Elipsis

Seu Jorge plays a small part in this movie as a Brazilian drug-lord in Caracas, and it's probably only thing worth seeing (he sings a bit too). The movie is basically about two friends: Sebastian (Edgar Ramirez) a theater actor and Galo (Erich Wildpret) a gay fashion designer, and the relationship between them and others around them , in their careers' successes and failures, and how messed up life can get when you make stupid mistakes. The plot is not that bad actually, but the movie is told in an unnecessarily stupid non-linear style (ellipsis) with cheap special effects, very bad acting, and a cinematography that tries too hard to look like a fashion magazine instead of a crime drama, that end up being far too distracting to enjoy Seu's performance or the decent plot idea behind it. Still, i think Arias Nath made a good debut, he'll probably make better pictures, i just hope he focuses more on characters and plot rather than trying to make 'cool' or 'avant garde' stuff.

"Elipsis" is, probably, the most important Venezuelan cinematographic production of our times. Last year, all the country watched "Secuestro Express", a very interesting movie that shows the national reality and which I called 'a calling to the new Venezuelan cinema'. Since then, movies like "El Don" and most recently "Miranda" made theaters full.

With "Elipsis", however, you can tell a difference. There's something in the trailer that shows superiority; you can see a high quality level. Giving details, the writer/director Eduardo Arias-Nath has got together the best representatives of the country in terms of cameras. With a production team that has recognized art directors, cinematographers and production designers, Arias-Nath arrives to the big screen raising the production level Venezuela is used to.

Not just that, but his unpredictable script and his disordered time line and plot is among the most original things I've seen in the country in a long time. With a defined stile, the story walks us through the lives of different main characters who all spin around a same situation without us being able to realize completely.

To reveal little parts of what happens would be a mistake, because "Elipsis" is a movie that astonishes from various levels (mostly in the peculiar edition in which the director also worked); and you have to watch it to discover it. With just saying that Gaby Espino's (beautiful Venezuelan model) performance surprises, you'll realize what I'm trying to say.

The camera work is impeccable; the shots allow us to observe not only what's going on, but in a lot of parts the background of the main element, like a door opening and closing, and it is an adding for a moment of tension in the movie. There's always something more to see around the main thing; even in frames where the camera is shooting from above, generating an effect that gets the viewer dizzy. The image also highlights because of being very tidy, unlike cameras of movies like the previously mentioned "Secuestro Express".

But what undoubtedly highlights the most is the cast. Composed by national and even international talent (the Brazilian Seu Jorge is a revelation as a drug dealer), the group of actors is of the highest caliber. Movie actors like Erich Wildpret leave us breathless; while television stars like Marisa Roman leave aside the soap opera style to give another touch to their characters. The cameos are uncountable, but recognizable; there's not one unknown person in camera. In the film's parties, you can see celebrities everywhere; and even a short appearance by the known actor Jean Paul Leroux ("Secuestro Express").

However, is the already international actor the one who steals the show. His name is Edgar Ramirez, he is Venezuelan and his power of conviction and capacity to transmit emotions are two enough reasons to watch the film if nothing else seems interesting. I feel like giving away details of his portrayal, but I better stay quiet.

This should be one of the best movies ever made in Venezuela.

You can see traces of Christopher Nolan's all over the movie. In every cut, every shoot, every take. This should be considered as a worship for Memento. No doubt about it.

If you liked Memento, then you will find Ellipsis quite amusing. Although it has the same "movie elements", it's a completely different the story line. And contains good fun moments with a witty humor rarely seeing in a venezuelan movie. And for the first time, there is no nudity! Way to go.

There is drama, action, an impressive performance from the actors. You change your expectation every five minutes. It has an excellent story and excellent direction. And the end... you just have to see it by yourself.

Elipsis is not the typical Latin American film. This one takes you to unexpected places. I loved the script. Very tight. I loved the transitions between scenes. Very smooth. I loved the direction. Arias-Nath does something wonderful in this film. He lets the scenes breathe with silence and lets the actors do the rest with their bodies. Great job. There's a particular rhythm in the first 2/3 of the film that makes it very romantic and relaxing. The last third of the film breaks with this and puts everybody at the edge of their seat. Great suspense. Lots of nail-biting. I highly recommend this film. And by the way, Venezuelan women are HOT.

We all have seen a lot of movies which get you thinking "if only they have done this or that, if only this actor had done his job..." and so on. I have to say that in this one, my first thought was "This is a great work, for a 3rd semester student". The visuals, the interesting changes between shots, the sets, almost everything but the story and the acting made me think of an unexperienced director and though they are not very convincing -have you ever seen news interviews with no signs all over the screen????- they did show me the will of accomplishing a good job, only fell short in many cases. The acting has, with the noticeably exception of the drug dealer and the gallery curator, the worst part in this movie. Although in a number of scenes you can see convincing acting, all the top-model-looking women have no good parts to do something with them, nor seem to be able to act at all. They convinced me they are top models, and were given this job by their agents, and brought all their own make-up to their scenes. Sad. It is a brave and heroic deed to make a motion picture with small budgets, poor distribution, and a number of challenges that have nothing to do with the actual making of the movie. Usually I think one has to believe sincerely in your own work to get past all that. Having that in mind, the whole story, and all the "twists" at the end, seem to me a slim reason to go through all the process. If you are curious or have the time, or if something of this movie appeals to you, go and see it... but I wouldn't recommend it. 4/10