11 Comments

This sounds super promising. Spielberg's cinematic bona fides are unimpeachable, of course, but I've often believed many of his films would be better served if they ended 10 minutes earlier (before his desperation to please makes inevitable entrance). He has been toning it down lately, and perhaps in this one, he tones it down completely. Here's to hoping...

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Imo this is his best ending maybe ever

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Wasn't expecting the final shot to be a sight gag, and a hilarious one at that.

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Nov 29, 2022Liked by Scott Tobias

the last movement of this one is absolutely stunning and silly and joyous and, to my eye, moves at an uncharacteristic tempo and rhythm. if you dont care for his typical manner of wrapping things up, prepare to be delighted. the ol’ dog is still learning new tricks.

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Imagine Seth Rogen's excitement turned into minor horror at being told "you'll be reading for the person that inspired me the most" by Spielberg without knowing the full history.

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Seeing this tomorrow, because if any movie seems like it's worth forsaking family obligations on a national holiday, this is it.

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Can you comment on the schmaltz factor? I sometimes find Spielberg a bit too cloying and "my childhood! my burgeoning passion for cinema!" is prime territory for it. I caught the trailer before Wakanda Forever and it was pure treacle, but maybe that's just the marketing dept.

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author

Very limited schmaltz IMO. Trailer has all the love-letter-to-cinema stuff frontloaded and that’s certainly a part of the movie, but there are some tough revelations at the center of this one.

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I was surprised how scenes ended sooner than expected, making their point and moving on. It's emotionally direct, but the emotions aren't underlined, as 80s/early 90s Spielberg would have done.

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author

Really good observation. Several quick stabs to the heart, rather than milking the emotions too much.

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Nov 29, 2022Liked by Scott Tobias

yes! what a great point. the final scenes were where i really noticed and felt the effects of this approach--they seemed almost abrupt in their economy--but youre right, the whole script is built this way.

spielbergs relationship with and deployment of sentimentality are fully examined in this movie. for better or worse, this is as deep as he goes, and i think that people concerned about his level of emotional seriousness will look at this movie as the rosetta stone that decodes and then accounts for his programatic sweetness and optimism.

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