The Fabelmans

Director: Steven Spielberg Steven Spielberg

Overview

Inspired by his childhood, Steven Spielberg's drama follows Sammy Fabelman (Gabriel LaBelle) on a journey of self-discovery. At the age of seven, Sammy lives a seemingly simple life with his parents, Burt (Paul Dano) and Mitzi (Michelle Williams). After finding out an unsettling family secret, Sammy falls in love with cinema and its power to tell stories. The film won the Best Film People's Choice Award at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/14/2023
UPC:	0191329238035
Original Release:	2022
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	Universal Studios
Language:	English
Sales rank:	16,653

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Michelle Williams	Mitzi Fabelman,Composer
Paul Dano	Burt Fabelman
Seth Rogen	Bennie Loewy
Gabriel Labelle	Sammy Fabelman
Mateo Zoryon Francis-DeFord	Younger Sammy Fabelman
Keeley Karsten	Natalie Fabelman
Alina Brace	Younger Natalie Fabelman
Julia Butters	Reggie Fabelman
Birdie Borria	Younger Reggie Fabelman
Judd Hirsch	Uncle Boris
Sophia Kopera	Lisa Fabelman
Jeannie Berlin	Hadassah Fabelman
Robin Bartlett	Tina Schildkraut
Sam Rechner	Logan Hall
Oakes Fegley	Chad Thomas
Chloe East	Monica Sherwood
Isabelle Kusman	Claudia Denning
Chandler Lovelle	Renee
Gustavo Escobar	Sal
Nicolas Cantu	Hark
Cooper Dodson	Turkey
Gabriel Bateman	Roger
Stephen Matthew Smith	Angelo(as Stephen Smith)
James Urbaniak	Grand View High School Principal
Alex Quijano	Grand View High School PE Coach
Kalama Epstein	Barry
Connor Trinneer	Phil Newhart
Lane Factor	Dean
Greg Grunberg	Bernie Fein
David Lynch	John Ford
Jan Hoag	Nona
Carlos 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	Bennie the Monkey

Technical Credits

Tony Kushner

Steven Spielberg

Josh McLaglen	Executive Producer
Carla Raij	Executive Producer
Tony Kushner	Producer,Screenwriter
Kristie Macosko-Krieger	Producer
Steven Spielberg	Producer,Director,Screenwriter
Tom Lalley	Sound/Sound Designer
Phillip Wheatley	Special Effects
Nanw Rowlands	Casting

Editorial Reviews

Every hero has an origin story and in The Fabelmans, the audience gets to watch Steven Spielberg (Jurassic Park), arguably a hero of American cinema, share his own. In this semiautobiographical story written by the incredible Tony Kushner (West Side Story), we experience Spielberg's coming-of-age story in the suburbs during the mid-20th century. Steven - Sammy in the movie - is taken to see The Greatest Show on Earth, and his imagination is ignited. The passionate realization that creativity burns within him comes to life as he watches the film, and that moment informs him of his entire future. He impresses his family, friends, neighbors, and even the Boy Scouts as he creates home movies on an 8mm camera. His rudimentary films show real promise, and his self-sacrificing mother and entire family understand that he is a real prodigy with true gifts that must be shared. Like a young Spielberg, his creative team is gifted as he teams with a collection of longtime collaborators, notably a captivating score by John Williams (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade). This is their 29th film together. Cinematographer Janusz Kaminski (Schindler's List) visually transports the audience to suburbia, and there are a few nods to cinematic cinephiles at the end of the film. Cindy Tolan puts the pieces of the casting puzzle together and brings together an incredible troupe of actors. Michelle Williams (Manchester by the Sea) is consistently superb, and she does the job as Mitzi, Sammy Fabelman's mother who has given up her dreams of being a concert pianist to care for her children. It's a meaty role, and Michelle takes the character on a journey from solitude to desolation to perhaps an Oscar nomination. Gabriel LaBelle (American Gigolo) as Sammy is in awe of each cinematic experience, and the audience can see the young filmmaker's heart through his eyes. Sammy's dad, Burt, is played by Paul Dano (The Batman), and his portrayal of the engineer who would go on to help create the first personal computer is a standout. Rounding out the main cast is Burt's best friend, Benny (Seth Rogan). Rogan brings such sensitivity and gravitas to the role, that it may be worth seeing the movie for his performance alone. Because Spielberg treats the movie like precious cargo and doesn't cut a word, it clocks in about two and a half hours. But it is cast well and shot beautifully, and maybe after 75 years of turning the spotlight on other people's stories, it's time for an audience to sit back and experience his own.