Movie Notes: Trainspotting

March 12th, 2009

Trainspotting

= 5 stars

Starring Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, Kelly Macdonald
Directed by Danny Boyle

Synopsis

The adventures of a group of loser heroin addicts, led by Renton (Ewan McGregor), trying to find some purpose in life.

The Good

Boyle’s a great director, really bold, with crazy camera angles emphasizing the momentum in every scene. Nearly every scene has something to gawk at, the pace is blistering.
McGregor carries the whole film with a youthful energy, appropriately dazed look, and absolute freak out where appropriate.
The supporting cast of nutcases is mesmerizing and hilarious: Gawky but ultra-violent Begbie (Robert Carlyle), relatively more mature 14-year-old Diane (Kelly Macdonald) and Sick Boy (Johnny Lee Miller) with a James Bond obsession.
Although about heroin, it’s a complete condemnation of it, as Renton’s pleasure is contrasted with absolutely disgusting situations (crawling down a toilet to grab drugs, “shite” in a blanket) and the horrifying effect of drugs on people’s lives. Anybody who sees this flick and considers it a glamorous lifestyle is an idiot.
Neato soundtrack.

The Bad

The subject matter and situations are admittedly depressing and at times distasteful – lots of swearing, body waste, bar fights, and generally socially unacceptable behavior.

Conclusion

Before 28 Days Later and Sunshine Danny Boyle gave us this tour de force of film nirvana – crazy camera angles, bold cuts, stunning sequences, and inventive imagery. The directing alone deserves three stars, and another duly earned for the great characters, acting and story. This film is from 1996 but it still feels fresh today – the last star. This is a classic flick, A Clockwork Orange for a new generation.

IMDB: Trainspotting
Wikipedia: Trainspotting
Rotten Tomatoes: Trainspotting 88%

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