Film Snail

7.6

The Fabelmans

PG-13·2022·151m

Drama

Summary

Growing up in post-World War II era Arizona, young Sammy Fabelman aspires to become a filmmaker as he reaches adolescence, but soon discovers a shattering family secret and explores how the power of films can help him see the truth.

Cast

Gabriel LaBelle

Sammy Fabelman

Michelle Williams

Mitzi Fabelman

Paul Dano

Burt Fabelman

Seth Rogen

Benny Loewy

Judd Hirsch

Uncle Boris Podgorny

David Lynch

John Ford

Jeannie Berlin

Hadassah Fabelman

Julia Butters

Reggie Fabelman

Keeley Karsten

Natalie Fabelman

Sam Rechner

Logan Hall

Mateo Zoryan Francis-DeFord

Younger Sammy Fabelman

Chloe East

Monica Sherwood

Isabelle Kusman

Claudia Denning

Robin Bartlett

Tina Schildkraut

Oakes Fegley

Chad Thomas

Sophia Kopera

Lisa Fabelman

Birdie Borria

Younger Reggie Fabelman

Alina Brace

Young Natalie Fabelman

Chandler Lovelle

Renee

Gustavo Escobar

Sal

Nicolas Cantu

Hark

Cooper Dodson

Turkey

Gabriel Bateman

Roger

Stephen Matthew Smith

Angelo

Lane Factor

Dean

James Urbaniak

Grand View High School Principal

Alex Quijano

Grand View High School PE Coach

Kalama Epstein

Barry

Connor Trinneer

Phil Newhart

Greg Grunberg

Bernie Fein

Jan Hoag

Nona

Carlos Javier Castillo

Camera Store Clerk

Ezra Buzzington

Camera Store Clerk #2

Paul Chepikian

Pinnacle Peak Owner

Brinly Marum

Janet Benedict

Mason Bumba

Stunt Soldier Boy

Mary M. Flynn

Singer #1

Adriel Porter

Singer #2

Tia Nalls

Singer #3

Larkin Campbell

Scout Father

Harper Dustin

Natalie Photo Double

Crystal the Monkey

Bennie the Monkey

Art Bonilla

Taxi Driver (uncredited)

Meredith VanCuyk

Student (uncredited)

Vera Myers

Senior Classmate (uncredited)

Cody Mitchell

Boy Scout (uncredited)

Caroline Anna-Kaye Green

Senior Classmate (uncredited)

Rob Shiells

Chad's Posse (uncredited)

Julyah Rose

Theater Goer (uncredited)

Jonathan Moorwood

Chad's Posse (uncredited)

Ari Davis

Theatre Patron (uncredited)

Jared Becker

Lead Guitarist (uncredited)

Kendal Evans

Balloon Girl (uncredited)

Trang Vo

High School Friend (uncredited)

Alejandro Fuenzalida

Boy Scout (uncredited)

Orion Hunter

Boy Scout (uncredited)

Samantha Rose Gomez

Boy Scout Sibling (uncredited)

Taylor Stone

Senior Classmate (uncredited)

Sarah Hamilton

Senior Classmate (uncredited)

Paige Locke

Cheerleader (uncredited)

Marissa McBride

Senior Classmate (uncredited)

Malachi Mickelonis

Student (uncredited)

Max David Weinberg

Student (uncredited)

Cameron Hennings

Student (uncredited)

Nicole Alicia Xavier

Sammy’s Classmate (uncredited)

Crew

Director, Writer

Steven Spielberg

Writer

Tony Kushner

Reviews

narrator56

January 6, 2023

I saw several negative reviews before I watched this, and I assumed there was an element of grading someone a bit more harshly when they have achieved wild success or, heaven forbid, if they do stellar work in one genre such as sci-fi or adventure and then have the chutzpah to create a film in a different genre not appreciated by the sci-fi etc. fans. Maybe there was some of that baggage involved; how else to explain one-star reviews. Really? A disgusting gross-out comedy might get 4 stars, but a serious biopic gets one?

But I have given it six stars, probably my low for a Spielberg movie. I thought the film was too episodic. Here is where he saw his first movie; here is him with his first camera; here is where he learns something upsetting about his parents’ marriage; here is some bullying and then that part in every coming of age movie it seems, where a pretty girl throws herself at him. Sure wish that had happened to me at that tender age. And some of the scenes felt rather cliched to me. Also, and this is a bit of a spoiler, at one point his mother assures him she has not done ”that” with Bennie, and she loves her children and husband more than anything, but she still can’t live without Bennie? I had trouble with that revelation.

But it isn’t all negative stuff. I thought a lot of the acting was strong, with a few exceptions, and most of the dialogue was good, but when a film is 2 and a half hours long, consistency is hard to come by, and there were a few hiccups here and there. The scene with John Ford was intriguing, but they could have done a bit more with it. I liked the two sisters as characters, but again, not enough depth was given to them. A bit of a lost opportunity.