Trance Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Trance" by Fox offers a visually striking display that befits the dizzying, dream-like essence Danny Boyle imparts on the film. Utilizing a wide array of digital cameras from the high-end Arri Alexa to consumer-grade Canon DSLRs and compact POV action cams, the film boasts an eclectic image quality that contributes uniquely to its aesthetic. Despite noticeable source noise, particularly chroma noise manifesting as tiny red and blue dots in darker scenes—perhaps an intentional choice— and occasional softness, the 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer shines with sharp, detailed visuals complemented by vivid, dreamy color reproduction and balanced contrast. The effort to stay true to the film's original vision is evident, avoiding any unnecessary digital noise reduction or artificial enhancements, thus preserving the movie's intended look.

With a 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer filling a 2.40:1 aspect ratio frame, "Trance" is rendered with fine textures and a stylistically strong transfer, albeit with minor inconsistencies. The utilization of various grades of digital cameras affords a mostly clean source, yet noise levels and static appearance occasionally spike in certain shots. This palette, consisting predominantly of cool, light pastel hues punctuated by bursts of more saturated colors, plays into the film's hypnotic ambiance. However, despite an impressive overall clarity and some sequences displaying commendable depth, a few scenes suffer from flatness and a noticeably digital appearance attributable to the differing equipment used. In tandem with this, the blacks can appear washed out in darker scenes, which, while not ideal for all content, synergizes well with "Trance’s" surreal atmosphere.

Overall, "Trance" is presented on Blu-ray with a level of panache that reinforces its enigmatic, noir vibes. The imagery is slick and stylish, capturing the essence of Boyle's vision through a transfer that admirates both its visual complexity and cinematic finesse. Despite a few visual irregularities and the mixed blessing of varied digital source quality, the Blu-ray succeeds in delivering an immersive visual experience that elevates the hypnotic narrative.

The Blu-ray audio presentation of "Trance" masterfully delivers an immersive auditory experience, utilizing a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track to envelop and captivate the listener. Under the guidance of Underworld's Rick Smith, the film's soundtrack combines electronic and orchestral elements to create a hypnotic and dynamic auditory landscape. Clarity is maintained across the range, with a particularly weighty low-end that adds depth to the film's more intense moments. The mix balances the aggressive beats of the score with delicate sound effects, creating a layered and intricate soundscape that extends well into the room, whether you're equipped with a 7.1 or 5.1 speaker setup. Dialogue, especially Rosario Dawson's soothing tones, is presented with crystal-clear fidelity, ensuring that every word is easily comprehensible against the backdrop of the bustling soundstage.

Moreover, the Blu-ray includes a variety of audio tracks and subtitles options to cater to a diverse audience, including English DTS-HD MA 7.1, English Descriptive Audio, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, and French Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks. The audio mix oscillates effortlessly between thumping music sequences and the delicate work of effects to fully immerse the audience in the film's enigmatic atmosphere. The sound design adeptly combines general city ambience with specific directional sounds, such as a creaking elevator, to create a convincing auditory environment. The dynamic range is impressively wide, capturing the tension of the narrative without distortion, while bass notes are deep and robust, lending aggression to the music and impact to the action sequences.

The audio presentation of "Trance" is a rhythmic and deliberate complement to its visual editing, using an engaging mix of music and effects to enhance the narrative's mind-bending journey. With its rich layering, directional sound work, and pristine dialogue clarity, it not only supports but elevates the viewing experience, demonstrating an exemplary balance between subtlety and power in sound design.

The supplementary content packed into the Blu-ray release of "Trance" presents a well-rounded compilation for aficionados and newcomers alike, keen to delve beyond the movie's surface. The array of deleted scenes, while varying in importance, offer an extended glimpse into otherwise unseen facets of the storyline. Particularly noteworthy is the comprehensive documentary, "The Power of Suggestion - Making Trance", which meticulously explores the film’s production through engaging interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, highlighting its noir elements, hypnotic premise, and visual intricacies. Furthermore, the inclusion of a "Danny Boyle Retrospective" provides an intimate look at the storied career of the film's director, albeit with a desire for more collaborative insights. The curious addition of Spencer Susser’s short film "Eugene" offers an unrelated yet unique storytelling experiment. The package is rounded off with a high-quality theatrical trailer, ensuring a deeper appreciation of the film’s craft.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted Scenes: Seven scenes offering additional or alternate takes, with a notable extended version of the MRI scene.
• The Power of Suggestion - Making Trance: A four-part deep dive into the movie’s script, hypnotherapy concept, visual style, and editing.
• Danny Boyle Retrospective: Boyle reflects on his cinematic journey, providing insights into his filmmaking approach and thematic explorations.
• Short Film: Eugene: An unrelated short film by Spencer Susser featured as a conceptual storytelling piece.
• Theatrical Trailer: Provides a crisp and immersive preview of the film with superior sound quality.

