- S: There are some moments where it feels like the story is holding back some truth. The bullying feels like its missing an element, (no homophobia? Particularly after his cinematic
highlight of the school jock?), the discussions of the family's financial issues seem odd in comparison to the spaciousness of their homes and the excess of things they have, and Sam's
relationship with the Christian girl feels a bit too blockbuster.
- C: The shot choices are excellent, where the displays of the mechanical nature of film making and the sets and props all have a very personal touch. Only negative is
that the real life events often feel overly cinematic. For example, the camera lingering on the dad's dissatisfaction at the camping trip is too overt. Moments like these
make it hard to distinguish what the shots of real life are versus what the shots of Sam's movie setups are. Their life looks a bit too clean, no shots or scenes are ugly, gritty, and
thereby real. It gives the movie an almost fantastical feel when it shouldn't be.
- E: Its pretty amazing that a movie this long and this predictable is still so interesting. Great pacing and excellent acting, particularly from Michelle Williams, help hold the attention.
Only lull is in some of the back and forth with the family after moving to California.
It feels like it takes a bit too long to implode as you know it will.
- N: Incredibly touching story. It's filled with personal details that take it to another level. It has a level of insight into the characters that
it feels like Speilberg is cutting himself open making the film. However, there are a few moments where the film, like the scene at the high school prom,
where some element of realism is missing, making the scene more like a picturesque Spielberg movie and less like Spielberg. Because most of the story is so personal,
these fabrications are easy to spot.
- T: The film received all five possible bonus points. There are so many note-worthy scenes that are deserving of credit: a shot with a kid holding his hands
together in front of a projector, the sequence where Sam discovers his mother's love interest and particularly the final shot-ception of this sequence with the shot of the filmed shot of
the lovers, the scene where Sam sees himself filming his family's argument, and the shot where Sam's dad sees the block party photo. All the little personal gold nuggets sprinkled throughout the story make the film come alive. The paper plates and tablecloth,
the mechanics of editing film, and the liontamer uncle are all so idiosyncratic that it gives them a sense of realism that stays with you. Last, but certainly not least, Michelle Williams performance
is nuanced, heartfelt, and critical to the success of this film.
This film is incredible because it is such a deep dive into Speilberg's life. It is so intimate and personal that it makes the film more intriguing because it feels
like we shouldn't have this level of insight. Reminds me of other films like Honey Boy and Beau is Afraid that also have strong personal touches from the film-makers.
Number of Watches: 1
