THE FABELMANS : Tuesday 10th January 2023.

I saw the M Rated 'THE FABELMANS' earlier this week. This American coming-of-age drama film is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Steven Spielberg, who needs no introduction. The film saw its World Premiere screening at the Toronto International Film Festival in mid-September last year, where it won the People's Choice Award, and its wide US release in late November. The film received widespread critical acclaim for the performances of the cast, Spielberg's Direction, the screenplay, cinematography, and John Williams' musical score, and was named one of the top ten films of 2022 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute. However, it has grossed just US$17M from a production budget of US$40M. It has so far collected twenty award wins and another 183 nominations (many of which are still pending a decision) from around the awards and festivals circuit. This is a semi-autobiographical story loosely based on Steven Spielberg's adolescence and first years as as aspiring filmmaker, and is dedicated to the memories of Spielberg's real-life parents Leah Adler and Arnold Spielberg, who died in 2017 and 2020, respectively.

The film opens up on the evening of 10th January 1952, and a young Sammy Fabelman (Mateo Zoryan Francis-DeFord) is going out with his parents Mitzi (Michelle Williams) and Burt Fabelman (Paul Dano) to the movie theatre to see Cecil B. DeMille's 'The Greatest Show on Earth'. It is young Sammy's first experience of seeing a movie on a big screen and he is very apprehensive and a little anxious about the pending experience. His parents reassure him however, and we next see him staring wide eyed up at the screen, sitting almost motionless with his mouth agape. He is transfixed by the images presented in front of him, and in particular the scene involving a spectacular train crash. Asked by his parents what he would like for a gift to celebrate Hanukkah, he at first cannot think, and then the next day or so, pipes up with a train set. Late one night, while his parents are sleeping, Sammy crashes the train set trying to replicate the scene from the film. While his father is somewhat angered by Sammy's disregard for looking after his toys, Mitzi's understands her son's intentions. 

Mitzi allows Sammy to borrow Burt's 8mm camera to shoot the train crash scene again, just once, so that he can watch it over and over again, but not to tell his father. Sammy, with his new found love of the 8mm camera, soon begins making short films often involving his sisters Reggie (Birdie Borria, and played by Julia Butters as a teenager), Natalie (Alina Brace, and played by Keeley Karsten as a teenager) and Lisa (Sophia Kopera) in scenes set around the domestic household. In early 1957, Burt is offered a new job, and so he and the family, along with his best friend and business partner Bennie Loewy (Seth Rogen), move to Phoenix, Arizona.

Fast forward five years, and a now teenage Sammy (Gabriel LaBelle) continues with his passion for film making, shooting a short Western film with his friends from his Boy Scout troop, which ultimately garners him a badge for photography. Later, the Fabelmans, and Bennie, take a camping trip with Sammy capturing footage of their vacation. Shortly thereafter, Mitzi's mother dies with the whole family by her bedside, leaving Mitzi especially distraught. Providing him with enough film editing equipment, Burt recommends that Sammy should turn the camping trip footage into a film in an effort to cheer Mitzi up. Sammy objects over the scheduling of his next film which is planned for two days time with forty of his friends taking part, but Burt, who sees Sammy's passion for film as nothing more than a hobby, argues that the home movie is more important, and that he can shoot his war film the following weekend.

The next day, the Fabelmans receive a surprise visit from Mitzi's uncle Boris (Judd Hirsch), a former circus lion tamer and film worker. That night, he speaks with Sammy about compromising his family with his art, telling him that both aspects will continue to be at odds with each other. After Boris leaves, Sammy begins editing the camping trip film, during which he observes footage of Mitzi and Bennie sharing feelings for one another. This needless to say upsets him. After weeks of harsh treatment toward her and Bennie, Sammy and Mitzi have a heated argument, during which she slaps him across the back in a fit of rage, leaving a big red hand print. Distraught, Sammy shows Mitzi the footage on a separate reel of film. He promises to keep it a secret between them. 

In early 1964 Burt receives a promotion from work, requiring his family to move with him to northern California for a job with IBM. In order to keep their marriage intact, Bennie stays in Phoenix, but not before gifting Sammy a new film camera, which he promises never to use. Soon after arriving in his new neighbourhood and school, Sammy becomes targeted by students Logan (Sam Rechner) and Chad (Oakes Fegley), who say they hate Jews, blame him for the death of Jesus Christ and call him Bagelman. Sammy also begins dating the overtly-Christian Monica (Chloe East). While having dinner with the Fabelmans, Monica suggests that Sammy should film their upcoming Ditch Day at the beach. An argument erupts around the dinner table between Mitzi and Burt over the proposal, with Sammy abruptly standing up and banging the table with his fists for the commotion to stop. He accepts Monica's suggestion after she tells him her father owns a 16mm Arriflex camera that he would let him use, and the requisite editing machine.

