Ellen Foster

Authors: Gabby
Location: NY

"Ellen Foster”

Produced by Chris Noonan
Written by George Miller
Directed by Chris Noonan
Music by Philip Glass

Principal Cast:

Abigail Breslin - Ellen Foster
Sean Penn – Daddy (Abusive Alcoholic. Out of Work. Drinks Himself to Death)
Gillian Anderson – Mama (Very Sickly, suffers from depression, kills herself)
Keke Palmer – Starletta (Ellens best friend, she protects Ellen from her father)
Laura Dern - New Mama (Ellen's foster mother.)
Lauren Bacall - Mama's Mama (Grandmother. She treats Ellen with the utmost cruelty)
Dennis Haysbert – Mavis (A kind field hand on Ellen's grandmother's farm)
Annette Benning – Nadine (Ellen’s miserable Aunt, who spoils her child, ignores Ellen)
Dakota Fanning – Dora (Ellen’s spoiled cousin, hates Ellen)
Catherine Zeta Jones – Betsy (Wealthy aunt. She is petty and bickers with Nadine)
Julianne Moore – Julia (Art Teacher, who temporarily cares for Ellen)
John C. Reilly – Roy (Julia’s hippy husband.)

Tagline: "When I was little I would think of ways to kill my daddy. I would figure it out this or that way and run it down through my head until it got easy"

Christmas 2007

Synopsis: Ellen Foster, the title character is an 11-year-old orphan who refers to herself as "old Ellen," an appellation that is disturbingly apt. Ellen is an old woman in a child's body; her frail, unhappy mother dies, her abusive father alternately neglects her and makes sexual advances on her, and she is shuttled from one uncaring relative's home to another before she finally takes matters into her own hands and finds herself a place to belong. Ellen is at the mercy of predatory adults, with only her own wit and courage and the occasional kindness of others to help her through. That she does, in fact, survive her childhood and even rise above it is the film's bittersweet victory.

What the press would say:

The acclaimed duo that brought us Babe team up again, this time to create the most powerful and moving film of the year. Abigail Breslin leads this all-star cast which mixes some of today's and yesterday's finest actors. Breslin carries this movie on her shoulders; she conveys a child's depression from her situation and rising beyond the hopelessness by doing something about it. Her subtle gestures and myriad facial expressions equal the performance of an Academy Award winner. Watch for standout performances from Sean Penn as Ellen’s abusive alcoholic father and from Gillian Anderson as Ellen’s depressed mother who kills herself. Lauren Bacall shall finally hear her name from the Oscar podium this year with her fantastic portrayal of Ellen’s cruel Grandmother, who gains legal custody of her just to punish her no good father. The other noteworthy performance from this ensemble is young Keke Palmer, who plays Starletta, Ellen’s best friend who tries with the best of her abilities to protect Ellen. Chris Noonan has directed another classic to add to his resume. This near-perfect ensemble film could easily become the most serious Oscar contender of the year, with a strong campaign in the following categories:

Best Picture – Chris Noonan
Best Director – Chris Noonan
Best Actress – Abigail Breslin
Best Supporting Actor - Sean Penn
Best Supporting Actress – Gillian Anderson, Lauren Bacall, Keke Palmer
Best Adapted Screenplay - George Miller
Best Original Score – Philip Glass
Best Film Editing
Best Cinematography