Fabled (2002)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Ari Kirschenbaum

Writer:

Ari Kirschenbaum (writer)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller | Horror

Tagline:

"There once was a wolf named Lupold..."

Plot:

Joseph just broke up with his girlfriend and is not taking it very well. He thinks she is plotting against him with their mutual psychiatrist...

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman

Cast

Desmond Askew	...	Joseph Fable
Katheryn Winnick	...	Liz
J. Richey Nash	...	Alex
Michael Panes	...	Dr. Roy Frumkes
Coleen Sexton	...	Lisa from Accounting
Deven May	...	Jim
Theo Hausen	...	Brian
Doug Wert	...	The Boss (as Douglas Wert)
Della Askew	...	Narrator
William Ryall	...	Bookman
Adam LeFevre	...	Pharmacist
Tony Cucci	...	Bartender
R. Brandon Johnson	...	James
John O'Connor	...	Paul
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jim Ireland	...	Mr. Finney
Robert Gerard Larkin	...	Bar thug
Susan Porro	...	Car Jacked woman

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some violence.

Runtime:

Netherlands:84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Connecticut, USA

Company:

Fabled LLC

Trivia:

Filmed in 21 Days.

Quotes:

Narrator: There once was a wolf named Lupold, who was black as coal... As thick as a tree trunk... And feared like death. He had teeth the size of carving knives, powerful claws of stone, and eyes that glowed like fat fire flies. He could smell your sweat before the first bead broke from your skin, he could hear your heart beat from miles away and he could see you even in the blackest of pitch.

Movie Connections:

References A Clockwork Orange (1971)

US Critics - Lost in Translation

There is a certain bias when it comes to foreign films in America. American critics cut foreign films more slack. If you have a film in French and it has no discernible plot and is very interpretive, then it is considered artistic, abstract and everything was intentional.

Now if an American made the same film in English, then that film is labeled vague, meandering, and the filmmakers were unable to make it complex, especially without being pretentious.

It is a double standard.

Don't believe me? Okay, how about this. Take Hero - Make it in English, with Bruce Willis instead of Jet Li and have it take place in the old west, but otherwise the exact same film. In fact, let the same director direct it, but change his name to Frank Walker instead of Yimou Zhang.

Critics will hate it. Yet, it has just as much story and just as good, if not better performances, since Bruce Willis is probably a better actor than Jet Li.

Why would they hate it? It wasn't in Chinese, about Chinese history, starring Chinese actors and made by Chinese filmmakers.

Lost in translation -

I watched Fabled and I couldn't help feel that it was very European at heart. If you compare this to I'll Sleep When I'm Dead, you'll find Fabled is the stronger of the two, yet that Mike Hodges film is considered great film-making, and the critics found this arrogant and not successful.

Another glaring double standard is symbolism. In Europe and perhaps the rest of the world, symbolism is smart film-making. In the United States it's always looked upon as one, unnecessary and two, as the filmmaker thinking he/she is being clever when they clearly aren't.

It all comes down to expectations. This isn't Memento, nor is it the Grudge.

Come on people, the movie is called Fabled. If you go into it not expecting symbolism and a references to a fable, then go watch Boogeyman.

If you like to think at the movies, at least more than about why did this cost so much, then spend some time with Fabled.

PS. Don't listen to those who say it is only worth one viewing. While there are no twists, there is plenty going on for another go. If only for understanding the voice over alone it is worth that second try.