After finally moving from a rental home to their brand new purchased home, Mitzi and Burt announce their divorce following the discovery of Mitzi's affair by Sammy, and Burt's suspicions, leaving the family heartbroken. At prom night, Sammy declares his love for Monica and asks her to come with him to Hollywood after graduating from high school. Unable to throw away her own life's goals to attend Texas A&M University, Monica breaks up with him. Meanwhile, the Ditch Day film is played in front of Sammy's peers, where it receives a rapturous response, seemingly praising Logan for his sporting prowess and denigrating Chad as a loser. Logan confronts Sammy, confused over his positive portrayal in the film, but the two reach an understanding when Chad attacks Sammy and Logan fights Chad off. The next morning, arriving back from the prom, Mitzi and Sammy talk about their future together, with Mitzi explaining that she cannot give up her love for Bennie, and that he should also not give up his love for filmmaking.

The next year, 1965, Sammy is living with Burt in an apartment in Hollywood. Unable to find work in the field of TV or film, Sammy considers dropping out of college because he hates it anyway, but Burt, reluctantly accepts his son's passion after seeing a photograph of Mitzi and Bennie together at a house party back in Phoenix, tells him to keep on his path if it makes him happy. Sammy finally receives a letter from CBS, offering him work on the upcoming sitcom 'Hogan's Heroes'. Knowing that Sammy is more interested in filmmaking, a network executive invites Sammy to meet acclaimed film Director John Ford (David Lynch), who has an office just across the hallway, and who is one of his greatest filmmaking influences. After lighting up a big fat cigar, Ford offers Sammy some sage advice about framing a scene. Newly encouraged by his brief five minutes with Ford, Sammy walks through the studio backlot on a warm sunny day, as the camera frames the horizon to the centre, contrary to Ford's advice which he said is 'boring', before ending by taking the Director's advice and re-framing the horizon at the far bottom, which is much more 'interesting', or at the top. 

'The Fabelmans' is Steven Spielberg's most intimate, heartfelt and insightful film yet, and here, once again, he has demonstrated his deft touch to be able to weave a personal story, keep it grounded and tell it in such a way that it will maintain your interest for all of its 151 minute run time. This film is a solid mix of family oriented drama, coming of age comedy, and part documentary that celebrates the early influences and inspirations that moulded Steven Spielberg into one of the greatest living film makers who over the course of thirty-four feature films and 50+ years has consistently taken his audience on a roller coaster ride exploring just about every film genre and the full gamut of emotions along the way. The cast here are on top form, including relative newcomer Gabriel LaBelle and also Michelle Williams (who endows her son Sammy with her creative side), Paul Dano (who endows his son with his work ethic) and Judd Hirsch (who offers up some pearls of wisdom in the less than ten minutes of screen time he has), and in defining their characters we learn what made the aspiring film maker come to master his craft, the personal challenges he experienced along the way and his motivations for never letting go of his dream. 'The Fabelmans' would easily rank amongst one of the top films of 2022, and is deserving of the accolades bestowed upon it. 

'The Fabelmans' merits five claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 5th January 2023.

The 34th Palm Springs International Film Festival kicks off on Thursday 5th January and runs through until Monday 16th January. The biggest driver of the Palm Springs International Film Festival's emergence was Sonny Bono, who, in the late 1980's felt that a film festival was exactly the kind of event that might extend the truncated tourist season in Palm Springs, and generate the kind of publicity that would help put Palm Springs, California on the map as a tourism destination all year-round. In 1989, he pulled a team together that could put into action the planning and logistical support that had been developed over the course of the previous year. Sonny then led the charge to bring sponsors on board, including major American corporations and a number of key members of the local community onto the Board in those early years for funding support and to help with the overall task. That first year's Festival, in January 1990, was an immediate success, drawing more than 17,000 filmgoers in the course of its five-day run, and generating positive press coverage from publications including the Los Angeles Times, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter. Now in its third decade, the Festival has come full circle, commanding huge media coverage annually, drawing major stars, attracting an attendance base that places it among the top three festivals in America, and boasting a film lineup widely respected for its breadth and scope. 

The 34th edition will screen 134 films from sixty-four countries including twenty-seven premier screenings. This years Opening Night feature film is the World Premier showcasing of '80 for Brady', Directed by Kyle Marvin and starring Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, Sally Field and Tom Brady. The Closing Night film is the Stephen Frears Directed 'The Lost King' with Sally Hawkins and Steve Coogan.

The 2023 Palm Springs International Film Awards will be presented on the evening of 5th January by Hosts, Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner from Entertainment Tonight. Those 2023 Honorees are as follows :-

* Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor, for the 'Banshees of Inisherin', presented to Colin Farrell.

* Director of the Year Award, presented to Sarah Polley for 'Women Talking'. 

* Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress, for 'Tar', presented to Cate Blanchett.

* International Star Award, Actress, presented to Michelle Yeoh for 'Everything, Everywhere All at Once'. 

* Vanguard Award, presented to Director, Steven Spielberg and cast members Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, Gabriel LaBelle and Judd Hirsch for 'The Fabelmans'. 

* Breakthrough Performance Award, presented to Austin Butler for 'Elvis'.

* Chairman's Award presented to Viola Davis for 'The Woman King'.

