The Fabelmans: Director: Steven Spielberg. Cast: Gabriel LaBelle, Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogan, Judd Hirsch. 151 min. Biography/Drama.
Armageddon Time: Director: James Gray. Cast: Banks Repeta, Anne Hathaway, Jeremy Strong, Anthony Hopkins, Jessica Chastain. 114 min. Biography/Drama.
- We have two movies, screened within weeks: Spielberg telling his coming-of-age story in The Fabelmans, and James Gray telling his in Armageddon Time. Both show kids struggling in dysfunctional families, both show coming to grasp with a Jewish identity, both kids having an inspiring second degree family figure (Judd Hirsch as the uncle in the former, Anthony Hopkins as the grandfather in the latter), and both stories that are ... sloooow. The movies make you wonder: other than the fact that powerful directors have resources to make a highly stylish cinematic rendering of their childhoods with events as dramatic (or even less dramatic) as other kids and families, what's the reason to watch this?
- Actually, while Michelle Williams does a tremendous job as Spielberg's conflicted mom, and The Fabelmans' best scene is the final moment with David Lynch as John Ford (it's truly a great scene), I'd consider Armageddon Time a better movie, because it carries a question of whether you'll have the courage to stand up for what you know deep inside is right - or just cower away into your hole.
- Watch The Fabelmans for multiple scenes showing the inspiration for some of Spielberg's best directed/produced movie moments, including E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Poltergeist, and Back to the Future.
- Watch for a short scene in Armageddon Time including Trump's father and sister (played by Jessica Chastain).
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