The Fablemans is a semi-autobiographical story about Steven Spielberg’s childhood with youngster Sammy Fabelman who aspires to become a filmmaker as he reaches adolescence, but soon discovers a family secret that his filmmaking helps uncover. I thought this was Spielberg’s best in ten years that really shined a light on a young bloke pushed into adulthood way to early but also giving him the toughness and passion to be the best director of all time. All the acting was amazing with real standout performances from Paul Dano and Seth Rogen plus the screenplay and direction was top notch as expected from Spielberg. Massive fan of this one 8.5/10.

In post-World War II Arizona, we follow Sammy Fabelman. Seeing his first film on the big screen motivated him to be creative and start making movies. As time passes, Sammy’s passion becomes more prominent, and he is soon making films with his friends and investing money into a splicing kit, blank film, and lots of other film-related equipment. When it comes to Sammy’s home life, things are more complex. His father, Burt (Paul Dano), feels Sammy’s interest in film is a hobby, claiming his son is just wasting his time and money and would be better off focusing on better education. Sammy’s mother, Mitzi (Michelle Williams), is more supportive of her son’s interests and becomes impressed by his creative eye behind the camera. However, during a family holiday, Sammy accidentally captures a heartbreaking family secret on camera, putting him in a challenging situation. Over time, tension rises among the family, and Sammy deals with various struggles, including being unsure of how to respond based on his newfound knowledge. The Fablemans is based on the childhood and upbringing of the famous director, producer and writer Steven Spielberg. The film gives audiences a real dramatic look at some of his personal experiences through touching reflections. Some of these experiences include when Spielberg first went to the movies, when he got his first video camera, romances, dealing with bullying at school, making various films and most importantly, the family issues that occurred during his life which impacted him greatly. The Fabelmans was directed and written by Steven Spielberg, and who better to tell the story of his upbringing than the legend himself? I’ll admit I knew nothing about Steven Spielberg’s upbringing as a young adult. Instantly I found myself curious to discover how the famous man we all know in cinema came to be who he is today. The film carries plenty of heart and stacks of emotion, but The Fablemans has two key ingredients, the first of which is movie magic. A great example is when we witness Sammy discovering films in a cinema for the first time as a young boy. I found it impossible not to grin through this scene. Everything Sammy discovers and learns about films is heart-warming and joyful to witness. The second key ingredient in this film is drama. The drama here is heavy, so I carried various emotions while viewing it. I went back and forth between joy and feeling heavy-hearted and compassionate for Sammy’s life journey. Overall, this is an emotional ride as we experience the upbringing of the famous director, producer, and writer Stephen Spielberg. I found myself grinning with joy and feeling heavy hearted for the vast majority, and it’s hard not to be curious and fascinated by the true story that the film presents. Performances from all the leads are stunning, touching, and impressive. Visually, this film is adorable and creative, and the score by composer John Williams is impacting. Sadly, some themes do overstay their welcome, and if minor edits were made here and there, the pacing could have been a bit tighter. Nevertheless, it’s an incredible film, and I appreciate Steven Spielberg for sharing his heart with the entire world of cinema. * This review has been written for Sanity. For more reviews from Walkden Entertainment, check out the link here: www.walkdenentertainment.com