In My All-Time Top 10 List

Rating: 9/10 (29 August 2007)

Trainspotting grabs you by the proverbials from the first scene and doesn't let go. An astounding portrait of friendship, addiction, sexuality, young adulthood, poverty, Scotland, misery, perseverance, loyalty and redemption. It skewers mainstream values while showing that the rejection of these values in favor of a junkie's lifestyle is ultimately a dead end, and just as vapid as mainstream life can be. The film develops it's characters extremely fast and with precision. We are drawn to them and feel an affinity with them for a variety of reasons, even though they are all in one way or another, degenerates. But we pull for them to beat their habits, to get out of their miserable conditions. But we never pity them, because despite their predicament, they manage to live it up and live life, and feel emotion and express their desires. There is also plenty of humor to go around, much of it dark. The editing, soundtrack, acting and story suck you in to an "experience". The film has heart and soul and set a new standard in it's way. It is such an original work of art, with many memorable scenes. The mark of a brilliant film is when you become overwhelmed with sentimentality when the credits roll. Such was the case with the great "Trainspotting".