Review of Trainspotting

Introduction

Trainspotting, the film that single-handed started the Brit-flick phenomenon. Surprisingly, you won`t find a single cockney gangster or Vinnie Jones cameo in the entire movie. Looking back now, when the British movie industry often seems awash with generic gangster flicks, it is surprising that the film that sparked this resurgence was such an original, thought provoking and fresh concept. What`s more, after seven years it still feels that way.

Trainspotting takes snapshots in the lives of a group of friends in Edinburgh, most of them heroin addicts, as seen through the eyes of Mark Renton. The film is an insight into these characters as they go through their lives, from one `hit` to the next, while discussing philosophy and Sean Connery movies. Starting off fairly light in tone, the story becomes more harrowing as the characters are drawn further into self-destruction, but Renton has a chance to get out.

Video

A two-sided disc gives you the option of 16:9 anamorphic or 4:3 ratios, which is nice. The picture is great with a gritty urban setting contrasting with the occasional flashes of drug-induced fantasy. The image has never been sharper, with the worst toilet in Scotland becoming uncomfortably vivid.

Audio

The sound is presented as DD 5.1. The sound is good but the soundtrack is brilliant, with some of the best tunes complementing the film. Viva Iggy Pop.

Features

For the sake of extras, you get a few filmographies.

Conclusion

What an outstanding cast, Ewan McGregor is Renton, Ewen Bremner is Spud, Johnny Lee Miller is Sick Boy, Robert Carlyle is the psychotic Begbie and Kelly MacDonald is Diane. McGregor shines as Renton, torn between the `skag` and making a life for himself. Whenever I see Begbie on screen, I`m frankly scared, and Robert Carlyle must be commended for creating the ultimate screen bad guy. It must be the `tache. Extra credit for Peter Mullen as the dealer, Mother Superior who is just brilliant.

The script could easily have been a stage play, but Danny Boyle`s inspired direction and vision has created an unforgettable piece of cinema. The flow of imagery and carefully constructed scenes leave an indelible imprint on the mind. Eschewing the normal narrative you would expect in a movie, Trainspotting is a flow of consciousness that only begins to take shape in the final act. Often hilarious, sometimes harrowing, this film is a stylised story that doesn`t fail to entertain. This is the kind of film that comes rarely but leaves a lasting impression. Whether it`s Renton diving into the toilet, the airgun scene, Spud and the bed sheets or Renton`s Dale Winton withdrawal, there is always a brilliant scene to reward the viewer. I know that I maybe intimidated by Begbie, but when he gets into the car with the Drag Queen, I allow space for a belly laugh. And that sums up this film, very funny, but with enough of an edge to keep you thinking. The best film to come from recent British cinema, bar none.