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"Ellie Parker
Experiences the Glamour
of Hollywood..." |
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Directed by Scott Coffey
- Written by Scott
Coffey
Starring Naomi Watts,
Rebecca Riggs, Chevy
Chase & Scott Coffey
Distributed by Strand
Releasing -
2005 - 95m - Rated PG13 |
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An acting class begins... |
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If you weren't already
convinced that Naomi Watts is one of the finest actresses of this
generation, you will be within the first 20 minutes of watching this
unique film.
Watts plays Ellie Parker, a struggling actress on the exhausting
audition trail in Los Angeles. The opening fifteen minutes of the film
is executed at a blistering pace, full of energy and wit as Ellie hops
from one audition to another, changing hair, make-up, clothes and
attitude while navigating the swirling mess of L.A. traffic in her
Honda Accord. The car journey alone is one of the best lessons in
acting commitment that I've seen in any film for quite a while.
This film is played with a heavy twinge of satire directed
specifically at the entire "making it in Hollywood" process. You
really get a sense of the tone in this film when two characters climb
to the top of one of the Hollywood hills and comment on the beautiful
view -- At which point we cut to a blurry and smog ridden landscape
shot of downtown L.A.
"Ellie Parker" is a bold film, showing us every aspect of her life. We
get to peek in at her therapy sessions. We get to see Ellie fucking
her loser boyfriend in the bathtub. We get to see her excitement while
preparing for an audition, and the disappointment immediately after
the audition. We get to see her smoking weed to make the pain go away.
We even get to see her using the toilet. This film makes us a virtual
fly on the wall for her every move. It is a fascinating character
study.
The film is also really adept at analyzing the process of acting. Note
the scene where Ellie defends the merit of 'method acting' while her
best friend describes it as a "self-indulgent wank." She adds "How
many times are you going to cry about your drunk mother?" It is at
this point that Ellie challenges her friend to a 'cry-off' to see who
can shed a tear first. Hilarity ensues in one of the funniest scenes
you will see all year!
At the end of the film, the viewer really feels like they have a grasp
on the absurdly complicated mess that awaits aspiring thespians.
You want to comprehend the glamour of Hollywood life... Try watching
Ellie dig through the dumpster to retrieve all her headshots, which
she had thrown away in disgust, only to have the lid of the dumpster
crash down on her head -- That's Hollywood Baby!!!
Are you an aspiring artist planning on moving to Los Angeles? Watch
this film first! It is an absurdist comedy... but strangely enough, it
is not that far off from the truth.
This is a great low-budget film that generates dozens of belly laughs
and a handful of really sad scenes. It is a magnificent showcase of
Naomi Watts' immense talent. All of her fans should make a point of
seeking this small film out. "Ellie Parker" is one of the best films
of 2005. |
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© Written by TC Candler -
Email Me! |
Richard
Propes' Comment
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Jacob
Hall's Comment
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