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| *Widescreen Poster for Trance* |
Most films these days seem to hide behind their big budgets or relish in being a smaller production. Trance, however, Danny Boyle's latest film, tries to be the little engine that could by providing a big story in a small package. Whether or not you'll appreciate a film like Trance hinges a lot on whether or not you prefer a thriller that's tight on action and little on story, or more on direction and art-horse vision. Danny Boyle spares no film of his from being subjected to his unique way of storytelling and Trance not only takes the plunge, but bathes in style and depth that only a film about Hypnotism can...by screwing with you every step of the way.
Now that is a compliment; in no way is Trance a bad film, but perfect it is not. The scope of the film is relative to the whether or not us as viewers decide we want to go for this ride. Much like being hypnotized, we are asked to let our guard down and care enough to be provided with the answers to make sense of the puzzle that lay before us. By it's end, Trance is a murky and clustered image of bright colors and beautiful ideas that blend together to provide a graphic story about love, loss, and the lengths one will go to in order to get what they believe they deserve.
WARNING: There may be spoilers ahead!
Trance is a film about a heist gone wrong, at least that is what you are lead to believe. James McAvoy plays Simon, who one day decides to rob his employers during an auction and in turn screws over those he hired to help him. Upon concealing the painting he steals while attempting escape, Frank, the head criminal of the group he hired delivers a devastating blow to the back of his head, and takes from Simon what he believes to be the painting Simon and him where suppose to make off with. By the time Frank gets back with his group and unsheathes the painting, they realize they have been duped and consequentially the blow delivered to Simon's head makes him forget where he hid the painting.
Make no mistake about it, this movie moves forward with almost no good news to offer. Every step taken gets you one step closer to the truth about everything, and it's not pretty. Without going into great detail about how the film ends, it is worth noting that it might not all make sense the first time through. Again, the movie plays itself out much like one being hypnotized, in which as Simon himself regains his memory of everything he has done to remember where the painting is, we as the viewer are also being put through the same test as we struggle to figure out who we should trust, who will live, who will die, who is good, and who is bad. These curiosities can follow you all the way to the films conclusion, and with about a half an hour left in the film it doesn't lay off the breaks once. It's a real trip, and you'll be glad that most of the notions you at least thought up before the big finale were either on the mark or not very far off, yet surprisingly things aren't as predictable as they seem in this film. Dare it be compared to 'Drive' in terms of style with it's hyper violence-friendly nature that it gravitates towards in the latter half, and it's heavy reliance on happy colors and subtle techno beats to juxtapose the atmosphere. If one where to suggest this film and 'Drive' are part of some new wave of Hollywood art-centric motion pictures...then please by all means, continue.
The movie is not without it's draw backs though. If it can be compared it to 'Drive', then it would have to be compared to 'Shame' as well. Once the movie hits the halfway mark, it delves into risque territory with a slue of sexual sequences that take up much more of the film than expected, almost derailing the story. It's a hard enough movie to maintain your focus on, and it's almost like it's saying "Here, take a break from thinking for a bit, we'll get back to the story later". It's not that these scenes aren't relevant to the story, they are, but not essential, and at some point really remind you that you are just watching a movie, since none of these sequences truly romantically link any of the characters more than the story itself will, or for that matter, through the closing moments. So by the end, they feel very added in for that extra edginess factor.
The acting is A list, nothing to complain about much. Everyone does the best with what they are given, but for what should be a movie about James McAvoy, sees him having the movie almost completely stolen away from him by Rosario Dawson, who plays his hypnotherapist/love interest that takes a duel role in his life upon his theft. After you see the movie, this actually becomes quite an ironic notion in more ways than one. The films narrative structure is perhaps where it is most difficult to watch at times. It has to be considered art house merely for all it tries to encompass under one big umbrella of coherency. The story on a whole makes sense, but you are constantly jerked back and forth between scenes in the present and scenes going on just moments later, at some points two scenes are played at the same time almost as if in a half realized state of consciousness, and things get increasingly harder when you can't tell what is being experienced under hypnotism and what is really happening. Artistic license clashes at times more than it meshes with this film unfortunately. This again, is another reason you need to want to be taken on the ride for a film like this. If half way into it you know it's not the kind of film for you, you're most likely not going to be satisfied with what you find out as you continue watching it. It is not a feel good film, and it will work you for the answers you are looking for.
Trance is a labor of love, a concept film if you will. This is something we don't see often enough in Hollywood, and although the film is a mess at times, it is a glorious mess, and it has more than enough scenes to stick with you for quite sometime, which any good movie needs in order to be worth remembering these days. If I had any advice for someone who asked me if this would be a good thriller for them to watch, I would simply ask them if they prefer 'Cliffhanger' or 'Memento'. If their answer is the latter, this one's worth a watch at the least.
Watch the trailer for Trance in the link provided below!
Review Score Card:
Storyline: Pretty much the reason to watch it; simple premise with trippy complications.
Characters: Development isn't the point, unearthing the mystery is the films primary motivator.
Pacing: A steady build the first half; no brakes the second; strap in and hold on tight.
Interest Level: Much like hypnosis, you'll most likely get what you put into this film.
Overall: 8 out of 10 - As far as thriller's go, this is one of the better offerings.
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