For Ellen

Name: For Ellen
Genre: Drama
Released: September 5, 2012
Duration: 94 min
Rating: 61
Cast: Jena Malone, Jon Heder, Margarita Levieva, Paul Dano

2012

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Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

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7.8

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7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 5 Ratings

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For Ellen

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Movie Details & Credits

Tribeca Film | Release Date: September 5, 2012 | Not Rated

Starring: Jena Malone, Jon Heder, Margarita Levieva, Paul Dano

Summary: Aspiring rock star Joby Taylor has wanted nothing more than to “make it”, having flirted with fame but never crossed over into true success. In the midst of a low period in his life, he agrees to sign divorce papers with his estranged wife in order to see money from the sale of their home, only to discover that by signing the papers, heAspiring rock star Joby Taylor has wanted nothing more than to “make it”, having flirted with fame but never crossed over into true success. In the midst of a low period in his life, he agrees to sign divorce papers with his estranged wife in order to see money from the sale of their home, only to discover that by signing the papers, he will forfeit all custody of his six-year-old daughter, Ellen. With a good-natured lawyer unable to make headway in reversing the decision, and a girlfriend that represents an era of his life that he might be ready to graduate from, Joby negotiates a visit with his daughter to explore whether he is able to walk away from his child, and whether it might be too late for reconciliation. (Tibeca Film)… Expand

Director: So Yong Kim

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 94 min

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Critic Reviews

IndieWire Eric Kohn

Sep 1, 2012

Nobody else could fit the role of a crestfallen rocker that Paul Dano embodies in director So Yong Kim's remarkable For Ellen. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Oct 18, 2012

A small but exquisite film, beautifully observed and impeccably executed. Written and directed by So Yong Kim, it shows a different side of an actor we thought we knew and reveals unexpected aspects of a character who turns out to be not as familiar as he seems. Read full review

Roger Ebert

Oct 17, 2012

This performance, unlike anything Paul Dano has ever done, must have required some courage. It requires an actor to cast aside all conceits of performance, presence, charisma and even timing. Read full review

Keith Uhlich

Sep 4, 2012

Unfortunately, Kim nearly wrecks the film's observational acuteness with a climax that shamelessly steals from Bob Rafelson's classic blue-collar drama "Five Easy Pieces," and this faux-gut-punch finale feels haphazardly sutured on rather than arrived at organically. Guess that ham-fisted opening shot was a sign of things to come. Read full review

Joe Neumaier

Sep 6, 2012

In a film that deliberately recalls 1970's "Five Easy Pieces," Dano's performance as a lost dreamer running from adulthood resonates beautifully. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

Sep 6, 2012

The drama is so minimalist that it's hard to glimpse the man behind the woe. Read full review

Kyle Smith

Sep 7, 2012

Sundance Mopey Alienation Flick No. 4,228 is For Ellen, an empty angst-athon that proves 90 minutes of close-ups of Paul Dano looking wounded can be even less interesting than it sounds. Read full review

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DawdlingPoet

Feb 4, 2022

Paul Dano is good as the unsure, somewhat out of his confort zone dad. I was also very impressed with the girl who played Ellen, Shaylena Mandigo. It's a sad and thoughtful film about someone lacking self assurance, looking to create a new identity.

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