THE FABELMANS

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No one does populist pap like Steven Spielberg.

I say that in a good way.

"The Fabelmans" carries such rich generational, emotionally driven, '50s era touchstones to entertain and touch us.

Damn, this is a good movie.

Tearjerker.

This may well be Steven Spielberg's best film.

You couldn't ask for a finer swan song if that turns out to be the case.

Michelle Williams is remarkable in her role as Mitzi Fabelman, a complex mother, wife, artist, musician, dancer, and free thinker.

Seth Rogan has matured nicely, as displayed in his commanding performance in a thankless role that Rogan elevates to something important, inspiring, and real.

Cool man. Nice work.

Which brings us to Gabriel LaBelle, the hotshot rookie actor showing off his stuff with serious feeling, timing, and physicality.

Impressive.

Gabriel LaBelle is the new Dustin Hoffman.

Gabriel LaBelle is Spielberg's not-so-secret asset to this very satisfying movie about movie-making toward different motivations and skills.

I would be remiss to leave out the always wonderful Paul Dano, handling a difficult role with perfect mastery.

Beautifully understated and profound is Dano's rendering.

Steven Spielberg and his ensemble had a lot of fun making this exquisite movie, and it shows in every frame.

"The Fabelmans" is a memoir imagined. It is an important artistic achievement that wears its heart on its cotton sleeve.

At least someone still knows how to tell a story on film.

Cheers to Steven Spielberg for this full-on masterpiece of the seventh art.

Rated PG-13. 151 mins.

RUSHMORE — THE CRITERION COLLECTION

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Before Wes Anderson became a pale imitation of himself, he made a splashy sophomore comedy with punch.

Anderson's attention to meta/micro details gets filtered through an up-tempo youthful comic tone that flies in the face of adult romance.

Jason Schwartzman is Max Fischer, Anderson''s hilarious spoof on Dustin Hoffman's character in "The Graduate."

Bill Murray does an early version of the Bill Murray he would become, while indulging in laugh-inducing slap-stick bits.

Precocious but not precious, "Rushmore" is heavy-hearted comedy with a light touch.

Here is an over-achiever's paradise.

Funny stuff.

Rated R. 93 mins.

ST. VINCENT

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Bill Murray once again confirms his value as a cottage film industry.

I know of no other actor who has so many filmmakers writing movies so clearly built around him or her.

Good.

No matter how weathered, flawed, and mean, Bill Murray's characters have head, heart, and libido in their compartmentalized places.

"St. Vincent" is a formula coming-of-age comedy that tics all the boxes.

While it might not be a masterpiece, it does give Bill Murray's mastery room to roam.

Bill Murray is our saint of Cinema.

Say a prayer with Bill Murray in mind.

Rated PG-13. 102 mins.