Having been a key figure in cinema for half a century, Steven Spielberg finally takes an inward focus. "The Fabelmans", winner of some Golden Globes and nominated for some Academy Awards, is a fictionalized portrait of the artist as a youth, following his family's journey from New Jersey to Arizona to California.

Watching the movie, one gets a sense of the things that Spielberg would later use in his works, namely familial breakdown and awareness of his Jewishness (and even greater awareness of antisemitism). His artistic-minded mom (Michelle Williams) encouraged his talent, while his business-minded dad (Paul Dano) wanted him to do something practical. Overall it looked like a dismal childhood, making it all the more impressive that ol' Steve managed to become the director extraordinaire whom we know today.

All in all, it's one fine piece of work. Along with the cast's performances, there's some impressive depictions of the protagonist's amateur filmmaking, and a neat surprise at the end.

In conclusion, a cruel world that gave us "Jurassic Park".