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Yikes, this movie is a disappointment. The thought of a Danny Boyle directed sexy-psychological-thriller is tantalising. But this movie is more baffling and confused than thrilling.
I recall enjoying the film in 2013 – but on rewatch it does not stand up. It’s inherently silly nature feels less fun and more foolish. This could have been Inception with a sexy Hitchcockian twist. But it falls well short of that.
The opening heist is slick and beautifully orchestrated. The following set-up of an amnesiac inside man having to get hypnotised is also intriguing. But the wheels soon come off and all the twists and reversals just grow more muddled and perplexing.
The script by John Hodge fails to really make any of the characters engaging. Hodge is aiming for the same level of misanthropy he displayed in Shallow Grave but at least that film had some wit.
Vincent Cassel – usually such a charming presence is in generic gangster mode. James MacAvoy (very much the Ewan McGregor surrogate) is the most valued player in proceedings.
However, the chief disappointment is Rosario Dawson. She’s supposed to be the duplicitous femme-fatale but she gives the most blank and uncommitted performance. She’s wholly lacklustre and uninspiring in the part. So when the twists begin to unravel – you’re surprised she was so integral to proceedings. Boyle needed someone more mischievous in the role – someone with chutzpah and twinkle in their eye. Dawson is not that actress and is fatally miscast.
Whilst the film is messy and silly. It’s very slickly executed. Boyle makes this modestly budgeted thriller feel like a big Hollywood tentpole. The production design, art direction, sound design and cinematography are beautiful. The whole thing is filmed with such visual flair. The look and feel of the movie proves the most redeemable and salvageable aspect of the movie.
In the end – Trance is a fairly empty exercise in style. Whatever it’s trying to say about female-empowerment feels tacked on and redundant. This is far from peak Boyle.
I really enjoyed it. It's a super sugary and sentimental film that kinda works in the moment. It's a true crowdpleaser in that sense. But when you think about it, it's really a rather dumb and banal film.
What's most odd about it is that Boyle (who is a much edgier filmmaker) seems to be overpowered by Richard Curtis (known for cutesy rom-coms). It's Curtis's script that hogs the lime-light and Danny's direction is a little pedestrian and rotely whimsical.
On the basis of this being his most recent film - I'd say Danny wasn't right for Bond in 2019. Yesterday is just a bit routine and agreeable.
Boyle makes dark films - but fundamentally he is a very optimistic and "sunny" filmmaker. I don't think he was ever the right choice for the more angsty and cynical Craig films.
Perhaps if Eon ever wanted to do a cheerier Bond film that was more "fun" - then he's the guy.
Also....
Knowing how they never really throw anything away they'd be more likely to use parts of it in a future Bond film "X" amount of years hence.