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Paul Dano's worst dad era is somehow his most watchable.
TMDB
54
IMDb
60
Rotten Tomatoes
67
Audience Score
40
Google
45
Watch(US)

For Ellen (2012)

indie mumblecoresnowy melancholyexistential deadbeat

Overview

Drama

After an overnight long-distance drive, Joby has a special meeting—with lawyers and his ex-wife. A struggling musician with the prerequisite tattoos, slimy hair, goatee, and his head firmly floating in the clouds, Joby hasn’t been around to be a dad. Now is his last chance to fight for shared custody of his daughter, Ellen.

Flag of USUS
Content warning
woman directorfather daughter relationship

Standout Aspects

Acting

Paul Dano's desperate, muttering physicality.

Direction

So Yong Kim's intimate, unflinching close-ups.

Cinematography

Bleak winter light swallowing hope whole.

Best for:Solo: When you need to feel quietly wrecked alone.·Streaming: Late night, low expectations, sudden emotional damage.
Heads up:Emotional: Parental absence and small-child disappointment.
So Yong Kim

Director

So Yong Kim

ReleasedFeb 12, 2012
Runtime1h 33m
StatusReleased

Vibe

Paceslow
Intensitylow
Tonedark
Feelheavy
DeerJen
RCR Media Group

Top Cast

Paul Dano

Paul Dano

Joby Taylor

Jon Heder

Jon Heder

Fred Butler

Jena Malone

Jena Malone

Susan

Shaylena Mandigo

Shaylena Mandigo

Ellen Taylor

Margarita Levieva

Margarita Levieva

Claire Taylor

Dakota Johnson

Dakota Johnson

Cindy Taylor

Alex Mauriello

Alex Mauriello

Lisa

Julian Gamble

Julian Gamble

Mr. Hamilton

Ask about For Ellen

Opens AI chat

Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Insight

So Yong Kim shot this during a real Minnesota winter, with Paul Dano improvising much of his muttered dialogue.

Trivia

Jon Heder's character Fred was originally written as comic relief, but Dano and Heder played it as genuine, awkward male friendship instead.

YouTube

For Ellen Trailer

For Ellen Trailer

Gallery

Reviews

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