Full Moon Fables

It's a terrific, truly independent movie, which is both intelligent and refreshing. The production values are high and the acting is good. By the look of the movie, the director must be a perfectionist. He has given us a work of art. This anthology of three short films deals with the creative process. What makes us want to create and what drives our creativity? In the first part, the ghost of Van Gogh returns to earth and teaches a hack painter where real creativity comes from. In the second part, a new hire at a movie studio becomes mystified by the absurdity of the machinations of the mechanism, which is known as the studio. A benefactor rescues her and they escape to make the last leg of the trilogy. In the last part, the artist goes deep into his own soul and tangled emotions to resolve his creative angst. If you like Woody Allen, Henry Jaglom, or Ingmar Bergman you will like this movie.

Looking at the titles of the three parts of this movie, you wouldn't think they have anything to do with each other, but they do and a nice job is done in weaving them together in the end.

The first, about the snobbish artist, is the most like an "Aesop's Fable" in that it has an obvious moral message. I thought it was well acted and even funny.

The second, and my favorite, is a nice jab at the whole process of making a "studio movie" and the type of people who run the studio. Done as a cross between a film-noir and a spoof. And even though it is making fun of studio movies, it still manages some tributes to some (such as "The Wizard of Oz"). But I don't think your average movie-goer is going to get what this movie is about, or understand the ending.

I felt the third segment was the weakest of the three, perhaps because it was trying to do the most. If you weren't paying attention to the other two segments, this would be a confusing piece. It takes a few minutes to understand what is going on, and by that time many people might turn away from it. It serves as a nice wrap up to how the writer/director's creative process worked. It is sort of about making the movie that you're watching.

Which, in way, all three segments are all about the movie in some way. So I guess you could say your watching a movie that is about the movie your watching.

Overall I really enjoyed this, but the viewer must be prepared to actually pay attention. So, I don't think it is for everyone.

This is one of the best films I have ever seen, and highly recommend it to anyone interested in ind-films. Typically, I am not into such films, but after viewing the first in this spectacular trilogy, The State of the Artist, I have had a change of heart. It is clear, after viewing the trilogy that Ed Sherman's direction and well written script are just another product of his shear genius. The first of the trilogy alone is motivating and inspiring. It makes you enjoy simplicity in a way most adults have not since they were children. The second of the trilogy, much different from the first, proves that the old time theatre can make it to the big screen. Finally, the third part of the trilogy ties everything together unlike any other artist has done previously. I hope that "Full Moon Fables" is a sign of what's to come from Ed Sherman. If so, I will no doubt be first in line to see any other project that Ed has a hand in.