Why must artists create autobiographies? They put themselves into all their work. Why must they be so literal about it? I knew everything I ever wanted to know about Steven Spielberg from Jurassic Park and Close Encounters and Raiders. I donāt need to see him, or any artist, masturbating. [Note: Iād also appreciate it if novelists would quite writing about novelists and filmmakers would quite making films about filmmaking.]
So, is THE FABELMANS well directed? Yes. Of course it is. I knew that before I watched it. Yes, there are moments of emotional impact. Yes, it looks great. The acting is excellent. The colors are rich and help tell the story, and yes, yes, all of that and more I knew before I watched it. Heās Goddamned Steven Spielberg. And if I was Goddamned Steven Spielberg, Iād really try and make something that wasnāt two and a half hours of yelling āHey everyone, look at me. ME! ME! ME!ā Firstly, because everyone would already be looking at me.
I suppose you donāt get to be this great a filmmaker without being arrogant. (Erase āI supposeā ā thereās no supposing here.) That arrogance is on display in his many better films. And thatās OK. Itās more than OK. I just want it turned down enough that a great director can focus on stories that needed to be told, or it would be nice if they were told, or anything other than āNow you will all see where my greatness came from.ā
Sigh. Yeah, this thing should not have been made. It is a waste of talent. Yet it is still one of the best nominees this year. As far as applied skill, it might be the best. TRIANGLE OF SADNESS, WOMEN TALKING, TĆR, and particularly TOP GUN: MAVERICK look like they were made by hacks or first year film school students by comparison. TĆR is more interesting, but it doesnāt display the mastery of the art form. But I think being interesting matters, and THE FABELMANS is not interesting.
I just wish I had his talent.