Review of Trance (2013) by Chris P — 23 Aug 2013

Danny Boyle's Trance is perhaps the best encapsulation of his career yet, in that it has a lot of compelling visuals, a mature narrative, a sense of character, yet is undermined by a self-indulgent streak that makes Trance feel over-produced, and sometimes gimmicky. It's a stylish thriller, to be sure, populated with interesting characters, an imaginative story-line, and a keen visual sense, but yet it never feels complete.

What I liked most about Trance was the performances and interesting premise. James McAvoy makes a strong protagonist, and is matched well by the supporting cast, especially Vincent Cassel. The initial set-up offers a lot of promise, and Trance managers to keep it thrills up, while not sacrificing the characterizations, despite a very brisk pace.

The biggest indictment against Trace, however is the script, which is reveled as thin towards the last act. Events start to unfold in a faster fashion, and are less organic to each other than came previous. There's a tendency to more gimmicky plot devices, such as the 'just a dream' scenario. Boyle is simply too kinetic for his own good often times, seemingly having a very difficult time leaving "well enough alone", always feeling the need to add artistic flourishes that distract from the narrative rather than add to it.

Overall, it's not without merit, and remained an enjoyable enough thriller, though not without some weaknesses.

3/5 Stars.