Trance

Trance, the latest film from the incredibly talented director Danny Boyle is in my opinion, as of right now the best film of the year. It is a FANTASTIC film in every way, and there are quite a few ways this film travels but you won't be sorry. From beginning to end, this movie keeps your attention and the climax is almost as ingenious as Danny's Oscar winning Slumdog Millionaire and because of that, Trance gets four buckets of Killer Korn.



Trance is a movie that stars two favorite actors of mine. You already know I admire the acting abilities of James McAvoy and this time he stars opposite the ferocious Vincent Cassel, another man that can play virtually any role (much like Mark Strong). The surprise of the movie though is Rosario Dawson. I have never been a fan of hers so going in I was just hoping she wouldn't ruin the movie. Not only did she not ruin it, she held her own on the screen in amazing fashion. Her portrayal of Elizabeth Lamb didn't make me fan but it didn't make me dislike her  afterwards and that's something, right? With a screenplay written by Joe Ahearne and John Hodge, Danny Boyle delivers what has to be the best mind fuck film in the last ten years.

James McAvoy plays Simon, a degenerate gambler who works for an auction house in London. He gets himself into debt with a lot of the wrong type of people thanks to his gambling addiction. The guy he buys drugs from introduces Simon to Vincent Cassel's Franck, the ring leader of some very dangerous men. Simon gets Franck to pay off his debts for a very valuable painting. The two men agree to steal the painting and the plan gets put into action. The operation goes smoothly up until Franck gets tasered by Simon which had no real effect. Franck in turn smashes Simon in the head with the butt of his shotgun and leaves with the painting. Simon ends up in the hospital with amnesia and Franck ends up with an empty frame. Franck and his band of merry men torture Simon but to no avail, Simon truly can't remember what he did with the painting. Franck has an idea and has Simon pick a hypnotherapist of an ipad and that's when all hell breaks loose.

Franck feels that Simon will reveal what he did with the painting if he can be hypnotized. Elizabeth Lamb, on the very first visit gets into Simon's head and helps him find his missing car keys. The next visit goes completely off the wheels as far as Franck is concerned. Elizabeth has done her homework on her client and wants to partner with Franck and get a cut of the painting's profits once it's found and sold. Basically she holds Franck hostage because without her, they'll never get the location of the painting out of Simon's head so he reluctantly agrees to cut her in. Then hell breaks further loose as it becomes now a game of cat/cat/mouse and the second you the viewer think you know who the mouse is, is when it becomes the cat. The great thing about this story is that no one is the victim here, no one is innocent but you don't really know who to pull for.

Danny Boyle's Trance will not bore you, it will have you on the edge of your seat at every twist and turn. If you are looking for a movie you can sink your teeth into then this is IT! This movie is meaty, fun, and accessible and that's a hard combination to achieve, but Danny does a masterful job of pulling it off. It's also a very pretty movie to look at. Granted the screen is always full of the beautiful people but the sets are perfect. Franck's condo is amazing with it's pool right off his bedroom, Simon's condo has an amazing view of London but Elizabeth's apartment is the jewel with it's orange glass walls and truly futuristic look. The colors are vibrant, which is nothing new for a Boyle film. Cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle has been working alongside Danny on most of his films, giving Danny and his movies a signature look and this one is no different. Same thing with the music, working with longtime collaborator Rick Smith, Trance also has a signature sound and it all works to perfection.

I highly recommend Trance if you are looking for something that will mess with your mind only to culminate with an ending that will most undoubtedly please you. Get on line, buy your ticket, get some popcorn, see this movie, and I'll see you at the theater.