Review of Trainspotting (1996) by Meritcoba — 01 May 2016

Who doesn't want to escape to the better life? Renton most certainly does. He is a lowlife from that poor part of town where he and his criminal friends; Spud, Sick Boy and Begbie do nothing much, for there isn't much they can do. Well, petty crimes and shooting dope. It is the late eighties and early nineties and the economic down turn is at its worst.

The movie starts with Renton listing all the things he is missing, the movie ends with it too. What has happened in between the beginning and the end?Just daily life of the poverty stricken criminal lower strata of English urban society. But with one significant exception: Renton and his mates have struck gold: sixteen thousand pounds worth of it. But it is the amount of money that is interesting. On its own it is a reasonable sum, but split four ways the money wouldn't last them long. Does Renton take the money and run?

Telling it would be spoiling your fun.

The important question is: would it matter?

For Renton can maybe escape his crummy friends, his downtrodden neighborhood and his poverty-stricken town, but can he escape himself?

Trainspotting is a movie that feels dated in a way, but actually it ought to be as it is made for that particular time in that particular place with those particular people. It is well acted and well told. The music, smartly chosen, supports the tale. But in the end it feels a bit empty and sad really. Not that a movie should not be empty and sad. But even if Renton gets out with the money, all the other Rentons, Begbies, Spuds, Sick Boys are still there.