Trance

Danny Boyle's hypnosis heist caper, Trance, crams an overload of the director's trademark flourishes into a belaboured screenplay until the entire enterprise falls apart. James McAvoy stars as an auctioneer who suffers from a bout of amnesia after crooks attempt to steal a priceless painting. Which is a problem, as the thieves would like to know where he hid the painting they're looking for, please. So begins one of the movie's first chasm-sized leaps of logic, as the plan becomes taking a wired McAvoy to a hypnotherapist to try and remember. Rosario Dawson, who's rarely used to her talent, does what she can with the roundabout material offered. A glaringly unnecessary scene of nudity, though, will sadly be the only thing audiences probably remember from her. There's a lot to like in Trance, but a story that stands up to no scrutiny and some fairly inaccurate ideas about memory muddy the waters too much. —Jacob Boon