"The Fabelmans" is a coming-of-age drama film directed and co-written by Steven Spielberg. Starring Paul Dano, Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, and newcomer Gabriel LaBelle, it encapsulates everything a film enthusiast should love about the art form with an affectionate examination of all it is capable of.

In 1952 in New Jersey, Jewish parents Burt (Paul Dano) and Mitzi (Michelle Williams) take their young son Sammy (Mateo Zoryon Francis-DeFord) to his very first screening of a movie: "The Greatest Show on Earth" by Cecil B. DeMille. Sammy becomes enamoured by an epic train crash scene that occurs during the film's climax and decides to ask for his own toy train set for Hanukkah. Shortly after receiving his gift, Sammy crashes the trains in an attempt to recreate what he saw onscreen, much to the annoyance of both his parents. Realising her son's true motives, Mitzi allows Sammy to film another train crash with Burt's home video camera, setting the stage for his passion for filming things with his family and friends. Years later in Arizona, a now-teenaged Sammy (Gabriel LaBelle) continues to film his own movies with his Boy Scout troop, but various family issues and other matters begin to slowly threaten his love of filmmaking.

Anybody who knows me best should be aware that I absolutely love movies. I love watching movies, reading about movies, and discussing movies with anybody willing to hear me out. There's just something fascinating about the way this visual art form can take us out of reality for such a long period of time and invite us to view things from the perspective of whoever is behind the camera. But if there's anything I love equally as much as watching a film, it's watching a film about the process of filmmaking. Steven Spielberg's "The Fabelmans" not only shows us everything the veteran director loves about his craft, but it also reminds us of why film is such an important medium in the first place.

As a semi-autobiographical take on his own venture into the profession, Spielberg uses every opportunity to show us all the ups-and-downs of what one can expect to go through when following the dream of becoming a filmmaker. This is accomplished through the character of Sammy, who essentially functions as Spielberg's self-insert. From falling in love with the way a film can draw us into its story to eventually picking up a camera to film his own home movies, Sammy discovers that his journey won't be as streamlined as he may have imagined, but in the process he learns so much about the art and his own life. The parallels drawn between film and reality are so well done here that the movie can strike a chord with virtually anybody who has been emotionally affected by a film, no matter which one that might be. Instead of a self-indulgent vanity piece, this film as a whole is actually a beautifully told tale of how deep a renowned filmmaker's adoration for movies can run.

Pretty much everybody knows who Steven Spielberg is and is familiar with at least one of the movies he has directed, so it should come as no surprise that this is a story being told by someone who fully understands the creative process. We see Spielberg's enthusiasm brimming throughout every frame, whether it's Sammy's life-altering experience of first visiting the cinema or showing his own completed film to his fellow Boy Scouts. Every emotional note is hit perfectly, to the point where even the most casual viewer can understand where Spielberg is coming from. There is so much to appreciate in the way Spielberg is able to convey each of these moments to showcase how a film can leave such a profound impact on the lives of both a creator and an audience. As a result, we immediately understand his own affinity for filmmaking, which in turn could encourage others out there to follow suit to make his or her own movies. Only one other film made me feel the same amount of joy this one did and that would be 1988's "Cinema Paradiso", one of my all-time favourites. Both are told from the perspectives of a young man whose admiration for film extends throughout most of his life. Whether Spielberg intended for his audience to draw that comparison is unknown at this time, but it is a huge compliment coming from me.

In his first leading role, relative newcomer Gabriel LaBelle demonstrates that he has what it takes to carry a film of such a level of importance. Each aspect of Sammy's dedication to film is brought to life at various points thanks to LaBelle's masterful interactions with the rest of his fellow cast members. We watch as Sammy's vision for his craft is shaped and influenced by all those around him in both positive and negative ways. For example, when he and his family relocate to a different state, Sammy soon realises that not everybody is going to be as accommodating to his artistic perspective. Because of that, he must now find alternative ways to remain true to his vision while also seeking how to validate himself as an independent creator. This of course mirrors the way life often throws obstacles in our path to test how determined we really are towards following our own passions.

Both Michelle Williams and Paul Dano also gave great performances as Sammy's parents Mitzi and Burt. Mitzi is shown to have a number of personal insecurities holding her back from what she loves doing, but tries not to let them get in the way of allowing her son to succeed in the world of film. Williams plays into Mitsi's vulnerability so well that even when she does something questionable, you don't feel the need to hold it against her right away. I consider this to be one of Williams's best roles to date as it demonstrates the impressive emotional range she has as an actress. Likewise, Dano portrays Burt as a loving father who goes to great lengths to nurture his son's talents as an aspiring filmmaker. Although Burt doesn't share Sammy's enthusiasm for what he does, he nonetheless understands why it is so important to him, even if it means working extra hard to pay for the necessary amenities.

Though his role is brief, I think Seth Rogen is worth a mention as well in the role of Bennie, a family friend who acts as a surrogate uncle for Sammy. I was impressed at how Rogen was able to play a character that is both an amusing friend but also an intelligent voice of reason. In fact, if it weren't for Bennie, I don't think the film would have worked anywhere near as well as it did. This is a notable change from the usual type of roles Rogen likes to play, which often takes the form of a crude stoner spouting one-liners. Rogen has definitely shown he has the acting chops to continue playing characters like this, something I hope he will take into consideration for future films.

For the avid cinephile, "The Fabelmans" has practically everything you could ever ask for in a loving tribute to this wonderful art form. Thanks to Steven Spielberg, we are able to gain a better understanding of why film goes beyond mere entertainment and how it has the potential to touch all of our lives in more ways than we can imagine. Even if you aren't a devoted fan of cinema as a whole, there are still plenty of other things to appreciate about what it can offer us all. No matter how old I may grow, I will always love movies and ones like this will help cement that in my mind for the rest of time.

I rate it a perfect 10/10.