Ellie Parker

If your daughter, or your son for that matter, tell you that he or she wants to be an actor and make it big in the movies, force them to watch Ellie Parker. It is a very bleak comedy of a few days in the life of an aspiring young actress as she charges around Los Angeles auditioning for minor roles in crappy movies. The grimness of her so called professional life, is perfectly matched by a hopeless and empty private life. She lives with her boyfriend who is introduced to us is a brilliant wordless scene that cries "LOSER!" more eloquently than a thousand words could. Ellie bemoans her relationship with him in a hilarious scene with her therapist. In parts this movie is excruciating to watch, no more so than the auditions and in particular the last one where the director and producers are all falling-down drunk. There are some very funny moments too. My favourite being when Ellie and her friend pause for a rest during a walk in the Hollywood hills. Her friend looks out at the view and says "My God, that is so beautiful". The camera swivels on to a hazy, colourless view of LA, the buildings barely visible through the smog. A great parody on the Hollywood movie industry and I suspect very close to the truth. Naomi Watts is excellent.