Review of Trainspotting (1996) by Kevin M — 05 Jan 2012

Trainspotting is the directorial debut of the great Danny Boyle. It's a drug-based movie, specifically heroin, and stars a young Ewan McGregor. The first half of the movie shows what it's like to be an addict.

The drug den that they use the heroin in is a total mess: wallpaper is peeling off the walls and addicts are sleeping on dirty cots. Oh, and a baby just happens to be crawling around. The middle of the movie shows what it's like coming off the drug, and the severe withdrawal effects that come along with it.

I found this part of the movie to be one of the most discomforting and shocking sequences. The second half of the movie shows main addict Mark Renton's (McGregor) life, post-addiction. The difference was really amazing, not only in Renton's behavior but his physical appearance as well.

This is a great movie that depicts the dirtiest, hardest drug of them all and what life is like in its presence. My favorite part was the ending, by far. I couldn't help but think of A Clockwork Orange with that similar, strange, quirky style Boyle captures on the screen, as Kubrick did with A Clockwork Orange.

This certainly isn't Boyle's best work, but it's still a good movie.