8 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Growing up in post-World War II era Arizona, young Sammy Fabelman aspires to become a filmmaker as he reaches adolescence, but soon discovers a shattering family secret and explores how the power of films can help him see the truth.
Starring: Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, Gabriel LaBelle, Mateo ZoryanDrama | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The Fabelmans is the semiautobiographical biopic centered on Steven Spielberg, who many would argue to be the most popular, one of the most influential, and perhaps the finest filmmaker of the second half of the 20th century. Spielberg, along with longtime collaborator Tony Kushner, co-wrote the film, which Spielberg also directed. The film centers around a young Spielberg, as Sammy Fabelman (played by both Gabriel LaBelle and Mateo Zoryan Francis-DeFord), and his experiences in life and the birth and development of his lifelong love for the film medium. The film weaves together several narrative elements that explore the boy's influences both behind the camera and before the march of life as he enters into adulthood and a career that came to reshape the cinema landscape forever.
Universal releases The Fabelmans to Blu-ray with a near picture-perfect 1080p transfer. The image never disappoints, offering stable, sturdy details and excellent clarity across the board, allowing audiences to soak in core facial details but also the complexities of period attire and period details with absorbing ease. That sense of access into the world is vital to the film, and the transfer is well up to the task of bringing it all to rich, effortless life on the screen. Color accuracy is excellent, too, with bold primaries and well-balanced support hues at work in every frame. Clothes again star, but so too do natural greens. Flesh tones look healthy and accurate. Black levels depth is excellent, and whites are brilliant. The image does retain a little noise, but such is not problematic to the image. This is a fine release from Universal.
Universal releases The Fabelmans to the Blu-ray format with a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 lossless soundtrack; neither this nor the companion UHD offer Dolby Atmos audio. As it is, the 7.1 track is more than sufficient for the presentation. Beyond a few moments of amplified audio, such as two key early film scenes (the model trains maneuvering through the speakers, a tornado blowing about the soundstage), the track offers more or less straightforward audio elements, with centered and clear dialogue and well-defined music. Musical definition, depth, and spacing are excellent, with the latter particularly impressive for both front side stretch and surround envelopment. Certainly, some more densely packed scenes, including the beach and dance scenes later in the film, offer some impressive envelopment, but rarely is the track called upon to work in heftier, meatier content. The presentation satisfies overall, and it is doubtful that Atmos would have added anything beyond a mild sense of added spatial immersion.
This Blu-ray release of The Fabelmans contains three extras. A DVD copy of the film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code are included with
purchase. This release ships with an embossed slipcover.
Spielberg's The Fabelmans pushes the filmmaker to capture movie magic from a different perspective. Though low on spectacle, the film is big on narrative and offers a substantial commentary on the filmmaking process, which is interwoven into his lead character's life. It's an incredible journey through life and cinema that will delight not only fans of the filmmaker but also fans of the medium. Universal's Blu-ray is excellent, offering high quality video and audio presentations in addition to several extras. Very highly recommended.
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