Ellie Parker (2005)

Director:

Scott Coffey

Writer (WGA):

Scott Coffey (written by)

Release Date:

14 July 2006 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

What happens when you become the person you pretend to be?

Plot:

A hilarious comic portrait of a young woman's struggle for integrity, happiness and a Hollywood acting career.

Plot Keywords:

Self Medication | Double Exposure Effects | Jacaranda | Neurotic | Rear End Automobile Accident

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Naomi Watts	...	Ellie Parker
Jennifer Syme	...	Casting Chick
Greg Freitas	...	Rick Saul (as Gregory Frietas)
Gaye Pope	...	Leslie Towne
Blair Mastbaum	...	Smash Jackson
Jessica Vogl	...	Trixie
Johanna Ray	...	Casting Director / Herself
Rebecca Rigg	...	Sam
Mark Pellegrino	...	Justin
Kim Fay	...	Therapist
Scott Coffey	...	Chris
Todd Coffey	...	Upstairs Neighbor
David Baer	...	Acting Teacher
Marcel Sarmiento	...	Acting Student
Robbi Chong	...	Acting Student (as Robby Chong)

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some sexuality and drug use.

Runtime:

USA:95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Australia:MA | Japan:R-15 | USA:R | Finland:K-15 | UK:15 | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Trivia:

Naomi Watts filmed her scenes in between takes while working on the film The Ring Two (2005).

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Near the end of the movie as Ellie enters the hotel for an audition, the cameraman is reflected in the glass door.

Quotes:

[after sex]
Chris: I was thinking of Johnny Depp.

Movie Connections:

References The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996)

Hmmmm...

At Sundance, the tickets to this film were highly coveted and among the first to sell out. We wish we hadn't wasted our time in the wait list line (2 hours!) as the movie turned out to be a disappointment. I never saw the original short that "gave birth," so to speak, to this film, but the director (Scott Coffey) told us that it had been the first 20 minutes or so of the film. Maybe he should have left it at that. The problem (for me, at least) was that the main character of the film was never made into a sympathetic enough person for me to care about. I admit that I did laugh out loud several times during the screening, but the laughs were much too far apart, and in between was a lot of self indulgent navel gazing. I realize that this was the point, to some extent, but it could have been a much better film had I even cared what happened to the main character. I know that I am not the only person who felt this way, as many people left during the screening...some only a few minutes into it, others as it wore on. When the lights went on afterward, there were empty rows in front and in back of me. I don't think this will ever be in theaters; if you're a big fan of Naomi Watts, you may want to rent the DVD. Otherwise, skip this.