It’s tough to say what’s most remarkable about Steven Spielberg’s career
Series: Steven Spielberg
The first three Indiana Jones movies comprise one of the finest trilogies in cinematic history, but there’s no particular reason they had to stop at three.
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The Fabelmans (2022)
It is noteworthy on multiple levels that Steven Spielberg has a writing credit on The Fabelmans.
The kind of movie I feel more obligation to like than actual enthusiasm. It’s undeniably well-made and -acted, though — the kind of prestige journalistic thriller that keeps you hooked. I think my biggest issue is that the story itself isn’t quite as rich and dangerous as the best of the genre — The Washington Post wasn’t even the paper that broke the story in question!
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Bridge of Spies (2015)
Oscar-bait dad movie, but the best kind: made by Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks, both of whom do excellent work. The narrative has a slightly awkward shift in the middle, and Kaminsky’s photography is classical, though dotted with his signature strong-extant-lights (e.g. lamps/windows) almost to the point of shtick, but it’s a really satisfying story of the fine line between duty to country and duty to mankind.
Fairly light for Spielberg, yet immensely entertaining as both a yarn and a character portrait. Hanks is the reason I watched it, but it’s really Leo’s movie, and it remains one of his best performances. Snappy and fun with just enough pathos. (I don’t care how true or false any of the claims are; they make a terrific film story.)
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Jurassic Park (1993)
I’m going to open this review discussing some of the flaws of Jurassic Park — sorry, 17-year-old me; Jurassic Park does indeed have flaws
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The Terminal (2004)
After reading several contemporary reviews of The Terminal I’m surprised that critics at the time did not note the single most distinct trait of the film:
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Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a conventional sequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark in all of the ways that Temple of Doom is not.
Temple of Doom is the fever dream iteration of Indiana Jones, every scene and detail and character turned up to a nightmarish 11.