Accuse it of being sentimental mush or self-congratulatory pandering all you want, I was deeply moved by THE FABELMANS. On one level, this is Spielberg's love letter to the art form that made his name, but I was more struck by the film's depiction of family and the complicated nature of families in general. It's about that time in your life where you stop seeing your parents as godly caregivers and realize they're human beings with their own flaws and dreams. It's not a simple process: there's confusion and anger involved, but THE FABELMANS treats this stage of adolescence with compassion and insight.

On a cinematic level, this is astounding work. Fabulous acting, wonderful compositions, and a great eye for period detail (way too many movies set in the past just make it feel like we're watching 21st century people in Halloween costumes-- the atmosphere in this feels both realistic and yet elevated in its presentation of the 60s before it started swinging).