Movie Poster

Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a three-piece suit on hire purchase in a range of fucking fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck you are on Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pissing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked up brats you spawned to replace yourselves. Choose your future. Choose life... But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose somethin' else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you've got heroin?

# Review

Trainspotting is one of my favourite British films and it takes place in a run-down and economically depressed Edinburgh. The story follows Mark "Rent Boy" Renton (Ewan McGregor) and his group of drug-addicted friends as they go on self-destructive quests such as scoring drugs and committing petty crimes.

This is one of the grimiest movies out there with a very visceral portrayal of the economic squalor that Mark and his friends live in. The film reminds me of Requiem for a Dream with its kinetic and fast-paced editing but differs greatly in its tone. Unlike the tragic themes in Requiem for a Dream, Trainspotting is filled with youthful energy and many scenes feel like fun adventures. The dialogue is snappy and very engaging in Scottish brogue. The characters are all so memorable as well, such as McGregor's level-headed protagonist, his friends the suave Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller), simple Spud (Ewen Bremner), and the violent Franco (Robert Carlyle).

# Conclusion

A raw and engaging film about the youthful British counterculture during the late 20th century.

# Overall rating: 8.6

What does the rating mean?