Trance

****
Release Date: March 27th 2013

An art auctioneer who has become mixed up with a group of criminals partners with a hypnotherapist in order to recover a lost painting.

Director: Danny Boyle (127 Hours, Slumdog Millionaire, The Beach, Trainspotting)

Starring: James McAvoy, Rosario Dawson, Vincent Cassel

Danny Boyle has an amazing handful of films that cross a fair amount of genres. From dramas and horrors to intense thrillers and Isles of Wonder, the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony, there seems to be nothing he can't do. His latest film, is as weird and psychedelic as it's name. Trance isn't your typical kind of thriller. You'll never know who's telling the truth or lying through their teeth. Danny Boyle thrusts us in to the heart of this crazy heist and leads us to believe that we know who's right and who's wrong, but as soon as we think we do, he snatches it away, leaving us none-the-wiser. 

Simon (McAvoy) is an art auctioneer, who, in the opening credits, helps gangster Franck (Cassel) steal a highly expensive painting, but decides to play the hero and ends up suffering with amnesia because of a fleeting moment of what can only be guilt. It's mind boggling from the moment the credits hit the screen.

Can Simon really not remember where the painting is? Is he lying? These are only a few of the questions you'll be asking yourself. As the film progresses, Simon meets psychic Elizabeth (Dawson) who at first tries to help him but later becomes fueled by greed. More questions are raised, but answers are never given (at least not until the finale). Elizabeth puts Simon under a state of hypnosis to find out where he's hidden the painting.

James McAvoy has had a fantastic year with Trance, Filth, and Welcome to the Punch. His acting has been outstanding in all.

The biggest problem with trance is trying to make sense of it all. Just like Memento and Inception, if you look away for one moment you'll be lost forever.

Overview: With it's cunning unpredictability and impressive visuals, Trance is like a visual puzzle; trying to put the pieces together is not only hard, but fun.