Simon’s review published on Letterboxd:
2022 Ranked
A beautifully written, impeccably directed film made for people who passionately love movies by a filmmaker who passionately loves movies. Finds such a perfect line between emotional vulnerability and levity; this is comfortably the funniest film I’ve seen all year. For those worried this indulges heavily in schmaltz, rest assured it isn’t anywhere near as sentimental as the trailer makes it out to be, and is instead much more of a healthy balance between comedic, melancholic, and bittersweet.
It’s self-reflective without being self-congratulatory or manipulative, never once feeling like a vanity project. Steven Spielberg isn’t afraid of being critical of himself, even openly acknowledging things he’s done in the past that he personally regrets. It’s so authentic and modest all around. But even if you’re not a massive Spielberg fan, this still totally delivers on all fronts as both a coming-of-age story and a family dramedy. Janusz Kamiński continues to be our greatest cinematographer, Michael Kahn & Sarah Broshar make these 151 minutes into a total breeze while also making many creative editing choices, and it’s well-performed across the board, with Gabrielle LaBelle (both the film’s MVP and the best leading male performance of 2022), Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, and Judd Hirsch in particular delivering absolutely phenomenal work here. Also a special mention to Chloe East, who probably got the most laughs out of my audience.
Utterly sublime. Without question the most joy and emotional resonance I’ve gotten out of any film since Spielberg and Tony Kushner’s own WEST SIDE STORY, and this only isn’t definitively the greatest film of the 2020s so far because that one exists.
King Spielberg forever. Go see this in a cinema ASAP.
EDIT: Additional Second Viewing Thoughts Here: https://boxd.it/3u061D
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