Review of Trainspotting (1996) by Dov D — 09 Oct 2012

(SPOILERS CONTAINED) Danny Boyle's first of many cinematic marvels, this surreal journey through Ireland's drug scene can best be described as Requiem For A Dream with wit and hope injected into it.

The cast is brilliant, the cleverness of the script mesmerizing, and the fantastic hallucination sequences riveting. This group of men experience both highs and lows throughout this movie and, separating it from Requiem, several of the characters make honest attempts at cleaning up there lives.

The genius of Trainspotting lies within Ewan McGregor's character's unwavering commitment to the idea of getting better despite his unwillingness to actually change. Different characters experience different obstacles and deal with them in different ways, showing the wide range of personality types displayed in the film.

Ewan McGregor overcomes his heroine addiction (for the most part) only to screw over his closest of friends and to end the movie with the same montage-esque speech about what he's going to accomplish since this time he will actually change, when the reality is he never has.

Bottom line, though Trainspotters isn't nearly as compelling and persuasive a film as Requiem, it's British wit and occasional lightheartedness draws the audience to a hopeful state of mind, making it all the more depressing once we realize that their plans for a brighter tomorrow a merely a facade they are unable to see through.