Trance (**1/2 out of ****)

Danny Boyle has never made two similar movies. Every film is different in story. Yet they are all connected through the man's kinetic style. A mad dance through cinema. Trance is not one of Boyle's better films, in fact it's closer to the bottom of the man's collection. Still Trance is often wicked fun and engaging.

Getting started on describing the plot on Trance is a tricky thing. How much is too much to give away? James McAvoy plays Simon, an art auctioneer who gets invloved ona heist for very valuable painting. He sustains a blow to the head however and forgets much of what happened during the event, including where he hid the painting.Yet Frank (Vincent Cassel) and his team of criminals won't let amnesia stop them. Simon in order to recall where he hid the painting goes a hypnothearpist to unlock his mind. The thearpist is Elizabeth (Rosario Dawson) who will make things interesting and complicated.

Boyle has a made a neo noir of the mind. Leaping around in narrative, Trance is quite intoxicating but often confusing. There are far more plot holes then there should be. While the actors are all very good, they lack chemistry with one another making their realtiionships somewhat dull. This leads to the problem of the plot feeling forced rather than organic. Boyle and the cast do their best with a weak script and often make up for its short comings. Quick editing, camera work shifting to what is happening in the film, and the always dazzling Boyle's choice in soundtrack lend a helping hand here. Trance is messy film, but a well made one


**1/2 out of ****