Trance," a dizzying film from the Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle, is a psychological thriller that intricately explores the fragility and malleability of human memory and identity. The movie unfurls through the entangled lives of Simon (played by James McAvoy), an auctioneer immersed in the high-stakes world of art theft, Elizabeth (Rosario Dawson), a hypnotist with murky motivations, and Franck (Vincent Cassel), a criminal mastermind. Set against the backdrop of a failed heist and the mysterious disappearance of a valuable painting, "Trance" delves deeply into the psyche of its characters, embarking on a narrative journey that is as much about uncovering personal truths as it is about uncovering the painting's whereabouts. The film initially situates itself within conventional art-heist tropes only to devolve into a labyrinth of narrative twists and psychological depth, challenging viewers to discern reality from illusion.

Danny Boyle's stylistic choices—ranging from neon-soaked cinematography to disorienting editing techniques—craft an atmosphere of suspense and ambiguity, effectively mirroring the protagonists' psychological unraveling. The film's visual language, marked by its use of distorted angles and reflective surfaces, blurs the line between the hypnotic and the real, plunging the audience into a state of constant questioning. James McAvoy delivers a compelling performance as Simon, the unreliable narrator whose lost memory serves as the crux of the plot. As pieces of his forgotten memories resurface, Simon's quest for truth becomes fraught with manipulation and deception. Rosario Dawson's portrayal of Elizabeth stands out, embedding layers of complexity into her character's interactions, which are central to the unfolding drama. Her nuanced performance captures Elizabeth's oscillation between vulnerability and manipulation, rendering her an enigmatic figure whose motivations are veiled in mystery.

While "Trance" is ambitious in its narrative structure and visual storytelling, it is not without its imperfections. The film’s later stages attempt to weave together its myriad thematic threads and plot twists, resulting in moments that feel convoluted or overwrought. Despite these occasional missteps, "Trance" remains an engaging thriller that succeeds in captivating its audience with a medley of suspense, intrigue, and psychological depth. It demands viewers' attention to detail and willingness to engage with its complex narrative architecture. Through its exploration of memory, identity, and desire, "Trance" showcases Boyle's ability to navigate the darker recesses of the human mind, offering a cinematic experience that is as intellectually stimulating as it is viscerally impactful.

Danny Boyle's "Trance" emerges as a divisive cinematic endeavor, challenging viewers with a labyrinthine psychological noir that delves deep into themes of deceit, memory, and identity. This is not a film for the passive spectator; it demands engagement and critical thinking, presenting a story that twists and folds in upon itself like a Möbius strip. While some may critique it for prioritizing style over substance, resulting in a narrative that feels at times both convoluted and circular, the Blu-ray release by 20th Century Fox does justice to Boyle's visual and auditory ambitions. The superb video transfer and crisp audio mix meticulously preserve the director's intricate soundscape and vibrant cinematography, ensuring that the film's aesthetic pleasures are uncompromised.

The special features, though not exhaustive, add a valuable dimension to the viewing experience. The making-of documentary, in particular, offers insightful glimpses into the creative process behind the film’s hypnotic allure. Longtime fans of Danny Boyle will find the overall package—bolstered by its technical merits and supplementary content—a worthwhile addition to their collection. Critics of "Trance" may point to its occasionally forced plot revelations and its struggle to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Boyle's most celebrated works, yet the Blu-ray release undeniably enhances its reception, catering to those who appreciate twisting narratives and psychological intricacies.

In conclusion, while "Trance" navigates the fine line between genius and convolution, its Blu-ray presentation solidifies it as a compelling piece for enthusiasts of Danny Boyle's oeuvre and fans of cerebral thrillers. The film may weave through themes and narratives with a complexity that won't suit all tastes, yet its exceptional visual and audio transfer, coupled with a modest selection of special features, assures its place as an engaging, albeit polarizing, cinematic experience.