Trainspotting

Rating: 10/10 (1 July 2005)

Many films become a massive hit and define the decade and popular culture they are made, this 90s British film is definitely one of the best examples, based on the book by Irvine Welsh, directed by Danny Boyle (Shallow Grave, The Beach, 28 Days Later). Basically in Edinburgh, Scotland, we are introduced to heroin addict Mark "Rent Boy" Renton (Scotland BAFTA winner Ewan McGregor) and his fellow addict friends, con artist Simon "Sick Boy" Williamson; slow-witted, kind-hearted Daniel "Spud" Murphy (Ewen Bremner); clean-cut athlete Thomas "Tommy" MacKenzie (Kevin McKidd) and psychopath Francis "Franco" Begbie (Scotland BAFTA nominated Robert Carlyle). Renton decides to quit heroin and eases the transition with opium rectal suppositories bought from dealer Mikey Forrester (Irvine Welsh), he has a final hit, and a spell of violent diarrhoea, before locking himself in a cheap hotel room to endure the withdrawal period. Renton goes with his friends to a club, his sex drive has returned, he leaves with young girl Diane (Scotland BAFTA nominated Kelly Macdonald) and they have sex, in the morning he is shocked to find out she is a 15-year- old schoolgirl, she blackmails him to stay in touch. Renton, Sick Boy and Spud start taking heroin again, Tommy begins using it as well, as his girlfriend Lizzy (Pauline Lynch) has dumped him, one day their drug taking is interrupted by friend and fellow addict Allison (Susan Vidler) discovering her infant daughter Dawn has died from neglect, all are horrified, especially Sick Boy who may secretly be the child's father. Renton and Spud are arrested after stealing from a bookshop, Spud goes to prison, while Renton is released for entering a Drug Interventions Programme, he is given methadone, but is desperate for a more substantial high, Renton almost dies of an overdose and is taken by taxi to hospital. Following this Renton's parents, Mr. Renton (James Cosmo) and Mrs. Renton (Eileen Nicholas), take him home and lock in his old bedroom to force him through withdrawal, Renton goes through the symptoms, and sees nightmarish images, including Diane singing, his friends giving him advice, the dead baby crawling on the ceiling, and his parents on a gameshow hosted by Dale Winton, with questions about HIV. Renton finally woken from his nightmares and hallucinations, his parents tell him to get tested, he tests negative, despite the years of sharing syringes with other addicts, Renton is in low spirits and depressed, he visits Tommy, who is now addicted and HIV- positive. Renton takes a job as a property letting agent, he is enjoying his life of sobriety and saving his money, while still seeing Diane, however he is annoyed when Begbie and Sick Boy move into his bedsit unannounced, Begbie has committed armed robbery, and Sick Boy is now a pimp and drug dealer. Tommy dies from toxoplasmosis, the three attend his funeral, Spud has been released from prison, Sick Boy suggests a lucrative but dangerous heroin transaction, but Renton needs to supply some of the money, and he tests the heroin for its purity. They sell the heroin to a London dealer for £16,000, they celebrate in a pub, Renton suggests to Spud stealing the money, but Spud is too scared of what Begbie will do, but Renton is finally fed up with Begbie, having seen his reaction to an accidental beer spill, he glasses and beats a man near to death. Early in the morning, as the others sleep, Renton takes the money bag from sleeping Bedbie's arms, Spud is awake and they look at each other as he watches him leave, but Spud remains silent. In the end, when the others awaken, Begbie is in a violent rage and destroys the hotel room, Sick Boy and Spud flee as the police arrive, Renton vows to stay stable, and Spud £4,000 in a locker. Also starring Peter Mullan as Swanney "Mother Superior", Shirley Henderson as Gail and Keith Allen as Dealer. McGregor is brilliant as the smart-aleck junkie, Carlyle is stunning as the violent, easily enraged psycho, and the other supporting stars give great performances too, Boyle's direction is stylish and intelligent, it really brings the book to life, the subjects of drug-taking and petty-crime are covered in both hilarious and hard-hitting ways, the film is not afraid to be controversial and at times bleak, but there are the lighter scenes which keep it fun, it is a true original British classic, a must see black comedy drama. It was nominated the Oscar for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, it won the BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay, and it was nominated for the Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film, and it won the Scotland BAFTA for Best Feature Film, and it was nominated for Best Writer. Ewan McGregor was number 9 on The 100 Greatest Movie Stars, Robert Carlyle was number 17, and McGregor number 2 on The 50 Greatest British Actors, the film was number 36 on The 100 Greatest Sexy Moments for the sex scene, it was number 1 on The 50 Greatest British Films, it was number 25 on Film 4's 50 Films You Must See Before You Die, and it was number 33 on The 100 Greatest Films. Outstanding!