Trance (2013)

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Danny Boyle directs James McAvoy, Rosario Dawson and Vincent Cassel in this psychological thriller where a sexy hypnotherapist messes around in a gang of art thieves heads to find a missing stolen masterpiece. 

Danny Boyle is one of my favourite directors but since his Oscar blitz of 10 years ago, his adaptation of Frankenstein at the National and his orchestrating of Olympic opening ceremony his work has lacked his distinctive passion. Steve Jobs, T2 and this have all been competent and visually exciting but none have felt like more than placeholder projects, made while waiting for a script he can get really excited about to fall into his lap. Partly that might have to do with the surprisingly cool reception this enjoyable thriller got on release. Released off the back of “his Oscar blitz of 10 years ago, his adaptation of Frankenstein at the National and his orchestrating of Olympic opening ceremony” (you see what I’m saying) and the British public shrugged their shoulders and didn’t really bother with it. It is a captivating little one watcher, whose twists don’t stand much further scrutiny, but has enjoyable blasts of explicit sexuality and explicit gore. It will never be as good again as its first viewing but for fans of the Danny Boyle who gave us the macabre thrills of Shallow Grave or 28 Days Later… it hits a sweet spot. Rosario Dawson sparks beautifully against her male leads, relishing a well written role where she isn’t just a romcom prize. And it ends on joyously open ended, trancey high note.

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