“SUPER 8” SUPER GREAT

SUPER 8
Starring Joel Courtney,
Elle Fanning,
Kyle Chandler,
Riley Griffiths,
Zach Mills,
Ryan Lee,
Gabriel Basso
Written and directed by J.J. Abrams
Running time 112 mins.
Rated PG-13

One gets the feeling that J.J. Abrams likes Steven Spielberg. A lot.

There are plenty of Steven Spielberg films that aren’t as Steven Spielberg-y as “Super 8.” Sounds like a joke but isn’t. I don’t know if it’s such a good thing–or bad thing, either–for us to see so manifestly open an homage, but the inspiration is apparent. Crystal sparkling clear.

The predominant Spielberg-influence comes from “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” But with one key difference, and not an improvement: Whereas Spielberg’s alien film accomplished a first in showing authority as the threatening force in the story to be questioned and opposed, “Super 8" rises from no such soil.

What Abrams does best is suggest a threatening presence obliquely, and then when the thing appears never let us quite see what, at a storytelling level, suggests the embodiment of conflict actually happening between the characters.

Abrams understands Spielberg’s use of cross-motion filling a frame. And Abrams understands Spielberg’s use of seemingly random dialogue contributing to humor and a sense of realism that works in service of the otherworldly aspect by contrast, always tantalizing us onward into the story. Abrams definitely does a good Spielberg.

Upshot: Some kids with a super 8 camera, circa 1979, witness and catch on film the destruction of a train carrying strange cargo guarded by the air force.

A lot of the movie focuses on the main kid (Courtney) as he becomes friends with a girl (Fanning). I won’t specify a point of conflict between the dads of each, but suffice to say it lends a Romeo and Juliet-like touch, in terms of forbiddenness, on which much of the movie rests.

The otherworldly subject matter mingled with everyday life, the use of music, and dialogue, the polished look, all work with about every other element of film there is to make us feel like we’re watching a Steven Spielberg movie, from which Steven Spielberg himself just might literally materialize. Which he almost does when we learn he produced it.

One could almost forget “Super 8" was written and directed by the same guy responsible for what I think is the best Star Trek movie ever.

Whatever the reasoning in Abrams’ willingness to show his mastery of Spielberg, what we get is a good character-driven story, where ordinary people face extraordinary circumstances. We connect emotionally with the characters, and perhaps with a sense of nostalgia for the time. When this connection and the thrill of the unknown which led us in finally collide, well then, that’s when we know. We’re in the presence of summer movie greatness.