Danny Boyle isn’t exactly an under the radar filmmaker, but his latest film, Trance, hasn’t received as much buzz and hype as one would have expected it to. Nevertheless, it’s still an excellent movie and one that far too many people missed out on.
Critics have said that it doesn’t come close to some of the director’s other works, films like 127 Hours and Trainspotting. And while that is true, Trance is still a Boyle film through and through and is certainly one of the more enjoyable motion pictures to come our way in the first half of 2013.
Sleek and polished, this psychological thriller features some excellent performances from its main cast (James McAvoy, Rosario Dawson and Vincent Cassel) and also features that undeniable Boyle touch, which makes for a fantastic visual and aural experience.
The wonderful filmmaking aside, as that’s to be expected when you have a Danny Boyle movie, I found the story to be quite captivating. Though it blurs the lines between what’s real and what isn’t, and will surely leave you scratching your head for days to come, I thought that the execution of it all was quite good and several parts were quite clever.
Definitely not a film for the mainstream audience but a solid movie that should be checked out if you want a bit of a challenge. And if you’re a fan of Rosario Dawson.
[h2]14) The Company You Keep [/h2]
This is one of my favorite films of the year thus far and I’m shocked that more people aren’t talking about it. Robert Redford’s latest is a political thriller that features a career best performance from Shia LaBeouf, who is surrounded by some of Hollywood’s most sought after talent (Anna Kendrick, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci, Nick Nolte, Chris  Cooper, Redford himself and many more).
The Company You Keep is a slow burning thriller, one that demands your attention throughout and keeps you engaged for the entire time. A sharply written script and Redford’s assured direction keep things moving at a brisk pace as LaBeouf’s character, journalist Ben Shepard, chases down clue after clue until he gets what he’s after. And we’re right there with him, every step of the way.
The film doesn’t necessarily do anything revolutionary or groundbreaking, but it offers up a well constructed story with some strong performances from an all-star cast. It may or may not pick up awards buzz but either way, it’s a film we definitely suggest checking out.
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