Simon is an art auctioneer. He deals with the legends;
Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Francisco Goya. Simon also has an addition to online
gambling. To pay off his debts he must deliver a £25million painting to a group
of art thieves, led by a man named Franck. Unfortunately, during the course of
the robbery, the painting does not find its way to them, and Simon is injured.
He must undergo hypnotherapy, conducted by Elizabeth in order to remember where
the art has gone…
The plot is a twisty one, taking turn after turn, and
this is matched in the editing and sound design, but this is a necessity when
dealing with the depths of the human mind. The simple premise becomes host to
what seems sub-plot after sub-plot, but all the little threads are tied
together in time for the credits. The screenplay is brilliant, if at times hard
to follow, and although it sags slightly in the middle, both ends hold tight,
though they are so very different.
Not one to shy away, Boyle puts the often gory physical and
psychological pain at the forefront, as well as the rewards and pleasures. Trance
deals with the big questions of the human condition: Who am I? Who controls me?
What am I willing to do to get what I want?
James McAvoy is truly great as the lead, going through almost
every possible emotion and dealing with a combination of drama and action.
Vincent Cassel is incredible support and Rosario Dawson is amazing opposite
McAvoy in a rather outlandish role.
In the end, it is Danny Boyle’s slick directing that
makes Trance so tantalising, ensuring we only just get lost enough for us to
find our feet again, only to be dragged in another direction.
With the amount of non-linear storytelling and tension,
climaxing in a tragic, action orientated final act, Trance is a more personal
and more realistic Inception, and therefore defiantly warrants further
viewings.
9/10.
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