The world can be hard to take. Sometimes it’s more than enough to step out of the light and into the movie theatre, sit back, and take a break from reality.
As much as anyone, Steven Spielberg set Hollywood back on the course of escapist entertainment with his gift for crafting perfectly tooled summer blockbusters like Jaws (1975), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), and E.T. – The Extra Terrestrial (1982). Full of wonder, excitement and adventure, these were movies that shaped the culture and touched a generation. It was an incredible run for a young filmmaker, and Spielberg is still at the top of the pyramid 50 years later — we’re eagerly awaiting his latest blockbuster, Disclosure Day, due for release in April.
This spring break, here’s an opportunity to savour six of Spielberg’s hits and family favourites on the big screen in all their grandeur + The Fabelmans, his recent autobiographical look back at the start of his filmmaking obsession.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
One of only a handful of live action children's films to capture the imaginations of generations, E.T. has a luminous warmth; it's a suburban symphony of emotion, and it's fascinating to revisit it in the light of The Fabelmans.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Richard Dreyfuss sees something in the sky which suggests... transcendence? Spectacular but also grounded, of all Spielberg's blockbusters Close Encounters may be the one that holds up best.
The Adventures of Tintin
Could this be Spielberg's most underrated film? It's his only stab at animation, and it moves like Raiders of the Lost Ark on caffeine. The plotting may be antiquarian but the action never lets up. It's delirious stuff, often laugh-out-loud funny.
The Fabelmans
Nominated for 7 Academy Awards, Steven Spielberg's bittersweet movie memoir is a portrait of the artist as the product of his artsy mom (Michelle Williams), his techy dad (Paul Dano), and a broken home.
Jurassic Park
Two paleontologists are invited to preview a new Central American theme park by an avuncular entrepreneur (Richard Attenborough). What they encounter is truly a walk on the wild side. Spielberg's jaw dropping adventure movie still kills on the big screen.