Review: Trainspotting (1996)

by Tegan Piper

Trainspotting is about Renton, who is deeply immersed in the Edinburgh drug scene, as he tries to clean up and get out, despite the allure of the drugs and influence of friends. The film is about a wild, freeform, Rabelaisian trip through the darkest recesses of Edinburgh low-life. It focuses on Mark Renton and his attempt to give up his heroin habit, and how the latter affects his relationship with family and friends: Sean Connery wannabe Sick Boy, slow Spud, psycho Begbie, 14-year-old girlfriend Diane, and clean-cut athlete Tommy, who's never touched drugs but can't help being curious about them…

This film in my opinion is amazing. It's an extremely competent look at the Scottish drug-Scene. Trainspotting is a perfect example of the potential of the UK industry to tell a story of tragedy, horror and hope in a manner that the American industry has yet to do without drifting into tired Cliche. While the manner and style of delivery are extremely funny and at times appear almost unreal, the fact remains that these characters are real. The clearly psychotic and alcoholic Begbie, played by Robert Carlyle is a supporting role that has huge value to the film. Here we have character who I've met, you've met and we've all met. A man with nothing to lose absorbed in a sea of alcohol and prone to violence. I choose him as an example because he isn't even involved in the drug-scene in which the main characters are central. In fact his opposition is somewhat humorous when we consider his own vices make him arguably worse off and the incidences of violence he becomes involved in are most definitely dark humour. Considering what is actually happening isn't funny, watching it play out, aside from one major incident, is extremely funny. That is the tone of the film throughout, as characters continually talk nonsense and sail through the lives they have chosen, making very little progress, but instead drifting downwards until an opportunity presents itself to change their ways. Where Renton, Ewan McGregor, must make a choice between his own life or his friends. McGregor himself is amazing in the film. As is Jonny Lee Miller, who’s character surprised me in this film by having a more thought-provoking character than the script and time allowed considering his relatively minimal place in the main storyline. Ewen Bremner provided some amazing and often well-needed comic relief and Carlyle as I mentioned, was excellent. This film creates an unforgettable experience accompanied by strains of "Perfect day" and other cultural and nostalgic sounds, particularly of the place and period. Trainspotting has been accused of glamorizing drug-use but I firmly believe anyone who takes this view hasn't watched it properly. The fun is equally, if not more so, matched by some nasty images and for the time it was released, provided what was a very necessary look at the growing drug industry, the loss it creates and the hope that can arise. This film is a cult classic and you need to watch it!!!

Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a three-piece suit on hire purchase in a range of fucking fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck you are on Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pissing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked up brats you spawned to replace yourselves. Choose your future. Choose life... But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose something else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you've got heroin?