For Ellen
For Ellen is a 2012 American drama film written, produced and directed by So Yong Kim. It stars Paul Dano, who also served as an executive producer. Plot. Joby Taylor (Paul Dano) is a musician in the midst of a nasty divorce and a child custody battle. He faces hard choices about his floundering music career and being a father. Release and reception. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2012, before being shown at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 12, 2012. It was released in the US for a limited theatrically  run on September 5, 2012 and nationwide through VOD on September 19, 2012. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 67% based on 36 reviews, with an average rating of 6.2/10. On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 61 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Roger Ebert of the "Chicago Sun-Times", who gave the film three and a half out of four stars, praised Dano's acting, and wrote, "This performance, unlike anything Paul Dano has ever done, must have required some courage". For Ellen For