Lovely, dark and deep

"Trainspotting", adapted from Irvine Welsh's novel of the same name, marked the breakthrough of Danny Boyle as one of Britain's critically acclaimed directors

DVD cover of the movie "Trainspotting"

DVD PICK

Movie: Trainspotting (1996)

Cast: Ewan McGregor, Amy Macdonald, Ewen Bremner, Johnny Lee Miller

“Trainspotting”, adapted from Irvine Welsh's novel of the same name, marked the breakthrough of Danny Boyle as one of Britain's critically acclaimed directors and showcased actor Ewan McGregor's acting prowess prior to the “Moulin Rouge” success. It was hailed as one of the best movies of the 1990s and also made it to the list of BFI's Top 100 British movies of all time at No.10, despite its content.

The 'other' England

The story follows the life of Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor), a druggie deeply immersed in Edinburgh's drug scene, who must decide whether to clean himself up after a series of events which include a drug overdose, or to continue to hang out with his friends, under the influence of whom he would never be able to give up his addiction.

The plot which is generously sprinkled with dark humour and explicit scenes, showcases not only the drug scene but also the urban poverty in the otherwise ‘rich' Edinburgh. There are a few things though, that continue to linger in the viewer's memory, which is the subtly dark humour, the passionately crafted characters and Renton's opening and closing dialogues.

Excellent technicalities

Ewan McGregor is an actor par excellence, and “Trainspotting” threw him the challenge to portray a heroin addict. And he succeeds. He slips into the character with ease, not because he can relate to it but because he's done his homework. The others are well remembered but McGregor shines.

Another part of this movie that kept me engrossed was the amazing musical score. Being a hard-core Tarantino fan, I noticed that both directors used a similar technique — rock, pop and techno songs that aided the smooth pace of the story. No doubt, the filmmakers have some great taste in music. The explicit and R-Rated scenes were the huge flip-sides and Boyle could have made it a little less painful for the viewers to watch. Overall, the movie is watchable and totally worth adding to your DVD collection, provided you skip some scenes.

Bottomline: Is this gritty, outlandishly glamorous take on the rise and fall of an Edinburgh youth's psychedelic days worth watching? Definitely, if you can handle the weight of the subject. But if you're looking for something with a meaningful message, this film is nowhere near preachy. Best enjoyed when watched with an open mind.

DIVYA KARTHIKEYAN, XII, Vidyodaya Matriculation Academy