Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • Country Highlight: The Netherlands
    • If You’re Moving Back Home After Uni …
    • Jane Austen in Lockdown: How her six novels are more relevant than ever
    • All About … Period Poverty
    • My Veggie Journey: How not being strictly Vegetarian is OK
    • Watch with Pride: Your Top TV Picks this Pride Month
    • Globe Trotting on Screen: Your Guide to Summer 2021
    • Struggling to Lose Weight? How to Spot the Signs of a Fad Diet
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Flickr
    Seren
    • News & Politics
      1. Local News
      2. UK News
      3. Uni News
      4. World News
      5. Politics
      6. Comment
      7. Business
      Featured

      SABB Election: The Full Result Breakdown

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      Retro? Chip shortage may bring vintage tech to your car.

      May 6, 2021

      Manizha – the artist causing a stir as the Russian representative for Eurovision 2021:

      May 6, 2021

      Starting a Business at University

      April 23, 2021
    • Arts & Culture
      1. Books
      2. Games
      3. Film
      4. Music
      5. TV
      6. Creative Corner
      Featured

      Bangor alumni podcast earns Hollywood cameo & BBC features

      By Amelia SmithMarch 7, 20210
      Recent

      Jane Austen in Lockdown: How her six novels are more relevant than ever

      July 7, 2021

      Watch with Pride: Your Top TV Picks this Pride Month

      May 17, 2021

      Globe Trotting on Screen: Your Guide to Summer 2021

      May 16, 2021
    • Lifestyle
      1. Fashion
      2. Food and Drink
      3. Social
      4. Health and Beauty
      5. Travel
      Featured

      Country Highlight: The Netherlands

      By Emily ShoultsMay 6, 20220
      Recent

      Country Highlight: The Netherlands

      May 6, 2022

      If You’re Moving Back Home After Uni …

      August 3, 2021

      All About … Period Poverty

      May 17, 2021
    • Discovery
      1. Science
      2. Environment
      3. History
      4. International
      Featured

      Brewing up a Storm: The History of Guinness

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      Manizha – the artist causing a stir as the Russian representative for Eurovision 2021:

      May 6, 2021

      Japan plan to release radioactive water into the ocean

      May 6, 2021

      The link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots

      April 29, 2021
    • Sport
      1. Varsity 2019
      2. Varsity 2018
      3. Varsity 2017
      4. Varsity 2016
      5. Varsity 2015
      6. Varsity 2014
      7. Varsity 2013
        • Varsity 2013 Results
        • Varsity 2013 – In tweets
      Featured

      Bangor Muddogs’ American Football: a young woman finding her place

      By Jade HillMarch 23, 20210
      Recent

      The 48-hour rise and fall of the European Super League

      April 27, 2021

      The European Super League is announced

      April 19, 2021

      Formula 1’s ‘Drive to Survive S3’ is released

      April 7, 2021
    • Students’ Union
      1. Union News
      2. Societies
      3. Volunteering
      4. Clubs
      Featured

      INTERVIEW: Be Period Positive

      By Caroline CartmillMarch 17, 20210
      Recent

      Bangor University Feminist Society

      March 30, 2021

      INTERVIEW: Be Period Positive

      March 17, 2021

      LGBT History Month in Bangor

      March 4, 2021
    • Issues
      • Current Issue
      • This year’s issues
      • Last year’s issues
      • Seren Archive
      • Seren Teams
    Seren
    Home»Entertainment»Trance Review
    Entertainment

    Trance Review

    Becci JamesonBy Becci JamesonApril 25, 2013Updated:April 25, 2013No Comments3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    WFTCRMImageFetchTrance is the new film from director and Bangor University alumnus Danny Boyle. This is his first piece of work since the London 2012 opening ceremony (being shot before and edited afterwards). Boyle has said that all the dark material he was unable to include in the opening ceremony is in this film. It starts off as a heist movie, but then quickly descends into a psychological thriller.

    Simon Newton (James McAvoy) is an artist auctioneer who is involved with a group of criminals led by Franck (Vincent Cassel). Simon is the inside man in their attempt to steal a painting worth millions, but he double-crosses them and hides the painting. However, during the heist he is knocked unconscious and develops amnesia, therefore not remembering where he has hidden the painting. The group hire a hypnotherapist, Elizabeth (Rosario Dawson), to help recover the painting by delving into Simon’s mind through a number of different dreamscapes, also known as trances. The situation becomes complicated by a developing love-triangle between the three leads.

    tranceMy initial reaction to the film was that it reminded me very much of Christopher Nolan’s Inception, especially the psychological thriller aspects of it. Its fast pace holds the audience’s attention and reality and ‘trance’ become confused for both the characters and the audience. Many of the dream sequences are recognisable through the cinematography and the set design, the uses of coloured glass and reflexive surfaces, making Trance a highly visual film.

    Trance is somewhat reminiscent of many of Danny Boyle’s early works, being written by John Hodge, who also did the screenplay for Shallow Grave and Trainspotting. Trance also uses a similar electronic style soundtrack to Trainspotting, composed by Rick Smith from Underworld, whose song Born Slippy .NUXX appeared in Trainspotting. However, the idea behind Trance was originally a small budget TV movie back in 2001, written and directed by Joe Ahearne who is credited at the end of the film.
    In short, Trance shows why Danny Boyle is one of this country’s most respected, acknowledged and gifted filmmakers. It is not his best film (that will always be Trainspotting for me) and it is not perfect, the plot sometimes being overshadowed by general mayhem on the screen, but it is an enjoyable piece from a director at the top of his game. If you do not understand it first time round, go and see it again. This film will certainly benefit from repeat viewings.

    Danny Boyle film issue231 painting review Shallow Grave Trance
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Becci Jameson

    Deputy Editor, Design - 2013/14

    Related Posts

    Watch with Pride: Your Top TV Picks this Pride Month

    May 17, 2021

    Globe Trotting on Screen: Your Guide to Summer 2021

    May 16, 2021

    Too Close Review: Lust, Lies and Disaster

    May 9, 2021

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    MORE INFORMATION
    • ABOUT
    • ADVERTISE
    • CONTACT US
    • GET INVOLVED
    • MEMBERS
    Links
    • Bangor University Bangor University
    • Google+ Google+
    • Undeb Bangor Undeb Bangor
    About

    Seren is Bangor University Students’ Union’s English Language Newspaper

    We have editorial independence from both Bangor University and Bangor Students’ Union. Seren is written by students for students and we’d love you to get involved!

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.