Blah, blah, blah - I'm bored and etc. Anybody got a car they want washing?
Blah, blah, blah - I'm bored and etc. Anybody got a car they want washing?
Member since:03.10.2000
Reviews:231
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How come some films never fail to elicit certain responses at certain times? Huh? What are you talking about? Well you know that people will always cry at the end of ET, they'll always jump at certain points during Alien, and that they always consider suicide when Michael Winner is involved. It's a fact and shows the art of filmmaking at it's best (although this does NOT imply that Michael Winner is filmmaking at it's best - far from it). Why am I mentioning it though? Well while I'm by no means a fanatic, I have seen Trainspotting about 6 times. Ok so it's not a huge number but every time I go through the same range of emotions at exactly the same time. I know what's coming but STILL get involved in a way that's entirely unhealthy.
Drug addict Mark Renton lives out his terrible existence in the ghetto's of Edinburgh with his collection of 'friends'. All feeding off each other and 'enjoying' the drug induced haze that gets them through the day. A more depraved bunch of low lives you couldn't hope to meet: Sick Boy and his Sean Connery obsession, Spud and his total failure to succeed, psycho Begbie, and whiter than white Tommy. Despite Tommy and Begbie's urging to kick the habit, Mark, Spud, and Sick Boy inject, inhale, and ingest just about every banned substance known to man. Why? Boredom. The hopelessness of their situation is merely a signpost towards the bleak future ahead of them. After several failed attempts to give up the drugs, Mark is caught shoplifting and with the help of his parents goes cold turkey. His life back on track he heads for London but all too quickly finds his past catching up with him... Can Mark resist the temptations and, as the story so famous says, 'choose life'?
From the very moment Trainspotting starts, you get the feeling that this is going to be something different and you won't be disappointed. The opening narrative sets up the choice facing every drug addict - life or death? Do you choose 'life' with it's cars, jobs, and dishwashers or do you choose the path that follows the heroin addict (with all it's inherant dangers)?
Trainspotting is in no way a subtle film but in no way does it shock needlessly. The depiction of drug addiction are not used to promote or glamorise but to reveal the horror and possible
motivation behind the drug use. The hopelessness of Renton and his 'friends' cannot be used as an excuse for their antics but it shows the underbelly of life in modern day Scotland. The total desolation caused by Tory governments, the bleak future awaiting these guys, and the mind-numbing boredom that drives them to 'experiment'. Inexorably linked with the club scene, underage sex, AIDS, and the myriad of other 'taboos' that middle England likes to ignore, the drug's scene is excellently explored and it's scary viewing.
The story stretches over such a good length of time that we get a chance to see the longer term effects of drug use and the effects that they have on people's lives. The long term desperation, the descent into oblivion and all manner of 'lives' are explored. While Mother Superior may represent the hardened dealer/user (and is arguably one of the most socially horrific characters in the film), we also see the 'newbie' in the guise of Tommy. His I'm-an-adult-and-I-can-try-it-once argument may sound all too familiar and run through many a teenage mind but Trainspotting should serve as an example of just how strong the hold of heroin can be. Tommy's descent from respectable guy with a girlfriend to being a needle punctured corpse in a coffin is great storytelling and using a more periphery character rather than the central Renton allows us to see the after effects far more clearly. Renton's narration runs throughout and not only does this serve as an insight into his feelings and emotions but it allows us to understand the physical effects and reasoning behind the events on screen. We discover all sorts of revolting facts (users are constipated, their sex drive plummets etc.). If preached at us in a health service leaflet kind of way, this would be patronising but Trainspotting's approach comes across as a message from the inside.
It's not all bleak though and indeed if this film was simply what I've covered already, then Trainspotting would be one of the most depressing and dull films that you could ever see. It isn't though. While the drug induced hallucinations are never depicted on screen and we never journey through the no doubt kaleidoscope of colours and images that users 'see', Trainspotting is nonetheless a very colourful film. Ok so we're not talking visually but in it's own grim way it's incredibly varied. The camerawork is excellent and gives us some fabulous shots and angles, and while they may simply be to enhance the drug like state, they are visually wonderful.
Without a doubt though it's the humour that lifts Trainspotting. As with so many working class dramas, the humour runs deep and simply. There's swearing, violence and all manner of depravity but somehow it's wonderful. You'll cringe, feel sick, and marvel at some of the acts of brutality but they're all done in such a way as to appeal to sadists like myself. Firing air pellets up a dog's ass, Spud's 'runny bottom', the most disgusting toilet in Britain - They're all revolting and nauseating but funny at the same time.
