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Ellen Foster
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by Hallmark
Sales Rank: 18069
Price: $9.98
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For such a young performer, Jena Malone gives an unforgettable performance as an unwanted child. She practically carries the whole movie. The rest of the characters are basically caricatures of the evil grandmother, the drunk father, noble mother, do-gooder art teacher, and insensitive aunts. She herself is a caricature of a long-suffering child but Jena more than competently erases the caricature and becomes Ellen Foster.<p>Jena Malone conveyed a child's depression from her situation and rising beyond the hopelessness by doing something about it. Her subtle gestures and myriad facial expressions equals the performance of an Academy Award winner. <p>The best part of the movie is the way her face shows sudden shifts in her emotions, the inner conflicts, the fear of rejection and a child's hope, all this in one scene near the end (a rather lame ending, too pat, but then, don't we all need endings like this after such a heart-wrenching movie?) as she talks to Mrs. Montrose. <p>I hope she is able to get work like this in her future, work that will show her mastery of her craft and her range. So far, I've seen her in supporting roles in big budget movies, but when she gets the starring role and an equally good script, the movie world better watch out!
Viewer Reviews
The Movie "Ellen Foster" followed the journey that a young abused girl takes to find a place to call home. Based on the book written by Kaye Gibbons, this horrifying but yet modern story makes the common day person thankful for their wonderful but not perfect life. With both famous screen stars such as Jena Malone and Amanda Peet and debuting cast such as Allison Jones, this movie is definetly one to put in a time capsul. Honorable mentions also include Kate Burton, Ted Levine, Julie Harris, Debra Monk, Glynnis O'Connor and director John Erman. With a star studded cast list and amazing author of the movie's base, this movie is set for life.
Ellen Hammond (Malone) was a young girl with adult-like maturity. Many children her age had never seen or felt what she had. When the movie opens, we see Ellen's father Bill (Levine) drunk and asleep on the couch. Ellen is going to get her mother from the hospital with her aunt. When Ellen's mother, Charlotte (O'Connor) returns, she is faced with orders from her husband to clean and cook when she really should be in bed resting. Charlotte works herself to her own death that day, and that is when Ellen's journey begins.
Ellen's school relizes that Bill is abusing Ellen and relocates her to the Art Teacher Julia's ( Peet) house. Ellen is loved and cared for there until a court order sends her to live with her grandmother Leonora Nelson (Harris), who hates Ellen and Bill with all her might. Leonora believes that it was Ellen and Bill's fault that Charlotte died, and she forces Ellen to work as a maid as a form of revenge. When Leonora dies, Ellen is sent to live with her aunt Nadine (Monk). Nadine is very wealthy and spoils her daughter, and Ellen is never truly welcome in the house. After an intense argument, Ellen leaves the house and goes to a foster mother. There she is accepted and is loved, and Ellen changes her name to Ellen Foster.
Though this movie was fascinating, it left out Ellen's deepest feelings. What was so amazing in the book was how strong and independent she was. The movie seemed to touch her lifestyle rather then her actual inner self. It was the writers who had a challenge in front of them and took the audience friendly side of the story or in my opinion, the easy way out.Kaye Gibbons' message was not stated to the extent that she portrayed it in the book.
This movie has a definite feel to it that will not be lost, which is sad. In 1997, when this movie came out, abuse was found everyday. Eight years later, nothing has changed. I guess that is what will keep this movie alive for generations to come.
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Ellen Foster
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