The Fabelmans 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

The 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation of "The Fabelmans" is a commendable upgrade from its 1080p Blu-ray counterpart, offering noticeable improvements in clarity, detail, and texture. The 2160p HEVC-encoded transfer, paired with Dolby Vision HDR, accentuates Janusz Kaminski’s distinguished cinematography and Rick Carter’s precise period production design. The increased resolution provides an appreciable enhancement, especially in wide-angle shots of Arizona and more intimate scenes including close-ups that exhibit refined details on surfaces and facial features. The film’s stylized look featuring an amber/wheat glow is rendered with richer, more intense colors, while still maintaining the film-like aesthetic.

The use of HDR/Dolby Vision significantly boosts the color output and shadow details. Blacks are exceptionally deep, contributing to the film’s atmospheric use of darkness as a narrative device. Shadow delineation is precise and the contrast is excellent, with HDR ensuring bright highlights where necessary. Colors such as yellows, ambers, and primary hues like red and blue are vibrantly reproduced, adding to the immersive visual experience. The notable improvements in depth of field and black levels further contribute to the film’s dynamic range and visual storytelling. Skin tones appear natural, with sharper, more expressive facial details. Noise and artifacts are minimal, preserving the pristine quality of both bright daylight scenes and low-light interiors.

Overall, Universal’s handling of this 4K UHD release does justice to Spielberg’s period-based masterpiece. The lean towards colder color reproduction during "real-life" sequences maintains consistency while offering a nostalgic visual charm. With its smooth cinematography, augmented by exceptional HDR application, the presentation gives a warm yet crisp viewing experience. The "home movie" segments shot on Super 8 and 16mm stock exhibit authentic grain, enhancing the film’s historical authenticity. This detailed transfer ensures a visually engaging portrayal of "The Fabelmans," making it a stellar choice for cinephiles with UHD capability.

The 4K UHD Blu Ray release of "The Fabelmans" features a robust 7.1 Dolby TrueHD audio track, delivering an immersive and dynamic audio experience, despite the absence of a Dolby Atmos mix. This choice might surprise some, especially given the industry trend towards Atmos support. However, the 7.1 mix, skillfully created by Spielberg collaborator Gary Rydstrom, impresses with its exceptional sonic fidelity and spatial accuracy. Dialog reproduction is clear, pure, and rich, with an engaging presence in the front soundstage. The sound effects, including environmental cues like howling wind and subtle ambient noises such as the gentle tapping of fingernails, are beautifully executed. These nuanced details elevate the storytelling, making the audio experience deeply engaging.

Key moments in the film, like the tornado sequence and scenes involving model trains, see the surround speakers effectively utilized to create a compelling auditory atmosphere. The track maintains a commendable balance between dialog, music, and effects, ensuring none overpowers the other. John Williams' delicate yet sweeping score benefits from excellent musical definition, depth, and spacing, bringing its emotional nuances to life. Low-frequency effects are well-integrated though not overpowering, providing impactful bass to incidental period songs and key sound events like slamming doors and locker punches.

Overall, the 7.1 Dolby TrueHD track on this disc delivers an impressive auditory experience that aligns perfectly with the film's narrative needs. While some enthusiasts may lament the lack of an Atmos track, the existing mix’s clarity, balance, and immersive qualities make for a satisfying experience that enhances the film’s emotive power without compromising on any technical aspects.

The extras included in the 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "The Fabelmans" provide a deep dive into the film’s origins, production, and behind-the-scenes processes. "The Fabelmans: A Personal Journey" offers an intimate look at how Steven Spielberg and co-writer Tony Kushner drew from Spielberg's life, emphasizing the need to make the story universally relatable. "Family Dynamics" explores the cast's approach to embodying their characters, with insightful interviews from key actors and Spielberg. "Crafting the World of The Fabelmans" meticulously covers technical details such as production design, costume creation, cinematography, and John Williams' musical contributions. The featurettes are available in 2160p resolution with Dolby Vision, ensuring a high-quality viewing experience. Additionally, the disc comes with a Blu-ray copy of the film and a digital code.

