A long video clip

Rating: 9/10 (7 March 2004)

I find it hard to review a movie like 'Trainspotting'. The reason for this is that I can understand why people do not like it. I did like it. Actually, I think it was very good. I do not agree with people who say that this movie is pro-drugs. It has a more realistic view than most movies that deal with this subject and that fact alone makes it worth watching. After 'Trainspotting' I thought I understood a little about addiction to heroine.
Although it deals with a serious subject 'Trainspotting' is a comedy. I never laughed out loud very hard but with a lot of moments I found myself smiling. Especially the character Begbie (Robert Carlyle) had some great moments. He is the only one not addicted to heroine. The main character is Renton (Ewan McGregor) and he is surrounded by Spud (Ewen Bremner), Sick Boy (Johnny Lee Miller), Tommy (Kevin McKidd) and Begbie. We see how they use their heroine, how they try to stop doing that, how they do nothing at all, how they live.
This movie could be very boring. The actors make part of the movie work, director Danny Boyle takes care of the rest. He has made the movie into a cool video clip that lasts an hour and a half, never boring. This is probably the main reason why some people don't like the movie and I can't blame them. The style here is one you can like or hate, it is just a matter of taste. Again, I liked it.