Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

Trainspotting is the weirdest movie on the planet to be made within the last few years (older weird movies include Fahrenheit 451 and Blue Velvet).

"THE REASONS? THERE ARE NO REASONS. WHO NEEDS REASONS WHEN YOU'VE GOT HEROIN" -QUOTE FROM TRAINSPOTTING.


1. HOW DOES THIS MOVIE COMPARE TO OTHERS YOU HAVE SEEN?

Well, it really doesn't. Trainspotting was highly successful as a British play whose screenplay was adapted from the original book "Trainspotting" by Irvine Welsh. The only movie that slightly could be related to it (because it is also based on a book about addiction and then made into a movie) is Leaving Las Vegas, but Leaving was too dark to really be compared to Trainspotting at all so I am at a loss.

I guess you could compare the comedic scenes in Trainspotting to British humor shows such as Monty Python or even cruder shows from America such as the Tom Green show (only when it comes to the toilet scene). However, this film has a more realistic view of the drug world that surges in and out of fantasy. We know (as the viewer) where the main character's, Renton, fantasies begin but we also know why...because of heroin.

2. WHO'S POINT OF VIEW IS THE MOVIE BASED ON?

Renton, the main character, is awash in a sea of drugs which he defends because he is "not stupid" and claims that most people forget how good it feels to shoot heroin-- claiming it beats all other feelings in the world (including sex). This is a no-stops honest film in the perspective of a junkie in a world of junkies from the positive point of view of a junkie. He defends heroin and its uses, the up side to laying on the floor in a heroin high, and even why junkies are better than the average non-drug user. The story is written as such that one moment flows into the next, interrupted by occasional violence and eventually the realization of his own pathetic reality through the eyes of Mr. Mark Renton.

Spud, is Renton's best mate and the funniest character in the movie. His life is based on one disaster after another and you can barely understand what he is saying half of the time. He is the one character we feel the most empathy for, besides Renton. Spud is the scapegoat.

Tommy, is a lost soul in a world of Heroin addicted friends who is in most of his friend's eyes a straight laced wanna-be. However, they still allow him to try heroin as his life takes a dramatic turn. Tommy is the wanna-be/loser.

Sickboy, is the jigalo of the movie. He has the best one-liners, the tightest suits, and the hippest life. He is the character that most men want to be because he gets away with everything while continuing to jerk others around. Sickboy is the James Bond idiot.

Begbie, is the complete and total **ckhead of the movie. There is nothing more to say. This role is played brilliantly. We have no empathy for this character but he is so mean he makes us feel ashamed to laugh. Begbie is the **ckhead.

Diane, is Renton's sarcastic love interest. Diane is shortchanged in her role but does an excellent job at stealing the three scenes she is in. Diane is the wickedly intellegent muse.

3. TRY NOT TO SUMMARIZE THE PLOT. ANALYZE IT...

I am not really sure how to do that. Okay, here goes nothing:

Renton is a great guy who realizes that life is not as interesting as he would want it to be. He is stuck in Scotland as a native "the lowest of the low, the scum of the...earth" without anyone to date. He lives at home with his parents because he is unemployed. His life is going no where. Drugs are his only escape, his only true feeling, otherwise he is numb or too scared to face the crap which are...his friends/his parents/his life.

This movie looks at Renton's story as if it is telling the story of every drug user ever born. The real feeling of how drugs effect you and how the drug user sees the world. This story is not pretty by any means, but real and funny in parts. It has it comedy, but mostly the comedy is very tragic. The drug world is full of people that are just as normal as you and I but have gone astray.

This movie does portray a bad side to drugs but everyone looks pretty good anyway. Why? because the filmmakers did their best to create a world of heroin addiction that even we can't say is not addicting. The red carpets invite us in, the red walls, the lighting, the uselessness of sex and drugs are all as addictive to watch as Renton's life spirals up and down and up. We want him to realize what he is doing, but we also want to know what happens next. The plus sides to this movie are juxtaposed with real downers and the down sides are violently tragic. The highs are brief and short lived but enjoyable, serving as a reminder to what heroin feels like as well.

4. WHO WOULD ENJOY THIS MOVIE?


Mainly Generation X and the eccentric person. This movie uses pop culture and music from Gen X timelines. Plus Trainspotting is very off the wall in its screenplay and filming so...it is weird and the average nonconformist will absolutely adore it.

Honestly, I didn't like this movie the first time I saw it. I had a hard time understanding what was being said and I thought it was far too dark and disturbing. Then I watched it more and the more I did the more ADDICTED to it I became. Trainspotting is no fairytale, but sometimes we need a little darkness to deal with our own imperfect reality.

5. WHY DID YOU SEE THIS MOVIE?

I saw this movie because I heard how much acclaim it received and I think I was the last person my age to ever see it, so I figured I better follow the crowd. I wanted to know what all the hype was about. I am forever changed by this movie and I love Ewan McGregor too (the main actor) so that influenced me.

6. WHY SHOULD YOU RENT THIS MOVIE?

Trainspotting will show you the world of drugs from a different perspective. It is well written and well filmed. This is a must-see for any filmmaker. You must have a very open mind to get through this entire film. It is filled with obcenities and graphic gross out scenes, but I still love it.





Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age