Review of Trainspotting (1996) by Kal X. A — 14 Jun 2016
Really one of those films that is as fantastic as many people give it credit for. We are not so much shown what heroin does to a young person directly but rather we see Renton, Spud, Sick Boy, Tommy, and co.
experience it through a secondary lens via their experiences with junk despite this really being a film about people and how they react to different situations they find themselves in. We see their faults, we see their redeeming factors, and most of all, we see their personalities come, go, and linger like the hits they take.
It would be a simpler road to make this film entirely grim as the scenario itself is, but to add comedy and a very much present sense of humor is a stroke of genius. It was a difficult task even in the 1990s to make a film showing the grim reality that some find themselves trapped in (i.
E. a group of junkies in late 80s Edinburgh), but to make it believable and worthy of sitting through is a feat all in it's own. Anyone looking for clarity on why Ewan McGregor is as lauded as he is need not look further than this film.
This review of Trainspotting (1996) was written by Kal X. A on 14 Jun 2016.
Trainspotting has generally received very positive reviews.
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