Ellen Foster

I was astonished to read the review characterizing Ellen as a "brat" who "couldn't get along with anybody." The title character in the story is sweet, gentle, and patient (although sometimes pushed to the point of frustration with people who repeatedly trample her.) She, in fact, gets along with everyone in the movie who is even slightly kind to her. The movie is a heartwarming and thought-provoking story that avoids being whiney or saccharrine-sweet.

I think it'd be a fair assessment that most - heck, ALL Hallmark TV movies are guaranteed to send a message to the viewer, plucking the heartstrings the whole while. And that is certainly true of this movie as well. But this particular film has something special going for it that perhaps the others do not - and that is superlative acting. Young Jena Malone is a major talent who I hope will be given every opportunity to strut her stuff in the future. And Julie Harris is deliciously evil in her role as the Grandmother.

Ted Levine as the uncaring, self-centered alcoholic father....perfection! This is again a situation where the actor rises above the material to turn in a performance that another actor could have easily utilized for his best scenery chewing. Mr. Levine is one of the finest - and in my opinion - most underused actors around today. Let's just hope that for him, like Ms. Malone, every opportunity will be afforded him in the future to dazzle us with his outstanding ability. He simply shines in everything he does!

Did I like this film? You bet! Is it for everyone? Perhaps not - but see it for the ACTING, if nothing else. Enjoy.

Because the passage of years has a way of fogging most adults' memories of their own "childhoods" - especially in the intangible areas of feelings, hopes, hurts, decisions, goals, strategies, etc., they will often conclude that "children" are sort of non-sentient, non-human beings - blank pages in-putting a stream of data for use in their later, more important after metamorphosis existence. I read a review once of "The Cure", a movie starring young actors Joseph Mazzello and Brad Renfro, where a critic in a backhanded compliment called them "two of the best pre-actors around." I suppose that was because, being under twenty-one, they must be "pre-people." Judging by a few of Jena Malone's recent public remarks, not to mention her own real-life experiences, I'm sure she would object to such an attitude. Certainly, her film career belies that attitude. The movie "Ellen Foster" is a good case in point. In it she portrays an eleven year-old girl who, when buffeted by the cruelty and insensitivity of the supposed wise adult world responsible for her care, sets out determinedly to shape a world for herself that does make sense. Ellen belongs to no one but her own unique really human self.

However, it isn't just the character who achieves the point. More important, by her powerful performance, Miss Malone certainly proves she is an actor - and person - of substance. Her ability to read and interpret with such perception and sensitivity the inner being of Ellen as she goes through her trials and sets out on her steadfast quest is precisely on point. This movie is a tour de force for Jena Malone. In the field of acting, she takes a back seat to no one ... of any age.

I saw this movie last night for the first time on the Odyssey Channel, and it is on again now. I thought it was brilliant, and nobody could have matched the way Jena Malone brought Ellen to life. Jena is one of my favorite actresses (I've seen 3 of her movies this month!) and I have been a fan of hers for a long time. I think that this is one of her most powerful roles, and she did a great job in her portrayal as the child of an alcoholic father being shuffled from relative to relative after her mother dies. Jena is definitely going to be a major actress when she gets older, as her acting talents are unbelievable. :)

Like many Hall of Fame movies, this is not a romance. There isn't even a romance side story. This movie has a depressing tone through all most all of it. There are some funny moments sprinkled in but they are overwhelmed by the darkness. Basically this is a story of a child who is abused. Most of the abuse is emotional and it is severe. She gets hit at least once. Her sick mother dies in her arms and after that she gets shuffled into mostly bad situations. The worst part for Ellen is that almost everyone, with two exceptions, not only doesn't want her but takes joy in making her suffer. The theme of being wanted is the heart of the story.

This movie is set in the South where "white trash" is a thing. Many of the characters in the movie, especially Ellen's relatives, consider her father to be white trash and that extends to Ellen by relation.

This movie examines the irony that when it comes to social services, family is worse than the system. In the first court case, the judge is adamant that family is supreme and that Ellen belongs with members of her family. (Was there no report by a social worker in this case? Hmm.) This despite a speech by Ellen criticizing her family members and expressing the desire to remain with an unrelated couple who loves her. Actually, in this regard, the system is pretty bad, meaning the court, but foster families are viewed as wonderful by comparison to relatives.

Jena Malone dominates the movie as what I think is a ten year old girl. Ellen's courage and perseverance are amazing. I find it hard to believe that such a person could exist given what happens to her.

As I said, the tone of the movie is mostly depressing. Despite that, the story held my interest. The pace was good. The character Ellen draws in the viewer.