Ellie Parker (2005)

A week (or so) in the life of an actress on the verge of quitting the demoralizing business.

Naomi Watts is certainly great at throwing herself into roles -- and I think there are signs that Ellie Parker could be as well. I was quite intrigued by the first few scenes where Ellie is shifting gears rapidly between auditions for Southern Belle and Whore. She changes make-up, outfit, accent, and attitude all while barrelling through traffic at full-speed. She puts herself through this hell for the promise of a role in the junkiest of projects -- something I know thousands of actors do every day in California. It's interesting.

Less interesting, however, is Parker's love life -- first with a narcissistic, guitar-playing, cheating-in-their-bed loser and later with an insecure wannabe filmmaker. If the film would've maintained focus on what makes Ellie unique, i.e. her acting only, this may have been worth something. But as it turns its attention to who Ellie is outside of auditions -- it becomes clear that she's empty and not worth my attention.

D+