Elipsis

Don't waste your time on this one. Clever advertising and $$$ couldn't save this from being one of the biggest flops in the history of Venezuelan cinema. It has a weak script, bad acting and although it was beautifully filmed on HD, the movie looks like a Tide commercial. I gave it two stars just because Seu Jorge is in the movie. I find it incredible that people rate this with 10 stars. Is this really the best movie you have seen? Now I understand why Venezuelan cinema can be so mediocre, the lack of self criticism is incredible..... I f you want to see good Venezuelan films, watch El pez que fuma and Araya. Stay away from the rest.

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 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.

The plot of the film is weak, relying on visuals to compensate for the lack of substance but there is an AMAZING performance by an actor named "Erich Wilfred". He completely carries the film and is the only thing worth mentioning. MY 10 STAR RATING GOES TO HIM. The editing of the film also lacks language; leaving the audience with the all too familiar taste of a story untold. One thing is to leave expectations unattended and another to have structural flaws. In my opinion the attempt does not meet its goal. But again, if you want to see an outstanding actor giving a marvelous performance, with less than ordinary material, you have to see this film.

"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.