Trance (2013)

'No piece of art is worth a human life'.



From director Danny Boyle who brought us 28 Days Later and Slumdog Millionaire comes one of 2013's biggest UK remakes, Trance. The original version of Trance was a television film made in 2001 that had failed to get anywhere. However with a director who had made such large and successful films, I had high hopes for this Danny Boyle film. Unfortunately, many things fell flat on their face. The acting is flat and two dimensional at times, the filming does not always show clear cuts despite the fact at points it is obvious what they are leading up to and the big twist, although good and unexpected, has been done many times before. This brought a new spin to the cliché, but nothing that can revitalise it.

The story seems like a good idea on paper, and to give credit where it is due, it does become an intriguing story line. A man (Simon played by James McAvoy) works at a fancy auction house and is involved in a robbery set up by Franck (Vincent Cassel). The painting goes missing during the process of the robbery and on Simon could have taken it. Unfortunately he took a serious blow to the head and has lost his memory of the entire evening. To try and get the painting back the gang take him to a psychiatrist/hypnotist to try and help him remember, but catches onto their plan and wants in on the operation. From that point on there is a lot of switching between reality and the hypnosis state. This is a great concept and often works really well, but sometimes it is too clear it isn't real (without stating it) or it isn't clear enough so when he wakes up it doesn't feel right.

The opening scene is done really well, with McAvoy giving an interview to a what i think is a news team which has been recorded and is being played back to the audience (Some say he is speaking directly to the audience and if he is then this is poor film making in my judgement as it never happens again), based after the robbery as he speaks about company protocol, explaining how different robberies are now from several decades ago, when all you needed was muscle and influence. It shows them practising what to do in the event of an attempted robbery and shows just how in detail and full-proof the plan should be. This sets the standards really high, but after this things slowly slip down hill, with the pace quickening with every passing scene.

Both of the main male actors have considerable experience in films and their performances are often really good. Danny Sapani is the best actors consistently through out the film, giving a sterling performance for every second he is there. McAvoy and Cassel both give great performances, but at times it falls short of what is expected of professionals like them. Rosario Dawson who plays the leading female role also plays her part well, but I feel her character was poorly scripted at times and she had to work with what she was given.

The most disappointing part of the film for me was the last few scenes where the story line comes to an abrupt end and then leaves with only a brief explanation of what happens afterwards. The main problem with this is not the lack of explanation or how quick it feels, but rather through out the film they seemed to build all the support up for one character, so you feel sorry for them and are rooting for them, but in the last 10 minutes  completely switch it around and expect you to want the other characters to get their way. There isn't enough build up to that and it is just suddenly thrown in your face.

Do not go to see this film expecting it to be really good. Yes, it is better than many other films on at the cinema right now and if you like psychological films then definitely give it a go, but there are better films out on DVD with better plot twists and much more satisfying ends. The quality of acting varies throughout the film, but is never terrible and the script is well written and clearly thought out in some scenes, but not others. I was disappointed with what I saw, especially after such a good opening scene.

Rating; 5.6/10