Rated R (Sexual Content, Graphic Nudity,
Violence, Some Grisly Images, and Language)
Running Time: 1 Hour & 41 Minutes
Cast-
James McAvoy-Simon Newton
Rosario Dawson-Elizabeth Lamb
Vincent Cassel-Franck
Danny Sapani-Nate
Matt Cross-Dominic
Wahab Sheikh-Riz
Mark Poltimore-Francis Lemaitre
Tuppence Middleton-Young Woman in Red Car
 |
| Danny Boyle makes us question reality in his latest film, "Trance." |
Note: Screened on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13.
Critically acclaimed actor Sir Anthony
Hopkins once remarked in an interview that 'you can never trust the human
mind…it's a death trap.' Although Hopkins was voicing his disdain towards
'overthinking' about his roles, it's also a pretty apt descriptor for Danny
Boyle's latest film "Trance," a mind-bending neo-noir heist picture
with erotic thrills. Films exploring the mutable nature of dreams and memories
are nothing new, with Christopher Nolan's "Memento" and
"Inception" being the most popular examples. Unpredictable in his
choice of projects, Boyle's refusal to pigeon-hole himself is reflected in the
eclectic array of films already under his belt but one common thread among the
director's work is his focus on desperate individuals who are haunted by their
own memories. Ewan McGregor's Mark Renton suffers a hallucinatory episode as he
goes through severe withdrawal from heroin in "Trainspotting." Similarly,
James Franco's Aron Ralston starts to experience 'visions' of his past
experiences while trapped in an isolated canyon for days in "127
Hours." Even the Bollywood-inspired "Slumdog Millionaire" (for
which Boyle won an Academy Award) is a journey through the main character's
memories and how they shaped him into the person he is today. Harkening back to
Boyle's first feature "Shallow Grave," "Trance" can get too
caught up in its numerous plot twists but this original take on a well-worn
genre remains wildly entertaining thanks to its stylish direction, manic
visuals, and hypnotic score.
Working as an art curator for a renowned auction
house in London, Simon Newton's (James McAvoy) sole responsibility in the event
of a robbery is to escort the most valuable works of art into a safe-room in
the basement. During an auction for Francisco Goya's Witches in the Air, a group of organized criminals led by Franck
(Vincent Cassel) stage an elaborate heist in order to steal the painting, which
is valued at over £25 million. Immediately springing into action, Simon rushes
the painting down to the safe-room but runs into Franck at the last possible
moment. He knows he shouldn't resist since he's actually the thieves' inside
man yet does so anyway. In response, Franck bashes him in the face with the
butt of his shotgun and escapes with the loot. However, Simon pulls a bait-and-switch
for reasons unknown and hides the painting, leaving Franck with only an empty
picture frame. Franck's thugs torture Simon on its whereabouts but they fail to
extract any useful information as the sudden blow to his head has left him with
amnesia. To recover Simon's memory, Franck sends him to a hypnotherapist named
Elizabeth Lamb (Rosario Dawson). As she delves deeper into Simon's
subconscious, the lines between fantasy and reality begin to blur.
A loose
remake of Joe Ahearne's 2001 British television film of the same name,
"Trance" is one of those movies that'll put your brain through the
wringer as you scramble to connect all the dots and make sense of its many plot
twists. The story (written by frequent Boyle-collaborator John Hodge, who
shares screenplay credit with Ahearne) starts off simple enough, with James
McAvoy's Simon Newton narrating in a Scottish-lilt about 'the good ol' days'
where thieves would just waltz in during an auction and take whatever painting
they wanted without meeting any resistance. This has forced auction houses to
adopt tighter and more advanced security protocols yet these measures aren't
foolproof. If a painting does get
stolen, Simon advises that it's not worth risking your life to get it back.
'Don't be a hero,' he warns. If only he'd follow his own advice! Instead he
tries to stop Franck with a taser and gets clocked in the face. Desperate to
retrieve his prize, Franck gives Simon a list of hypnotherapists to choose from
and he randomly picks Elizabeth Lamb because she happens to have 'a nice name.'
