Denis Villeneuve Calls Spielberg’s ‘The Fabelmans’ “The Best Movie Ever Made About Cinema”

Steven Spielberg, as much as I’m mixed on the last ten or so years worth of films he’s released, should absolutely be considered a master of the form.

It’s very hard to argue against this when the person we’re speaking of has a resume that includes the likes of “Jaws,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “ET,” “Schindler’s List,” “Saving Private Ryan,” “A.I.” “Minority Report,” “Munich,” and “Catch Me If You Can.”

Québécois filmmaker Denis Villeneuve had nothing but glowing words for Spielberg and “The Fabelmans” last night at the DGA, almost veering to the point of hyperbole.

“The Fabelmans’ is the best movie ever made about the power of cinema. It’s a miracle. To say that I was deeply moved by this movie is an understatement. ‘The Fabelmans’ is a pure act of artistic generosity made by one of the greatest filmmakers of our time.”

Of course, ‘Fabelmans’ is far from being the best movie about cinema. Not even close. Has Villeneuve seen 8 1/2? Ed Wood? Day For Night? The Player? Singing in the Rain?

Villeneuve’s love for Spielberg’s films became very clear at last year’s DGA when the filmmaker took to the stage and delivered a moving speech dedicated to the filmmaker.

Referencing “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” as the film that changed his life, Villeneuve went on to recall that, when he was younger, he played ice hockey with the name ‘Spielberg’ stamped on the back of his jersey to give him “courage against the enemy”. 

“Mr Spielberg you are a giant for me, I’m here tonight because of you, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you brought and what you are still bringing to this day to cinema”. 

With a tearful Spielberg looking on from the crowd, the “Dune” director steps down from the stage with one final remark, “after all these years you are still a pure source of inspiration, so sir I salute you”.

Last September, I polled 85 critics and asked them to name their top Spielberg movies. The results were quite fascinating with 1975’s “Jaws” coming out on top.