Ellie Parker

Critics Consensus

Despite some poignant commentary about struggling actors and Naomi Watts' inspired performance, Ellie Parker stutters in making the transition from short to feature length.

50%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 48

43%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 5,895

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Movie Info

Naomi Watts produces and stars in Ellie Parker, a semi-autobiographical story of an Australian actress struggling to make it in Hollywood. Ellie is young enough to still schlep to auditions back and forth across L.A., changing wardrobes and slapping on makeup en route, but just old enough that the future feels "more like a threat than a promise." She lives with her vacant musician boyfriend (Mark Pellegrino), who leaves her just about as dissatisfied as any other part of her life, and has a loose definition of the word "fidelity." Helping make sense of their surreal and humiliating Hollywood existence is her best friend Sam (Rebecca Rigg), another out-of-work actress trying her hand at design, who attends acting classes with Ellie to stay sharp. When Ellie gets into a fender bender with a guy who claims he's a cinematographer (Scott Coffey), her perspective on her work and the dating world starts to change. Chevy Chase also makes an appearance in this series of Hollywood vignettes, playing Ellie's agent. Watts, Coffey, and Pellegrino all worked together on David Lynch's Mulholland Drive, where Watts had her breakout performance, and Ellie Parker grew out of the friendship forged between Watts and director/screenwriter Coffey. It was shot on digital video over the course of five years, having begun its life as a series of shorts featuring Watts' character. ~ Derek Armstrong, Rovi

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Cast

Naomi Watts
as Ellie Parker
Rebecca Rigg
as Sam
Rebecca Riggs
Scott Coffey
as Chris
Mark Pellegrino
as Justin
Chevy Chase
as Dennis
Blair Mastbaum
as Smash
Jennifer Syme
as Casting Chick
Gregory Frietas
as Rick Saul
Johanna Ray
as Casting Director
Davie Baer
as Acting Teacher
Keanu Reeves
as Himself
Robbi Chong
as Acting Student
Todd Coffey
as Upstairs Neighbour
Rob Mailhouse
as Himself
David Baer
as Acting Teacher
Kim Fay
as Therapist
Victoria Smirnova
as Russian Producer
Fanshen Cox
as Hostile Receptionist
Greg Freitas
as Rick Saul
Cyrus Pahlavi
as Producer
Brian McCardie
as Acting Student
Gaye Pope
as Leslie Towne
Bret Domrose
as Dogstar Band Member
Robert Mailhouse
as Dogstar Band Member
Jessica Vogl
as Trixie
Marcel Sarmiento
as Acting Student
Jessicka Whitt Crane
as Acting Student
Debbie Leavit
as Vicodin Girl
Brian McArdie
as Acting Student
Brent Domrose
as Himself
Gabriella Wall
as `Slut' Yelling Girl
Samantha Shelton
as Rainbow
Julie Fay
as Therapist's Companion
Kate Garwood
as Actress Before Ellie
Sergei Afrika
as Russian
Billy Ray Cyrus
as Russian
Neil Jackson
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Critic Reviews for Ellie Parker

All Critics (48) | Top Critics (19)

View All Critic Reviews (48)

Audience Reviews for Ellie Parker

  • Jun 23, 2008
    As a fan of Naomi Watts I had to see this so called comedy about life in Hollywood. Watts is amazing as usual and manages to keep the movie interesting. I wouldn't call it a comedy though - there is a few fun moments but I think it's more of a half-serious documentary that portrays how acting can be in Hollywood. Due to the limited, though fitting and effective, cinematography and the simplicity of the story the grade can only be average.
    Stefan P Super Reviewer
  • Feb 07, 2008
    I really liked Naomi Watts in this film, but I'm convinced that she and Nicole Kidman are THE SAME PERSON. The audition scenes were really uncomfortable to watch, only because they were so true. The story dragged on a bit at some points, and I think the film would have been better if it were shorter. And the filming style was heinously bad in some scenes. Even indie film-makers should obey some basic framing laws, otherwise it just looks very high school. Anyway, the performances are the main thing and Naomi was great. I felt really sad for her at the end.
    Robert F Super Reviewer
  • Jan 05, 2008
    Really entertaining, experimental piece of work with a beyond good performance by Naomi Watts.
    Michael S Super Reviewer
  • Nov 15, 2007
    [font=Century Gothic]There are many actors who pass through Hollywood without becoming stars or making much of an impact. To think if it had not been for the unique trajectory of "Mullholland Drive," Naomi Watts might have been one of them, despite her great talent. In "Ellie Parker," Watts plays the title character, a struggling Australian actress, constantly driving from audition to audition in Hollywood, until she finds her musician boyfriend(Mark Pellegrino) in bed with another woman, followed by her being involved in a fender bender.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]I have a great deal of empathy for struggling actors as events in "Ellie Parker" remind me of when I was unemployed and going to interviews non-stop. Ellie has an interesting pathology of not being comfortable in her own skin which might explain her wanting to be an actress and occasionally dressing up for auditions but there is not much depth or story in the film. It is odd that Ellie has no visible means of support(she does not have a day job like her friend, Sam(Rebecca Rigg)). And a star vehicle such as this can only make a modest production which was shot on digital video rather unwieldy.[/font]
    Walter M Super Reviewer
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