Ewan McGregor looks dreadful in this film but that's a good thing (?!?!?). His sallow complexion, painfully thin figure, and pinpoint eyes are striking and perfect examples of the traits exhibited by addicts. And what of the future Obi Wan Kenobi? He's wonderful. McGregor's performance is compelling and draws you to him, warming us to what should be a revolting character. We see his soul laid bare and feel a certain sadness for him. After he finally kicks the habit we feel genuine fear that he may be tempted once more. It's a first rate performance and I can't compliment him enough. Ewan Bremner is geeky and hilariously stupid as Spud and scenes such as his 'interview' are a hoot ("My pleasure is other people's leisure"). Connery obsessed Sick Boy is well acted by Johnny Lee Miller and although he becomes just another bad guy, Sick Boy has a far greater emotional range than the somewhat one trick Spud. Finally we get to psycho Begbie. Robert Carlisle is terrific as the drug free hardman and he's just so typical of the hardman image that Scotland is trying to shed. Violent in the extreme, Carlisle draws your eyes toward him with his almost insanely focused performance.
Danny Boyle explodes onto the screen in this powerhouse of a film. The subject material is difficult to tackle effectively and Boyle does a first rate job. His direction is fast paced and gives us a totally unique perspective of the culture. His devotion to Scotland is admirable and he makes great use of the locale and the entire Scottish way of life. His use of slang and colloquialisms may have led the US laserdisc release to include a 'translation guide' (honestly) but so what? It's the language of the land and indeed suits the film far better than any other. Can you imagine Trainspotting in US accents? What about if everyone spoke the "Queen's English" (in a plumby accent)? It just wouldn't work. The action and drama never drag and Boyle keeps things moving along fabulously. Whether it's the grim reality of the character's situations or the wild and uncontrollable visions that Renton sees as he goes cold turkey, Boyle never lets what's on screen appear dull or boring.
Deeply dependant on it's music, it's just a shame that I'm such an airhead where music is concerned. Apologies in advance but music isn't my thing and I won't do the soundtrack justice in the slightest. The thumping bass of the rave culture permeates the film and serves as something of an undercurrent, forever appearing in the background and enhancing the frenetic pace of the onscreen action.
There will be those who instantly decree that Trainspotting DOES promote drug use but anyone who has seen it will vehemantly disagree with that. This promotion of the drugs debate is all well and good but at the end of the day, we're interested in whether this film is entertaining or not. It is. It's dark, violent, almost horrific at times, and yes it does deal with extremely serious issues, but it's first rate entertainment that's not spoiled with any sense of being patronising or downplaying the gravity of the characters or their situation(s).
It certainly won't appeal to all. Anyone who is snug and secure in their home counties style living room had best avoid it as should anyone who thinks that 'bugger' is the height of swearing (and when you live with Mrs TheNeil you kind of have your vocabulary broadened - You wouldn't believe that such a sweet creature could swear like a trooper). Those of us who want to journey down darker paths will love it, and even the brain dead car obsessed amongst us (i.e. my illiterate brother) will find it great (although probably not for the same reason).
I'm just amazed that some bright spark hasn't decided to make Trainspotting 2 yet (oh what a travesty that would be).
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Production Year: 2003 - Drama - Director: Michael Winterbottom - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Tim Robbins, Samantha Morton, Om Puri, Jeanne Balibar
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
The film that effectively launched the star careers of Robert Carlyle, Ewan McGregor and ... more
Jonny Lee Miller is a hard, barbed picaresque, culled from the bestseller by Irvine Welsh and thrown down against the heroin hinterlands of Edinburgh. Directed wit...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
The film that effectively launched the star careers of Robert Carlyle, Ewan McGregor and ... more
Jonny Lee Miller is a hard, barbed picaresque, culled from the bestseller by Irvine Welsh and thrown down against the heroin hinterlands of Edinburgh. Directed wit...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
The film that effectively launched the star careers of Robert Carlyle, Ewan McGregor and ... more
Jonny Lee Miller is a hard, barbed picaresque, culled from the bestseller by Irvine Welsh and thrown down against the heroin hinterlands of Edinburgh. Directed wit...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
The film that effectively launched the star careers of Robert Carlyle, Ewan McGregor and ... more
Jonny Lee Miller is a hard, barbed picaresque, culled from the bestseller by Irvine Welsh and thrown down against the heroin hinterlands of Edinburgh. Directed wit...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family... This is the story of Mark ... more
Renton (Ewan McGregor) and his so-called friends - a bunch of losers liars psychos thieves and junkies. Hilarious but harrowing the film charts the disintegra...
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Advantages: Simply and excellently crafted movie that will make you both laugh and cry Disadvantages: Strong language, some sex, occasional brutal violence, scenes of drug taking may offend some people
brianbarnes 06.07.2001 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Trainspotting (DVD)
Advantages: Sublime and raw, a potently must-see eye-opener for the public. Disadvantages: Blotches of the disgusting capability of human anatomy - lots of faeces and the likes.
ikeaholic 11.07.2004 (11.07.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Trainspotting (DVD)
![Trainspotting [DVD] [1996]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78551594.jpg "Trainspotting [DVD] [1996]")
![Trainspotting [DVD] [1995]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/75200850.jpg "Trainspotting [DVD] [1995]")
![Trainspotting [DVD] [1996] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/116083763.jpg "Trainspotting [DVD] [1996] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]")
Oct 22nd, 2001
(Oct 23rd, 2001)
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