Trainspotting Movie Review 1995

From the same team who offered the violently comedic "Shallow Grave," comes an equally destructive look at a group of Edinburgh junkies and losers. Heroin-user Mark Renton (McGregor) once again decides to get off junk but to do so he has to get away from his friends: knife-wielding psycho Begbie (Carlyle), Sick Boy (Miller), Spud (Bremner), and Tommy (McKidd). He heads for a semi-respectable life in London but Begbie and Spud wind up involving him in a serious money drug deal that spells trouble. Strong fantasy visuals depict drug highs and lows while heavy Scottish accents (and humor) may prove difficult. Based on the 1993 cult novel by Irvine Welsh. Film drew much controversy for supposingly being pro-heroin but the junkie's life is hardly portrayed as being attractive in any way.

Distribution

Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521-1120, Toll-free: 800-723-4763, URL: http://www.bvhe.com

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 94 minutes.
Originally from British.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Black Comedy, Drug Use & Abuse, Buddies, Edinburgh

Screenplay

John Hodge

Cast

Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Robert Carlyle, Kevin McKidd, Kelly Macdonald, Shirley Henderson, Pauline Lynch

Cinematography

Brian Tufano

Director

Danny Boyle

Producer

Andrew Macdonald, England Channel 4 London, Figment Film, Polygram Filmed Entertainment, Miramax Films

Awards

British Acad. 1995: Adapt. Screenplay.