Two things came to mind watching Trance 1.) Danny Boyle is one hell of a director and 2.) this movie isn’t nearly as clever as it thinks it is. Sorry to report, but Trance leads to an ending of unexplored avenues with lackluster reveals leaving you to say, “That’s what I waited for?”
While structured in a way to be deceptive and ambiguous, the story is rather straight-forward. Simon (James McAvoy), a fine art auctioneer gets mixed up with some hoodlums led by Franck (Vincent Cassel) in a scam to steal a valuable painting. However, during the robbery, Simon gets hit on the head and shortly thereafter Franck learns the painting he thought he stole is not in his possession.
Double-crossed by Simon, Franck and his goons are determined to do whatever it takes to get the painting, only problem is the blow to Simon’s head has resulted in amnesia and he has no idea what he did with it. Cue the hypnotist!
Rosario Dawson, playing your average, everyday, run-of-the-mill gorgeous hypnotherapist is hand-selected by Simon to dig into his mind and find the missing artwork, but what else will she find in the process?
The narrative is largely told in a linear fashion, outside of the moments Simon’s brain is being picked apart, all leading to a largely inevitable and uninspired conclusion cluing the audience into the fact the storyteller is better than the story being told. Indeed, had this project been in the hands of a lesser director it would have been a far lesser film, which is an unfortunate reality.
Boyle’s visual style and track-record are enough to keep you invested, even though every instinct is suggesting this isn’t going to end well. Led largely by McAvoy, Dawson and Cassel, the casting is workable, though I never quite bought into Dawson’s character. This is, however, exactly the kind of role with which Cassel excels. Yet, his character is sadly discarded in the end for tricks and sleight of hand that take away from the film rather than elevate it.
Getting back to Dawson for just one second, her character is a conundrum and what I was supposed to take from her side of the story was equally perplexing. It’s impossible to get too deep into what I mean without spoiling plot points, but let’s just say her role required full frontal nudity, but the “Why?” of it all is a mystery to me as it added so little to the story. Yet, it became a plot point of sorts, albeit an unnecessary one that seemed included as a means to titillate rather than adding anything of value to the story.
Otherwise I find myself with little else to say. I walked away feeling rather empty and as a piece of entertainment, Trance doesn’t live up to its own high opinion.
