Trance (2013) - Movie Review

Trance is the next film from British director Danny Boyle (the talent behind Trainspotting, 28 Days Later and Slumdog Millionaire) and tells the story of an art auctioneer who becomes mixed up with a group of criminals and must partner with a hypnotherapist to find a painting he can't remember hiding. Trance is one of those movies that I have a greater appreciation for the more I think about it. It's a movie that is still on my mind days after seeing it. But don't think that's because I'm still trying to get my head around it, because the movie isn't hard to follow, it just requires your attention throughout, and that's why its hard to even call Trance a movie, as it was a lot more like an experience. It's a mystery that plays out, a story that unfolds, a giant jigsaw that pieces together perfectly across 100 minutes. And did I mention it's a lot of fun?

Despite a significantly darker third act, Trance is surprisingly lighthearted and often humorous given the situations these characters find themselves in. But Trance takes many turns, switching from black comedy to a gritty, sometimes disturbing, drama. You will quickly find that Trance simply doesn't stop. It's a roller-coaster ride that doesn't let you catch your breath. Again, it's not that it's hard to follow, it's that it simply doesn't waste any time. Trance is a huge jigsaw puzzle. Scenes don't always play out in order and, in some cases, even overlap each other. And, just like Trance's protagonist is trying to figure out, it's sometimes up to you to decide what is real. With so many pieces still to come together, halfway through Trance I doubted it could ever fit together without at least a few flaws, but by its conclusion, everything comes together perfectly whilst also leaving enough ambiguity in the story to keep everyone happy.

I give Trance ★★★★★

With some of the best editing in a movie that I've ever seen, a flawless and refreshingly original idea and such varied and well-rounded characters, Trance is a must-see that, despite requiring attention to detail, I would recommend to anyone, but should be mostly appreciated by lovers of film and originality.