Trainspotting > Requiem for a Dream

Rating: 9/10 (14 February 2007)

I find that the two dug depicting movies that have marked audiences the most are Requiem for a Dream and Trainspotting. After several viewings of both movies, I came to the conclusion that Requiem touches upon audiences emotions and sentiments while Trainspotting touches upon their reason. Trainspotting offers a realistic depiction of drug use, making audiences enjoy the movie and not cry at then end as Requiem quite often does. An extremely intelligent script and famous "trippy" scenes (notably the famous, or even infamous to some, toilet scene) all add up to this movie's uniqueness in its genre. As the protagonist Renton puts it after all there is a concrete reason for their habits which are frowned upon by society. The realistic depiction of drugs like heroin are not enough to make a movie great. It is the subtle social implications raised which bring out the idea behind Trainspotting. Here, I am referring to the first lines of the movie, and when Renton evokes his mother's "socially accepted" drug addictions among many others. Also, the flow of the movie is really enjoyable, as the ending leaves its impact on the audience. Nonetheless, it isn't a positive depiction of drugs. The dark colors, the apartment's constantly decaying state, the dead baby, and Renton's friend's death reveal the utter realism of drugs.