The Fabelmans

[Crabo]

Anyone seen this? It is a semi-autobiographical film made by Steven Spielberg about his growing up and the relationships in his talented but somewhat dysfunctional family. Also about the antisemitism he met in California. Certainly worth a watch in my opinion.

Booked to go next week. Looking forward to it.

Yes saw today. Enjoyable.

I saw it today. Really enjoyed it.

Just back from seeing it this evening. Wonderful. Michelle Williams totally mesmerising all the way through. Saw Tar couple of days ago too. MW and Cate Blanchett both deserve Oscars. No idea how they could choose between these two brilliant and completely different performances. Recommend both films highly.

Looking forward to this.

Saw this today I really enjoyed in. I didn’t enjoy Michelle’s performance at all. Paul Damon and the actor who played Sammy were excellent though. A very understands performance by Paul Danon.

I've just returned from watching it and was entirely underwhelmed and disappointed. I think MW was really miscast. I'm not sure what I was expecting exactly but I felt no magic from it at all.

I enjoyed the film as a whole but found MW's character so unlikeable and annoying. It was beautifully shot and didn't feel like it was two and a half hours long. The clothes and cars from that era in America are so beautiful.

I dunno. I’m just put off that they couldn’t have used Jewish actors, it seems a wasted opportunity.

I thought it was great.

The thing with casting and this specific film - I don't think I would be the one to tell Spielberg, with his lifetime of a) filmmaking and b) knowing the people that the characters were based on that anyone had been miscast.

While I understand the argument for having more Jewish actors involved, in a movie based on the people in your own life, you are going to go for someone that captures their essence, rather than their bloodline.

I wish every movie month was as good as Oscar season. It really is the best time for quality drama.

Yeah if anyone has earned the right to cast whoever he likes as his own family, it's Spielberg.

Really loved it. It IS a good month for films isn't it? I was so peed off before xmas at how little there was I wanted to see and now they're coming thick and fast and I'll miss some I'd have really liked to catch.

I have a film pass but I’m struggling to find something I fancy😮 afew are already streaming so I don’t feel like going to the cinema to see them.

Saw this last night and loved it. I found Michelle Williams quite annoying yet mesmerising, but I guess that was the nature of the character she was portraying.

I thought this was a discussion forum where you are encouraged to voice your opinions? I am a fan of SS, as well as being a film fan in general. Are you suggesting that if someone reaches a pinnacle in their career that you have to be completely uncritical? That’s nonsense. Also, I haven’t personally told him in case you’re worried I may have hurt his feelings. There’s nothing offensive about what I’ve said though, you’re just being idolatrous.

He apparently cast MW because of her role in Blue Valentine. For me she was too well known for this role and I never managed to suspend the disbelief that I was watching Michelle Williams playing a dramatised version of SS’s mother. I would have preferred a lesser known face - I’m not a fan of hers particularly so that probably didn’t help.

Also, agree that it was a surprising decision to not cast more Jewish actors.

I don’t think the objective for SS was for this to necessarily be a blockbuster - the film is a long way off recouping costs and he probably doesn’t give a shit. It is a personal project.

Of course he has the right, that wasn’t really my point.

Judd Hirsch was superb! I loved his brief role and rather wished he’d been in it longer.

What was your point then? That the casting was bad? That Jewishness of actors should have overrode aesthetic suitability for the part? That Spielberg is anti-Semitic? You've lost me now.

I put a longer post on 5 minutes ago, if you scroll back you’ll see. You’re easily lost aren’t you? And no, nothing to do with anti semitism. Do you just scroll through threads just to find the posts you agree with? Surely on a film forum you’re used to seeing differences of opinion?

Yes I read it. I got from it that you don't like MW in the part. I thought she was wonderful. Difference of opinion only. Neither of us are 'right'. But you say missed opportunity not to use Jewish actors. I'm sure SS considered it, so it wasn't so much a missed opportunity as one he made a conscious decision not to avail himself of, surely?

It was another poster that said a missed opportunity. I said a surprising decision. Quite different meaning I think.

Then I beg your pardon.
Yes it is a surprising decision but I imagine he was more concerned with the aesthetic of the film than sticking to choosing Jewish actors and couldn't bring the two together. And if you disliked MW in the part I can see that that would rankle.

My teenage daughter loved it. She’s a massive Paul Dano fan and would happily watch him recite a shopping list though.

I thought he was lovely in it. Ha ha - sorry I'm wildly uncritical here, I just loved it!

Yeah, he was great.

I thought this was a discussion forum where you are encouraged to voice your opinions?

Yup, me too.

Which is why I thought it was perfectly okay for me to give my opinion on the casting.