Deathstryke

Loosely based on Spielberg's own life, The Fableman's explores how Sammy, a Jewish boy with a penchant for film-making navigates the ups and downs of family life and school relationships before finally getting his big break as a director.

This was meant to be Spielberg's 'Cinema Paradiso', but it's rather unfortunate to say then that the film really isn't that good. In fact it might be one of his worst.

The plot is a generic coming of age drama, heightened with overwrought performances and an indulgent, roving camera. At 2hrs 30 mins, it feels bloated with sentimentality; the dialogue is awkward and unnatural while the performances are hammed up to the point of parody. Michelle Williams as Sammy's mother, seems to be channelling Judy Garland in her drunk years, while Paul Dano sounds like a tired 50's car salesman.

It's all very cliché, by the numbers stuff, and despite a solid main performance from Gabrielle LaBelle as Sammy, it didn't resonate with me emotionally, as much as it tried to do. I was bored.

A plucky farmer strives to build a life and legacy in a miserable marshy wilderness. Little by little, the obstacles he faces chip away at his persona; the cruelness of the environment, the death of his wife, the gossip of the village people and the constant, petty attacks by a conniving neighbor cause him to become mean-spirited and distrusting. His relationships with his wife and children sour, and he gradually realizes that the path he so stoically forged may not be one anyone else wants to travel down.

It's a beautiful film, perfectly paced and the cinematography aches with melancholy. Just a really well told story, with genuine performances that depict humanity in all it's shades. A must see.