I do not get the hype for this film. Its just ok.

Visually, clearly Spielberg is more than competent though nothing really special.

As usual, I personally hated the way its coded which character we should like and be apathetic too, which is very Spielberg. The story perhaps is the weirdest and weakest portion of the film. It just goes for the emotional gut punches and it never really relish to it or much precedent. Sadly, it made the film bizarrely paced and uneventful. The dialogue is pits too. It also weirdly hateful of the dad character. I felt that there is a real detachment that Spielberg has for that character. He is almost always left on his own with his thoughts, which is unlike the mother who is saved time and time again by external voices, especially from this roman à clef's representation of Spielberg himself.

Acting wise, there is nothing really to write about. Williams is subpar due to the uneven script. Dano is fine. Gabrielle Labelle was competent but would have been better if the writing was build up better.

Personally, this film left me really cold. Its a nice footnote but lacks the self reflection that would pushed it into another level. I feel really sad about it given that these are deeply personal stories from his life. Looking back few years from now, especially with how the New Hollywood directors are going their 70s to 80s, it would be just a few years and they will be dunzo and I still do not feel he reached his highest potential. He cannot fully let go of his inhibitions and expectation but I guess he will always have his "blockbusters".