"The Fabelmans" is truly a love letter to film and about finding life's passions. The movie takes real moments from Spielberg's adolescence and pieces them together. It is fascinating to see the beginnings of the man who brought films such as "Jurassic Park" and "Indiana Jones" to life. Though it took a minute for me to become invested in the characters, once the pacing hit its stride, I was hooked.

The film tackles difficult topics, such as racism and infidelity, without forcing an agenda. There is a truth to "The Fabelmans" that was uniquely charming. Spielberg is not afraid of silence, and some of the most memorable scenes are from those quiet moments. Rather than relying on words, facial expressions perfectly conveyed the message he wanted to tell.

When the film started, I was concerned about the acting and the script. Some of the performances were stiff and felt pretentious, at least at first. It was evident that the pressure of portraying Spielberg's family was daunting for some of the actors. After about 20 minutes, the acting seemed more natural, and I was able to see the passion behind each performance.

As the film is based on Steven Spielberg's childhood/youth, there were a lot of small stories over the 2 hour 30-minute runtime. At times, these individual scenes felt disconnected from the ultimate narrative. Similarly, some of the editing was choppy and out of place. Ultimately, the story came together, but there were some unnecessary stops along the way.

If you love films, you will find joy in "The Fabelmans". After finishing the movie, I felt inspired in a unique way. It is evident that Steven Spielberg put his heart into this project and that he tapped into deep, personal roots. As the Academy Awards approach, this film is a lock to win one, if not more of their seven nominations.

Best Character: Sammy Best Scene: Late Night Passion Projects Best Quote: "Movies are dreams that you never forget." - Mitzi Fabelman Best Piece of Score: "Mother and Son"