At 76 yrs old, this is Spielberg's love letter to the power of film, family, and growing up. The legendary director takes a trip down memory lane in his most personal film, loosely based on his childhood as an aspiring filmmaker. It's a coming of age story full of flaws, optimism, and nostalgia. The task of casting your younger self isn't easy, but newcomer Gabrielle Labelle does a respectable job as the young Jewish teenager trying to balance his childhood and his dreams. I felt Michelle Williams was somewhat miscast as his mother, but her performance is sure to get her an Oscar nod. Paul Dano as his dad is a bit of a dud. Overall a wonderful film about and by one of the most iconic filmmakers of our generation.