User Reviews

We watched this movie only because of Anthony Hopkins, but ended up with a shallow, cheap and ordinary one. It could have been a great movie if there would be more phycological background, more analysis, more .....

This is the worst acting I have ever experienced. Except for Anthony Hopkins, the entire cast is horrible. The storyline is just stupid and unbelievable. Please do not watch this movie:P

WTF was this? Did the director, Hopkins wife, find this script in Woody Allen's recycle bin? Did Sir Anthony need a paycheck? The only thing that would make this worse is if Nick Cage made an appearance.

I don't usually rate movies this low but this is awful. Bad acting, the script is soooo flame, I think they wanted to be interesting and intellectual but the failed. I have 2 stars only for Anthony Hopkins. I am really sorry for him that he had to go through this.

Sad

This film looks like it was made for three cents.

And I'm not even sure Anthony Hopkins is in it.

It's not good. It's boring and poorly directed.

Does he really need the money at this point?

If anyone is asking how Anthony Hopkins signed up for this exercise-in-tripe, I'll spare you a trip to Google. His wife--and boy oh boy, did she ever belch out (I mean, direct) a 'doozy.' Hands-down, some of the worst acting by an ensemble (if we can actually call it that) one will ever see. No joke intended--this is smack dab along the caliber of. Tommy Wiseau's "The Room." And that's without the relief of an occasional laugh. On the positive end, I'm confident that this will ensure us that Lisa Pepper will never become a mainstay on our silver screens. From the lousy, soporific screenplay to the lead performance from film school hell, this should have taken the lion's share of the Golden Raspberry Awards, but didn't. Why? The only reason I can think of is that it is SO bad it's beyond parody. Venture to it at your own risk.

Anthony Hopkins is the only great experience actor in this painfully slow made for TV movie. Main characters Elyse portrayal of a woman struggling with mental illness was horrible. She wasn't believable. It seems she Elyse just memorized her lines and at times delivers them in a repetitve fashion. Not worth watching! I can't believe such an excellent actor like Anthony Hopkins agreed to be in this film. Not sure what the BK and WH was supposed to portray but even when it switched to color the movie was still a failure. Hopefully Hopkins did this movie to donate his proceeds to Charity. I can't imagine what would have made this movie at least a 5.

I knew while watching this that my husband would hate it and some of my friends too but I enjoyed the journey of the film. I was intrigued as to where we were going and what was really happening and what was not. Fantasy? Reality? Hallucinations? Yes. All of the above but I enjoyed the scenarios nonetheless. All of the actors were terrific especially Anthony Hopkins. He was superb as always. Some will not like this movie but the ones who do are in for a wonderful escape from reality if only for awhile.

It's a great story probably millions survived in different ways around the globe. Western culture is built on materialism. Ownership and selfishness. When God takes some of your valuables, people crash to the wall and fall apart. Yes only medicine is God and time. Great acting. Probably one of the most underrated movie of the year.

Not to put spoilers I keep it a little vague. There are some information given close to the end of the movie that are a: Oh, that's why. To withhold this information to the end makes the movie go totally down the drain. It was totally out of scope while it should have been the topic all along. I still gave it a 6, because I rounded up for good acting in some parts. I think without Antony Hopkins in it, I would have given up on the movie in the beginning. Lisa Pepper did some good acting and I liked the performance of Tara Arroyave too. Unfortunately acting cannot really make a story with the wrong turns a good movie.

"Elyse! Are you aware that there may be something ... (dramatic pause) wrong?" Dr. Lewis (Anthony Hopkins)

The titular Elyse (Lisa Pepper) has indeed something wrong: catatonia. Her state, as diagnosed by her psychiatrist, Dr. Lewis, involves strange behavior and unresponsiveness. Her remedy calls for electric shock therapy, which sends her into herself and requires long months of therapy.

And so it goes in the drama Elyse, a story much more than just about diagnosis and therapy. In its minimalist approach by writer/director Stella Hopkins (Anthony's wife), relationships are the drama and maybe the cause for her mental illness. Her relationship with her husband Steve Bridges (Aaron Tucker) is remote and frosty, a combination of her neuroses and his interest elsewhere.

