The Fabelmans (2022)
3.5/4
Just a little while ago, Top Gun: Maverick was my favourite film of 2022. However, in December there was a latecomer that knocked it off that position: Steven Spielberg’s newest film The Fabelmans.
From its stunning performances to its homage to the art form of filmmaking, this is simply pure movie magic and I just loved every second of it.
First off, let’s talk about the directing and screenplay. It comes to no great shock to anyone that Spielberg is great at making movies but this time he really hit it out of the park. This movie is flawlessly directed and I think it’s very likely a fourth Oscar will appear on Spielberg’s mantle come March.
The screenplay by Spielberg and his collaborator Tony Kushner is one of the best I’ve ever seen. From its long monologues to its well-constructed scenes and shots, the writing of this movie is top notch. I could not find a false note anywhere in the screenplay.
The acting in The Fabelmans is fantastic. Paul Dano and Michelle Williams are dazzling as Sammy’s parents and both of them deserve Oscar nominations. But the standout for me is Judd Hirsch’s performance as Sammy’s great uncle. He is only on screen for about 10 minutes but he really makes the most of it. I’ll go so far as to say that this is one of the best shorter performances in film history.
The cinematography by two-time Academy Award winner Janusz Kamiński is also phenomenal. From the shot of Sammy using his hands to project the movie that he’s watching to the beautiful shots of Sammy’s filmmaking life, this movie’s cinematography is breathtaking. Also, multiple Academy Award-winning composer John Williams’ musical score is one of his finest, and that’s saying a lot.
Another thing that this film gives us is a beautifully crafted homage to the craft of filmmaking. This is mostly emphasized in the way Sammy uses different cameras and filmmaking equipment. These scenes are woven throughout the film and made me want to find the same equipment and start making movies with it. It’s really that effective, and I can’t say that any movie has made me as enthusiastic about moviemaking as this one did.
Thanks to knock-out performances, gorgeous production values, and stunning directing and writing work, The Fabelmans is a fantastic film that will inspire future filmmakers while leaving audiences stunned at how well it’s made, which is why it’s my new number-one movie of 2022.