Spielberg (2017)

HBO made documentary overview of the life and work of director Steven Spielberg. Even at nearly two and a half hours in length the film is not exhaustive, but all the high points are covered, and I got a pretty good sense of the family divorce drama that so effected Steven as a young man, and is especially felt in his early work. One common criticism of Steven Spielberg, and it is addressed in the film, is that his inauguration of "the summer blockbuster" "ruined" movies. I don't think that is a fair criticism, Spielberg is gifted, a master of smart, big tent entertainment, he can't be blamed for his lesser imitators or the profit driven nature of the film industry. He truly is one of the most remarkable directors in cinema history, and while there have been some misses in his career the overall quality of the bulk of his work is truly impressive. ***