Trainspotting (1996)

 

Genre: Drama

Time: 1h 34mins

Director: Danny Boyle

Quick Summary: Renton, deeply immersed in the Edinburgh drug scene, tries to clean up and get out, despite the allure of the drugs and the influence of friends.

Perfect. Perfect. Perfect.

This is a magnificent, thrilling and beautifully disgusting film. It instantly hooks you by opening with a long monologue which is one of the most iconic I have ever heard. Despite its "cool reputation", it shows the ugliness of addiction. It perfectly shows British culture in the 80/90s too.

The plot is very difficult to explain, as it doesn't really have a narrative flow other than the extremely wild, disjointed and hectic experiences of Renton, the Main Character. However, it manages to be very funny and imaginative all the way, using many different tricks and touches to be funny in a sort of dark and twisted humour. The script is wonderfully written that has such depth to it all while being deeply disturbing as we follow someone trying to get off drugs, though being in the wrong crowd.

The editing and camerawork are incredible, having layer after layer in most scenes. Vibrant colour is used to exaggerate the actions to intensify the imagery on screen. You're bombarded with images that are very discomforting in their own ways. But, amazingly, none of them are used merely for shock value. Though the viewer will be more than likely horrified by some of the things that happen these scenes all make perfect sense within the context of a masterfully told story. The angles are unique and jarring, just like the story itself. The visual narrative has its own duality: recreating the atmospheric comfort of a heroin high as well as the horrors of withdrawal

Ewan McGregor is amazing in this and I honestly think this was a better performance than his role in star wars. He is the star of this, but the supporting cast is just as good which shows the effects of being in with the wrong crowd of people and trying to leave an old way of life behind. They're not as good as Ewan himself, but they are brilliant being support. Each one shows how addiction and drugs can send you into a downward spiral and how things can and will get worse. You can go from the optimal healthy standard for a person to into the dark and gritty pit of drugs.

The soundtrack is spot-on, fitting perfectly at all times. I think it's almost as iconic as the film itself. You hear the songs from it and instantly put them into this film. Even before I watched this, I was relating a lot of the songs to it. 

Every scene is so meticulously thought out while also preserving Trainspotting's messy atmosphere. Saying I was glued to my screen would be an understatement. This is a top-tier, perfect and flawless film to me. Everything and Everyone is so complex, the script is spot on, and I couldn't have wanted a more perfect film. Might not be for everyone, since there are a lot of disturbing moments and themes and can be extreme at times. But it's one to definitely make sure you see.

10/10

"Choose Life."

"Choose life... But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose somethin' else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you've got heroin?"

"The truth is that I'm a bad person. But, that's gonna change - I'm going to change."