For her initial forays into his mind, Boyle makes a clear distinction between
fantasy and reality. In one strangely light-hearted scene, he envisions Simon's
lost memories as being locked in a chapel on the French countryside. Simon
'travels' there with a beautiful woman (Tuppence Middleton) in tow and inside
that chapel is a gallery containing every single painting that has been lost or
stolen. He is then led to a secret room where a lone iPad (this film has an
Apple fetish) sits on a table, waiting to be accessed. A moment of epiphany
occurs when he taps the screen, allowing a flood of jumbled images to come
rushing back at him. We think we've seen the truth but Boyle is just getting
started as Simon's memories become even more confused, forcing Elizabeth to
resort to extremer methods like electroshock therapy. This is where things take
a bizarre turn with Simon growing more and more obsessed with Elizabeth while
she acts out her own hidden agenda. The question is whether all this is really
happening. Is what we're seeing real or a product of Simon's imagination? Could
they even be suppressed memories? Like a magician, Boyle keeps his cards close
to the chest, throwing out one twist after another and manipulating the audience's
perceptions. Just when we're about to piece together the puzzle, new
information is revealed that contradict what was shown before. In a way, the
film mimics how the mind can distort the truth, making us see what we want to
see. Depending on your preference, this constant cat-and-mouse game that Boyle
plays with his viewers can be immensely satisfying or extremely frustrating.
Thankfully, it's the former but that doesn't mean "Trance" is free of
problems. As we're treated to a menagerie of memories and fantasies, the film
starts to get somewhat muddled, with scenes taking on a decidedly dreamlike,
surreal tone. This culminates in a weird moment where Elizabeth ends up shaving
off a certain part of the female anatomy. The dialogue also gets too hung-up on
its own psycho-babble as Boyle indulges in one too many plot twists.
Fortunately, an explosive third act manages to prevent the film from derailing,
even if the final reveal is boiled down to an overlong explanation.
Despite the
flawed story, the pacing remains energetic and no scene is wasted. Everything
that is shown or said is there for a reason. When Elizabeth tells Franck about
how her former boyfriend was abusive, it's not just idle chatter. Visually,
"Trance" is a stunner. Anthony Dod Mantle's garish cinematography is
packed full of bright, neon colors where characters are often shown at skewed
angles at the edge of the frame or reflected in mirrors to emphasize their
duplicitous nature. Rick Smith's thumping, propulsive score is one of the best
I've heard, with Boyle creating exhilarating montages as the music builds to a
rapturous crescendo.
Performances are excellent across the board. James McAvoy
plays the victim very well but Simon undergoes a change in personality as the
film progresses. What's great about McAvoy's work here is in how he subtly
shows this shift without making it appear jarring. Vincent Cassel is magnetic
as Franck. His character's threatening demeanor is contrasted with moments of
vulnerability and surprising humor. However, the real standout is Rosario
Dawson. Not only does she have a strong sexual presence but her ability to
betray almost no emotion in her voice, yet still convey so much with only tiny
adjustments to her body language, is impressive. This is invaluable when portraying
someone who's a complete cipher. Like Simon, Elizabeth appears to be just
another victim and for Dawson to not tip her character's true intentions until
the very end are a testament to her skills as an actress.
In limited release
since April 5, 2013, "Trance" has received positive reviews with 70%
on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics noted that 'director Danny Boyle seems to be
treading water…but for fans of [his] work, it should still prove a trippy
entertaining distraction.' These types of films tend to invite one of two
reactions: either you love it for the way it makes you work to connect all the
pieces or you hate it for precisely this same reason. During the advance screening last Wednesday,
reception appeared to be somewhat mixed, which isn't a total surprise.
Hopefully, Boyle's name lures in more than just the art-house crowd when it
expands this week. "Trance" doesn't quite hold up to Boyle's previous
efforts but his talent as a visual storyteller is in full force here as he
creates several masterful sequences that will make your hair stand on end. Although
the film has its flaws, the experience is never less than memorable.
Final Rating: 4 out of 5
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