David Weiss

If you’re looking for a Spielberg film that is expressly about, and only about, Spielberg, you can’t do better than this one. While annoyingly self-indulgent (and not only in its running time), largely unnecessary (in the opinion of everyone except Spielberg—and, presumably, his therapist), and characteristically unsubtle, it does feature some amazing performances and moving scenes, almost all thanks to Michelle Williams. Sadly, there are also far too many over-the-top performances and superfluous scenes. But, hell, if you’re co-writing and helming a movie about your own life, I suppose you have artistic license to direct it any way you see fit. Still, if you’re trying to achieve anything close to reality, here are three things you probably shouldn’t do, especially in your film’s first five minutes: (1) Open with an unnecessarily specific title card – “January 10, 1952” – and then proceed to have your dad character ask your son character, as they’re driving home from the movies, “So, Sammy, what do you want for Hanukkah?” (2) As the family arrives home, have Sammy grouse about the fact that his family’s house – again, on January 10th – is the only one on the block not decorated with Christmas lights. (3) Show your characters placing and lighting the candles of their menorah – on that same January night – in the wrong order. As Judd Hirsch’s furniture-chewing Uncle Boris character might say: Oy.

Charming and twisty. Great performances by the young cast members.

Unnecessary. It joins this year's list of other superfluous sequels and reboots, topped by Toy Story 4 and The Lion King.