People who are very successful in their chosen professions, tend to share some common traits. Generally, they are hardworking, determined, dedicated, talented, intelligent, ambitious, and possibly slightly crazy. In the case of one of the most famous movie directors of all time, Steven Spielberg, it seems those adjectives are appropriate and fairly accurate. Of course, he may never have become the man he is today without his family, most importantly, his mother, Leah Adler. One could describe her as a "free spirit" and it is obvious she helped bring out Steven's imagination, encouraging him even from a young age. The award-winning, semi-autobiographical film, The Fabelmans, heads to retail stores tomorrow on 4K, Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD.
Sammy (Gabriel LaBelle; The Predator) was the oldest of four children, and the only boy, born to Mitzi (Michelle Williams; Blue Valentine) and Burt (Paul Dano; 12 Years A Slave) Fabelman. Starting life in New Jersey, Sammy decided he wanted to become a filmmaker after his parents took him to see his first motion picture. Over time, the family moved to Arizona and then California for Mr. Fabelman's jobs. Though they moved across the country, The Fabelmans managed to encourage Steven (at least as a hobby), even going so far as to give Sammy a camera to record his movies. While Sammy's father thought it was a "phase" he would eventually grow tired of, Sammy's mother encouraged his creativity.
The casting of The Fabelmans is so good, even the young children are interesting to watch. Williams is excellent - it's as if she was conducting a master class in film acting throughout the movie. LaBelle has a kind of nerdy cuteness that oozes out of his body, allowing him to have a powerful performance as he essentially portrays Steven in his teen years. Dano offers a range of emotions throughout the film and Seth Rogen (Long Shot) is well-cast as Burt's best friend, Benny.
Comparing the 4K video quality to the Blu-ray, it is obvious that the uptick in resolution gives the film a fuller and more in-depth movie-going experience. The color palette is muted, but it still manages to give the Fabelmans' home and the film's surroundings a robust and textured feel. Like most Spielberg productions, the shots feel deliberate and the cinematography is great. From New Jersey to the desert feel of Arizona and the majesty of California, the film's visuals beautifully represent the various portions of the country.
John Williams' score is magnificent in Dolby TrueHD 7.1 audio format but I wonder if it would have been even more incredible in Dolby Atmos. I'm not sure why the decision was made to not use that format but regardless, ambient noise envelopes the viewer, and the music and dialogue are sharp and clear.
The combo pack comes with the digital code, standard Blu-ray, and 4K UHD discs. Otherwise, there are only about an hour's worth of extras and while they are great and informative, it made me long for more. The extras included are: The Fabelmans: A Personal Journey, Family Dynamics, and Crafting the World of The Fabelmans.
After watching The Fabelmans, one has to wonder what Spielberg's future would have been like had he grown up with different parents. Luckily, the world has benefitted from the combination of his intelligent father and his creative mother. It does also make you wonder how much of the story is true and how much is fiction.
True or not, The Fabelmans is a well-acting, well-scripted, well-shot movie that continues the level of quality audiences have come to expect from the greater of Jaws, E.T.: The ExtraTerrestrial, etc. Spielberg's legacy will live on long after he passes but The Fabelmans gives us a little glimpse into the past that molded one of the greatest directors on Earth.
Grade: A-
