’s far more comedic than audiences expected.
The young actors who played the younger versions of Spielberg are both very talented. Mateo Zoryna Francis-Deford is charming playing the director as a child, but it’s Gabriel LaBelle who really shines as Spielberg’s teenage replacement. LaBelle manages to make the role feel distinctly his own while channeling the world’s most famous director, rather than just doing an impersonation.
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Of course, the film also boasts an absolutely stacked supporting cast. Paul Dano has the most important role as the father of the budding young filmmaker, delivering some of his best and most loving work to date. Michelle Williams is as great as her mother, playing her much more over the top than Dano but still quite good. And Seth Rogen plays the character’s family friend/”uncle” and has some surprisingly emotional moments for him.
While the three main supporting actors are excellent, it’s some of the people with even smaller roles that steal the show. Judd Hirsch has a phenomenally memorable turn as an uncle who gives the protagonist hilarious and unintelligible words of wisdom. There’s a scene-stealing cameo from filmmaker David Lynch that stands out as one of the film’s best moments.
Of course, with a director like Spielberg, you know he’s going to have a team of below-the-line craftsmen who are the best of the best. Janusz Kaminski’s cinematography is simply stunning, especially when recreating the home movies Spielberg made in his youth. John Williams also delivers another all-time record by a score.
The Fabelmans got a lot of Oscar buzz thanks to the combination of its Hollywood-friendly history with top talent in front of and behind the camera, but that’s also simply because it’s a great movie. Spielberg has crafted one of his most heartwarming films in years, and while he’s not perfect, it’s the type of film only he could make. 9/10.
The Fabelmans screened at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, which runs September 8-18.
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