Semi autobiographical tale from Spielberg which looks at his youth within a living Jewish family and particularly how he developed his love for film making.
The difficulty, if that's the right word, is that with a Spielberg film there comes a number of particular expectations. This doesn't necessary restrict itself to big effects pictures, although they are a part of it, but Spielberg is pure Hollywood and for the first time he has made a film which doesn't follow that path except for the delightful ending. This therefore is not a bad film by any stretch and gave me a number of laughs and some scenes, including when the lead character Sam, edits his camping holiday film, are perfection. The performances are largely strong particularly Michelle Williams as the mother and Paul Dano underplays nicely. I was less keen on Judd Hirsch doing a straight out of central casting rather clumsy Jewish turn or Seth Rogen, rather meh as Dano's best friend. It is a little too long and somewhat episodic but if you love films and Spielberg, it is worth catching this smaller than usual and very personal picture, but expectations need managing.
The difficulty, if that's the right word, is that with a Spielberg film there comes a number of particular expectations. This doesn't necessary restrict itself to big effects pictures, although they are a part of it, but Spielberg is pure Hollywood and for the first time he has made a film which doesn't follow that path except for the delightful ending. This therefore is not a bad film by any stretch and gave me a number of laughs and some scenes, including when the lead character Sam, edits his camping holiday film, are perfection. The performances are largely strong particularly Michelle Williams as the mother and Paul Dano underplays nicely. I was less keen on Judd Hirsch doing a straight out of central casting rather clumsy Jewish turn or Seth Rogen, rather meh as Dano's best friend. It is a little too long and somewhat episodic but if you love films and Spielberg, it is worth catching this smaller than usual and very personal picture, but expectations need managing.