anny Boyle is one of those directors who, when I look at his online filmography, I realise I've seen every single one of his cinematically released films, have enjoyed almost all of them, and yet he never quite musters any degree of enthusiasm from me.


The last time I was genuinely excited about a Danny Boyle film was in the run up to the release of Sunshine in 2007, reuniting him with Alex Garland and Cillian Murphy after his utterly brilliant 28 Days Later surprised me in 2002.  Sunshine however was a film stuffed with promise but gradually unravelled as it edged towards a rather leaden final act. Since then Boyle found unexpected success with Slumdog Millionaire, which propelled him to National Treasure status, a title cemented by last year's Olympic Opening Ceremony which defied expectations to silence cynics and turn us all, however briefly, into beaming optimists.


Trance, for some, comes with this hung round its neck like an albatross, but this is Boyle reminding us of who he was all along, and this film is close - in many ways - to his debut, the superbly tense Shallow Grave.  It's an immaculately directed, beautifully shot, scummy little thriller more concerned with the twisted way we interact with one another than with the plot that lead us there.


Simon (James McAvoy) is an art auctioneer who is the inside man in a robbery spear-headed by Franck (Vincent Cassel).  However, after a nasty concussion there's a hole in Simon's memory, and that hole contains the location of the stolen painting.  Desperate to retrieve the loot Franck sends Simon to hypnotherapist Elizabeth (Rosario Dawson) in the hope that she can unlock what Simon's forgotten.


Much like Christopher Nolan's Inception this is essentially a heist movie where the vault is someone's mind, unlike Nolan's film the concerns of this film revolve around the ever shifting dynamics of the group, it's a well orchestrated powerplay, balanced exceedingly well - for the most part - by Boyle.


He benefits from an excellent cast, McAvoy is absolutely magnificent as Simon, proving himself to be one of the most effortlessly compelling leading men working today.  Cassel exudes his usual mix of scruffy sexuality, charm and menace, but giving Franck a peculiar vulnerability as well.  Whilst Dawson is an authortative and commanding presence, able to plausibly ingratiate herself into the criminal gang and make sure they know they need her.  Whilst the rest of the gang get little to do, Danny Sapani stands out as Nate, an imposing figure given a few chances to add depth to his character.


Unfortunately for the film it is so obviously, blatantly all a big act of mind games and misdirection that you can't help but try to unravel it as it goes along, and when the reveals start coming and the twists unfurling it all, sadly, falls a little flat.  It's goals are commendable, and despite Boyle knowing how to push a scene to a pulsing, raging emotional furore the conclusion is a rather clunky, expositional damp squib.


A solid thriller, slightly mired by a functional rather than exceptional final act.

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