Elyse's jealousy about their live-in governess, Carmen (Tara Arrovave), and Elyse's combative relationship with her mother as well as her uneven attitude toward Steve's co-workers, point to an unbalanced heroine not helped at all by her pod of people. The director gently and slowly lets the actors play their parts in Elyse's undoing, including Elyse herself.

When Dr. Phillips is on camera, not enough for my taste, the film moves into a rich buffet of words and ideas, all minimalist but calling for more, so powerful is Hopkins in a role the opposite of Hannibal Lecter but strangely similar in the magnetic hold the actor has on his words. It's not so much that Phillips sets things right; it's that he sets in motion the thoughts and actions that seem right for the situation, relieving the audience's tension as it worries about the heroine's fate.

Adding to the cool tension are the contrasting black and white photography and a modern house whose glass and sharp corners reflect the loneliness and danger Elyse experiences. No matter what you think of the drama and dialogue, Elyse gives you an introduction to the malady of catatonia that you will never forget.

While it seems the intent of the movie is to take the viewer on a journey to illustrate struggles of mental illness, it took odd twists and turns that didn't benefit the plot. Acting of certain characters seemed forced. I wouldn't see it again.

Elyse is simply the best (and probably the only) depiction I have found that explains the catatonic state. This portrayal of Catalonia spurred by severe/traumatic stress is about as accurate as one can get.

Sadly I know this as I have experienced it. Unfortunately many may not pick up the peculiarities in gait, small and large delusions, and color vision cues that I can pick out due to my experience.

To those who have rated this film poorly, you just may not understand the reality depicted, as it is almost wholly done through the eyes, ears, and mind of Elyse, commonly-and sadly missed by many feel good mental health cinematic portrayals.

Great job Stella!

"Elyse" is a tough movie to watch and I STRONGLY recommend you think twice before watching it. It's very depressing to watch and is NOT a film the average viewer will appreciate...let alone enjoy. In fact, NO ONE who watches this movie will enjoy it. Appreciate it...perhaps...but it cannot be enjoyed and it's a tough movie to watch. And, who would probably appreciate it most? Probably mental health workers or folks who have experienced the impact of severe mental illness on their families. But be forewarned...it's draining, depressing and will likely leave you feeling miserable.

The movie begins with Elyse (Lisa Pepper) living in a nice house, having a cute child and a husband. However, you can soon tell that something is wrong. Elyse is emotionally fragile and her feelings turn on a dime. One moment, she's depressed, other moments she's angry and at others she's flirty...and there seems to be no predicting these mood swings. Eventually, the moodiness becomes so bad that you see her in a psychiatric institution....and here is where the movie gets very vague. The sense of time and what's been happening is uncertain...as if you are only seeing snapshots of her life. One thing is certain, she's completely withdrawn from the world and is completely catatonic...unresponsive and living within herself. What's next and how did she get to this point? See the film....or don't.

An important thing about this story is that you should NOT make any sort of judgment on Elyse, her husband, her mother and the other characters in the story. This is because of the deliberate choppiness of the story...and if you are patient, it works very well by the end.

Anthony Hopkins plays the psychiatrist treating Elyse. He is generally good, though some of his actions are confusing...this coming from me being a trained psychotherapist. His language, voice and decisions he makes on the case all seem very sound. But he also makes a HUGE mistake that movie psychiatrists/psychologists make...he talks too much and asks too many questions. A good therapist does neither. But on the other hand, it's obvious the writer did some research and the mental health angle is done well...though the ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) session you see is atypical. Normally, the electric current is administered only a fraction of a second and not much more...though in rare cases, like this film, the duration can be a bit longer. Because of all this, this movie would be great for psychology graduate students to watch.

Again...I warn you to be careful before you watch. While it is a very good film, it's so depressing and awful at times (most of the time, actually) that it's best you see it if you are in good spirits. And, following seeing the film, do something to be kind to yourself....you probably will need it.

The movie was great for me. It lets you get in the mood of the main character, and it does it pretty good.

This is a good portrayal of a woman who is severely disturbed by psychiatric problems. It is slow, but engaging.