Extras included in this disc:

• The Fabelmans: A Personal Journey: Steven Spielberg reflects on the inspirations behind the film.
• Family Dynamics: Insights into casting decisions and character portrayals.
• Crafting the World of The Fabelmans: Detailed look at production design and technical aspects.
• Original Trailer: Theatrical trailer for the film.

"The Fabelmans" is a semi-autobiographical film that provides an intimate look into Steven Spielberg's early life and his passionate journey towards becoming a filmmaker. Co-written by Spielberg and longtime collaborator Tony Kushner, this deeply personal narrative offers an engaging exploration of Spielberg’s formative years, focusing on his burgeoning love for cinema. The story traces young Sammy Fabelman (played by Gabriel LaBelle and Mateo Zoryan Francis-DeFord) and the pivotal moment when a screening of "The Greatest Show on Earth" ignites his obsession with filmmaking. Spielberg masterfully weaves themes of familial tension, creativity, and the power of film to capture and reflect one's inner life.

The casting is one of the film’s standout aspects, with significant performances by Michelle Williams as the spirited and supportive Mitzi, and Paul Dano as the more pragmatic Burt Fabelman. Seth Rogen provides a solid performance in a rare dramatic role as Uncle Bennie, while Judd Hirsch and David Lynch deliver memorable cameos. The narrative’s strength lies in its subtle portrayal of Sammy’s internal landscape and his evolving artistry, which is poignantly depicted through his amateur films that simultaneously mirror and influence his real-life experiences.

Despite its length (running just over 2.5 hours), "The Fabelmans" remains captivating due to its rich character development, seamless integration of personal and family dynamics, and the emotional resonance of Spielberg's journey. While some scenes could have benefited from tighter editing, particularly those involving Sammy's high school experiences, the film effectively captures the tensions and joys of his upbringing. The meticulous script by Spielberg and Kushner lightens autobiographical elements with a universal appeal, ensuring "The Fabelmans" delves into the nuances of Spielberg’s youth and renders an homage to the transformative power of filmmaking.

Steven Spielberg’s "The Fabelmans" offers an intimate and moving portrayal of family and artistry, making a significant mark in the director's illustrious career. The narrative focuses on a personal and emotional journey, beautifully interwoven with insights into the filmmaking process, creating a substantial commentary on both life and cinema. Starring Michelle Williams, Judd Hirsch, Paul Dano, and Seth Rogan, the film explores themes of family and identity, executed with heartfelt performances that contribute to the film’s overall engagement.

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment’s 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "The Fabelmans" is technically impressive. The video quality, presented in a 2.39:1 HEVC aspect ratio, is visually stunning, showcasing rich details and vibrant colors that enhance Spielberg's meticulous direction. The audio presentation, available in English Dolby TrueHD 7.1, Spanish DD+ 7.1, and French DD 5.1, delivers a robust and immersive sound experience. With the film's runtime being a substantial 151 minutes, the engaging narrative ensures that viewers remain captivated throughout its duration.

While the supplemental offerings are not exhaustive, the available featurettes provide valuable insights from the cast and crew, adding to the viewer's appreciation of the film's production. Despite comparisons to Spielberg’s earlier work, "The Fabelmans" stands out as a touching ode to his family and craft, deserving of its accolades and recognition.

Spielberg movies, while not nearly as good as the younger years of the prolific director, are still nothing short of a spectacle. The Fabelmans is low on gigantic spectacle, but high on plot, and a very meaty one at that. I’m not sure it captures movie magic as much as past efforts, but it’s a fun drama that isn’t as esoteric as The Polar Express, nor as serious and amazing as Schindler’s List, but it is a gripping and engrossing drama nonetheless. The 4K UHD disc is very impressive, with a great audio and video scoring, along with some mild extras. I’d say it’s worth checking out, but be warned it’s a hefty 2.5-hour drama and not a fast moving one at that.

Recommendation: Great Watch