* International Star Award, Actor, presented to Bill Nighy for 'Living'.

* Breakthrough Performance Award, Actress, presented to Danielle Deadwyler for 'Till'. 

* Spotlight Award, Actor, presented to Brendan Fraser for 'Whale'.

For the full schedule of films being showcased at this years Palm Springs International Film Festival, plus a whole lot more good stuff, you can go to the official website at : https//www.psfilmfest.org/film-festival-2023

This week there are four new release movies coming to a big screen Odeon near you, kicking off with a semi-autobiographical film about a young boy growing up in post-World War II era Arizona, who 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. Next up is an Aussie crime thriller about a former Special Forces operative, who is battling to cope with life after the loss of his wife and is thrust into the criminal underworld to keep his only son. Next up is a Spanish animated film about three mummies as they end up in present-day London and embark on a journey in search of an old ring belonging to the Royal Family; before closing out the week with an American live-action stop-motion animated mockumentary about an adorable one-inch-tall shell who ekes out a colourful existence with his grandmother and their pet lint.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the four latest release new films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the coming week.

'THE FABELMANS' (Rated M) - is an American coming-of-age drama film Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Steven Spielberg, who needs no introduction. The film saw its World Premiere screening at the Toronto International Film Festival in mid- September last year, where it won the People's Choice Award, and its wide US release in late November. The film received widespread critical acclaim for the performances of the cast, Spielberg's Direction, the screenplay, cinematography, and John Williams' musical score. It was named one of the top ten films of 2022 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute. However, it has grossed just US$14M from a production budget of US$40M. It has so far collected fourteen award wins and another 126 nominations (many of which are still pending a decision) from around the awards and festivals circuit. 

This is a semi-autobiographical story loosely based on Steven Spielberg's adolescence and first years as as aspiring filmmaker, told through an original story of the fictional Sammy Fabelman (Gabriel LaBelle), a young aspiring filmmaker who explores how the power of films can help him see the truth about his dysfunctional family and those around him. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Michelle Williams as Mitzi Schildkraut-Fabelman (based on Spielberg's mother Leah Adler), Paul Dano as Burt Fabelman (based on Spielberg's father Arnold Spielberg), Seth Rogen and Judd Hirsch as Boris Schildkraut, Sammy's granduncle, in supporting roles. The film is dedicated to the memories of Spielberg's real-life parents Leah Adler and Arnold Spielberg, who died in 2017 and 2020, respectively. 

'TRANSFUSION' (Rated MA15+) - this Australian crime thriller is Written, Directed and stars Matt Nable in his Directorial debut. The film tells the story of a father (Sam Worthington) and his young son (Edward Carmody) attempting to reconnect after a devastating loss. The son, mired in guilt for a choice he never made, and a father suffering from PTSD and without identity after retiring from the Special Air Service regiment (SAS) of the Australian Army. On his last chance with the law, the father is thrust into the criminal underworld by a former SAS brother (Matt Nable) to keep his only son from being taken from him. Also starring Phoebe Tonkin and Susie Porter, the film was originally made for Stan, and has not yet found a distributor outside of Australia, but hits our big screens this week.

'MUMMIES' (Rated PG) - is a Spanish animated family comedy film Directed by Juan Jesus Garcia Galocha in his third outing as an animated feature film Director after 'Tad : The Lost Explorer' in 2012 and 'Tad, the Lost Explorer, and the Secret of King Midas' in 2017. The film follows the fun filled adventures of three Egyptian mummies who live in an underground secret city, hidden in ancient Egypt. The trio includes a Princess, a former charioteer, and his younger brother along with their pet baby crocodile. Through a series of unfortunate events, the mummies end up in present-day London and embark on a wacky and hilarious journey in search of an old ring belonging to the Royal Family, that was stolen by the ambitious archaeologist Lord Carnaby (voiced by Hugh Bonneville). Also starring the English voice over work of Sean Bean, Eleanor Tomlinson and Celia Imrie. 

'MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON' (Rated PG) - this 2021 American live-action stop-motion animated mockumentary comedy-drama film is Co-Written for the screen, based on a story Co-Written by, Co-Produced, stars and is Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp in his feature film making debut. It is based on a 2010 trilogy of shorts of the same name, also Co-Written by Fleischer Camp. Here then Marcel (voiced by Jenny Slate, who also co-wrote the original story, this Screenplay and Co-Produces here), is a one-inch-tall shell, who lives with his grandmother, Connie (Isabella Rossellini), the only residents of their town after their neighbours' sudden, mysterious disappearance. When discovered by a guest amongst the clutter of his Airbnb, the short film he posts online brings Marcel millions of passionate fans and a new hope of reuniting with his long-lost family. Also starring Rosa Salazar and Thomas Mann. The film has so far picked up fifteen award wins and another thirty-five nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit. It saw its World Premier at the Telluride Film Festival in early September 2021, and went on wide release Stateside from mid-July 2022, and only now does it get a showing in Australia having so far taken US$6.5M at the Box Office, and generating universal critical acclaim along the way. 

With four new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the week ahead.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-