Director: Danny Boyle
Writer: Joe Ahearne, John Hodge (Screenplay) Joe Ahearne (Story)
Starring: James McAvoy, Vincent Cassel, Rosario Dawson, Danny Sapani, Matt Cross
Plot: An art auctioneer who has become mixed up with a group of criminals partners with a hypnotherapist in order to recover a lost painting.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Mind Bending Resolved
Story: Trance starts with Simon (McAvoy) at an art auction explaining about the improved protection of the art work during the auction. Simon explains the rules of what to do during the robbery only for a real one happen with Franck (Cassel) and his team. Simon ends up knocked out and the art work missing, Simon ends up with amnesia which leads to Franck and his crew to find Simon after he is released from hospital.
Franck and his team interrogate Simon trying to find the missing art work, but failing to get answers they said Simon to a hypnotherapist Elizabeth (Dawson) to try and find the memory locked in Simon’s head. It doesn’t take long for Elizabeth to prove herself and uncover what is really going on. Elizabeth, Simon and Franck team up to uncover the truth about the painting as we see Elizabeth try to learn about the whole team.
As the memories start getting deeper we see the mystery continue to grow and we are left wondering just who is working for who and what is really going on with the artwork.
Trance starts by taking us in one direction only to throw everything around during the story leaving us wondering what is or isn’t real. It does end up answering the questions I think and with the twists and turns it all gets resolved even if it confuses the hell out of you on its way. The story is smart, slick, sexy and stylish and grabs your full attention as it all unfolds. I do like the idea that is could be considered a revenge film even if it never gets sold as one too. I would say it is all nicely put together to surprise you but with so many you can get few up of finally understanding something before it all gets blown away again. (7/10)
Actor Review
James McAvoy: Simon an art auctioneer who in an attempt to stop a robbery gets knocked out gets amnesia. He is then forced to work with the robbers and a hypnotherapist to try and uncover the missing artwork but his personal gambling problems could be hiding the truth. James gives us a good performance and I think we get to see some range in his character. (7/10)
Vincent Cassel: Franck the art robber who along with his team wants to find the piece of art that Simon has hidden. Franck has to be patient as he knows that moving too fast won’t get him the artwork he wants. Vincent does a good job and we never know as the film unfolds if he is good or bad. (7/10)
Rosario Dawson: Elizabeth a hypnotherapist who takes over Simon’s case trying to find the memories that are stuck in his head so the missing artwork can be found. Over time we get to see that she might have an alternative motive for her action. Rosario does a good job in this role as she also ends up being very brave with this choice with all the added nudity required. (7/10)
Support Cast: Trance has a supporting cast that is mainly the rest of the crew that are all there to try and push the mind set of Simon in a different direction.
Director Review: Danny Boyle – Danny does a good job giving us a mind bending crime caper that keeps you guessing throughout. (8/10)
Crime: Trance puts us in the middle of a robbery that is the center of the whole film as we see if the missing artwork can be found. (8/10)
Mystery: Trance keeps you guessing from start to finish to what is actually going on. (10/10)
Thriller: Trance does make you want to see where the painting is or what is going on until the end. (8/10)
Settings: Trance keeps most of the settings a very simple apart from when Simon is under trance where we get very beautiful and colourful location. (8/10)
Suggestion: Trance is a film to give a try, it may not be for everyone because of the amount of twists in the story but in the end it works out nicely as a mind bending film. (Try It)
Best Part: Stylish idea.
Worst Part: Misleading from the start.
Believability: No (0/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Box Office: $24 Million
Budget: $20 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 41 Minutes
Overall: Trance is a film that will really keep you guessing but at least it explains everything by the end of the film.
Rating 
