For Ellen Reviews

This is a small and intimate film that has certain raw power in it but somehow it just did not connect me emotionally at all.
Director/writer So Yong Kim is director who clearly relies on actors and their performances. Basically the story has loads of potential to become something important but it ends up being flat and even pointless. The story about a selfish young father who does not care anyone or anything else than himself and his rockstar fantasy is asking a lot from us in the audience. Should we care about this man or if he gets his second chance? I myself did not.
While Paul Dano has showed some exceptional talent as an actor in a films like There Will Be Blood and The Good Heart, this is a first film where he is clearly miscast. There are moments when his intentions to create intense portrait of a fragile and damaged soul goes wildly over the top and the end result feels too forced to be nothing special. There is also crucial moments in this film where So Yong Kim aims for pure melodrama but the feelings are just not there.
Oddly the whole film feels aimless, hollow and too muted. This is supposed to be story that touches your heart but i find it to be a disappointment when it comes to emotions. Technically it is an well made work and actually has a nice photography with beautiful and simple milieu. Too bad that Kim never finds a real story worth to tell from here and talk about unsatisfying ending. This is a missed opprtunity.

"For Ellen is a sad movie. Joby Taylor has always wanted fame, but has little of it. He left behind a wife and child trying to achieve it. When his estranged wife wants a divorce, Joby agrees to sign the papers thinking he will get half of the money from the sale of their home and shared custody of their daughter, Ellen. Joby is unaware of the final print in his divorce which states that since he will receive half of the homes sale money he will therefore sign over all rights over to his wife. Although I am no fan of absent father's, I did feel a little bad for Joby and sad for his daughter, Ellen. Joby's lawyer, Fred, tries to find a way for Joby to have shared custody, but is unable to. Joby talks his way into spending time with Ellen for the first and last time. Very bittersweet.
Paul Danno is amazing as always. He really does give one of his better performances. The weight of the film is all on his performance for he is alone most of the time. All of the other actors play minor roles. It's not a film I would probably see again though. It's depressing."

'For Ellen'. Paul Dano and his emotive face are utterly captivating in this bittersweet indie fare.

Paul Dano leads this emotionally taut drama as Joby Taylor, an aspiring musician who returns home to find his ex-wife is looking to gain sole custody of his young daughter. "For Ellen" lives and breathes with Dano's high caliber performance, wonderfully portraying a flawed character that the viewer still finds sympathy for. His daughter, played by Shaylena Mandigo, is a future star, with the poise and cold hard stares of an adult actress at the staggering age of six years old. Although most of the film is self-pity and denial on Joby's part, the film picks up when he reveals a secret about his ex-wife that leads to visitation rights for a day between Joby and Ellen. Had the film had more interaction between the two, this could have been a much stronger film, but what we're left with are a few solid scenes and long bit of emotional filler. Why Jon Heder's storyline was in the film, I am uncertain, as it adds very little to the story, if anything. Seeing Paul Dano act, however, is becoming a gift and any excuse to see him break out on the screen is a welcome distraction.

"For Ellen" is a sad story of a father who tries to make up for not being there for his daughter in her early years. The fact that the director is Korean in origin does not surprise me...the emotion contained within the movie is so intense despite the little dialogues available.

Paul Dano leads this emotionally taut drama as Joby Taylor, an aspiring musician who returns home to find his ex-wife is looking to gain sole custody of his young daughter. "For Ellen" lives and breathes with Dano's high caliber performance, wonderfully portraying a flawed character that the viewer still finds sympathy for. His daughter, played by Shaylena Mandigo, is a future star, with the poise and cold hard stares of an adult actress at the staggering age of six years old. Although most of the film is self-pity and denial on Joby's part, the film picks up when he reveals a secret about his ex-wife that leads to visitation rights for a day between Joby and Ellen. Had the film had more interaction between the two, this could have been a much stronger film, but what we're left with are a few solid scenes and long bit of emotional filler. Why Jon Heder's storyline was in the film, I am uncertain, as it adds very little to the story, if anything. Seeing Paul Dano act, however, is becoming a gift and any excuse to see him break out on the screen is a welcome distraction.

Are mai multa emotie reala intre un rocker si o fetita decat tot Life of Pi

Dano is stunning, in a meandering, yet powerful film

One of those mopey independent dramas that drifts through a mere hint of a plot, this film is worth a look for its unusual setting and a superb central performance from Paul Dano.

Paul Dano is real good but the story takes a long time to take place. The only real interesting part is when Joby Taylor visits his little girl. And that only takes 20 minutes or something.

A very slow paced account of a painful divorce. Where other films might take the next step and go for tearjerking melodrama, this film wants you to start disliking its main character. Resulting in the best conclusion in regards to the title.
This is the Paul Dano show as he's the one carrying the entire film on his shoulders, and he does so admirably given the slightly below par material.

Trailer sucked. Paul Dano is awesome though. WOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAA.

It may be under the impression that it's deeper than it is, but I've got a soft spot for Paul Dano. He's quietly thoughtful, even if we never get an inkling of what those thoughts are.

I enjoy Paul Dano, excited to see this one.