TRANCE
Cast: James McAvoy, Rosario Dawson, Vincent Cassel,
Tuppence Middleton, Lee Nicholas Harris, Danny Sapani
Director: Danny Boyle
Running time: 98 mins
Director: Danny Boyle
Running time: 98 mins
“Trance” is Danny Boyle's first feature film since he directed the awe-inspiring Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The film stars James McAvoy as Simon, an art auctioneer who falls hard into the world of art theft. In the aftermath of a blazing gun battle in the auctioneers' during the daring heist, Simon snatches the £270million Goya painting and races off from the premises. A blistering sequence where he encounters the head of the robbers, results in an ammo-stramash leaving Simon injured and upon recovery – amnesia has set in.
As a result, he has forgotten just where he hid this highly valued work of art - and the payday of his criminal partner (Vincent Cassel) is seriously delayed and ominously threatened. So in turn Simon's life is under threat too. To assist him towards recovering his recollection and that of the pinched painting's location, he rushes to a hypnotherapist (Rosario Dawson) for help before it's too late. But can she be trusted?
A miasmic riddle of counter double-bluffs and complex scenarios emerges – and Boyle’s highly distinctive stylization, filmic technique and dazzling work by cinematic wizard Anthony Dod Mantle, a scorching soundtrack from Boyle die-hards Underworld, and some blisteringly superb performances by all three leads make for a hugely intelligent, immensely satisfying ninety-odd-minute cinematic blast.
This is a triumph for Boyle and all involved - and you’ll find yourself bewitched by the experience.
THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE
Cast: Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi,
Olivia Wilde, Jim Carrey,
James Gandolfini, Alan Arkin, Jay Mohr, Michael Herbig, Mason Cook, Luke Vanek
James Gandolfini, Alan Arkin, Jay Mohr, Michael Herbig, Mason Cook, Luke Vanek
Director: Don Scardino
Running time: 100 mins
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone is a glossy and fairly well-cast Hollywood star-vehicle which on the surface indicates potential, but sadly the whole thing lacks the conviction of the sum of its parts.American cinema boasts an endless assembly line roster of over-rated medium-talent screen actors, none more so than the tiresome schtick of Steve Carrell – and here to bolster his performance are support performers of a much greater pedigree, such as Steve Buscemi, James Gandolfini, Alan Arkin and Jim Carrey.
‘Wonderstone’ is a pleasant-enough celebration of the world of magic-as-entertainment, and observes the mix between old-school Las Vegas style magic acts and the down-and-dirty street illusionists. Its structure however lacks any real surprises and genuinely funny moments are few and far between, with even the magic acts lacking any real sense of impact.
We begin with the young Burt and Anton, bullied at school, and finding distraction from a magic kit which includes an instruction video by legendary magician Rance Holloway (the sublime Alan Arkin). Time passes very quickly indeed and before we know it, they are now hugely successful professional magicians, headlining at a top Las Vegas hotel under the stage names of Burt Wonderstone (Carell) and Anton Marvelton (Buscemi). However by this stage both Burt and Anton are merely going through the motions, and off-stage their friendship has faded, mainly due to Burt’s massive ego and enthusiasm for bedding every one of their female assistants.
Their smugness is radically punctured when they encounter guerrilla street magician Steve Gray (Jim Carrey, clearly relishing his stylish support routine). His cult following increases and when Burt and Anton lose their jobs they are both forced to re-evaluate their lives and their feeling for magic.
Poverty and misery ensues, they split, and Burt regresses to modest magic tricks at an old folk’s home, where he finds an ageing and reclusive Rance Holloway. The result is as predictable as they come – Burt re-assesses his act, finds true love, takes advice from Rance, hooks up again with Anton, sorts out the pest Steve Gray and returns to Vegas with a brilliant new act. Giving too much away? Don’t kid yourself!
