Trainspotting: Addiction Well Depicted Almost 20 Years Later

I’d like to kick off my reviews for The Script Lab by talking about one of my favorite movies: Trainspotting.

Trainspotting is about a group of friends struggling with heroin addiction and their personal lives in the squalor of Edinburgh. It was directed by Danny Boyle and stars Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller, Robert Carlyle, Ewen Bremner, and Kelly Macdonald.

Trainspotting has been on numerous “Best Movies of All Time” lists, and has also been voted Scotland’s best film.  I’m usually one of the first people to spout the “no movie is perfect” line (and indeed, it’s true), but this is one of those movies where I really can’t find many, or any, flaws. So, why is Trainspotting such a winner for so many people? For a couple of reasons: fantastic ensemble cast, great writing, and iconic soundtrack.

The actors cast for Trainspotting, many of whom are now, almost 20 years later (that’ll make you feel old) very familiar faces, were absolutely perfect for their parts. Not only does the cast mesh well together, but the characters do too: while all of them are likeable, they’re also all crappy people who do crappy things to other people (and quite literally, in Spud’s case). I suppose you could call them “delightfully vile.” The characters are all pretty realistic: we’ve all met Begbies, Tommys, Rentons, and Spuds. Furthermore, so are the situations that they find themselves in. For me, this relatable element added to the comedy of the movie. I have an enormous appreciation for comedic takes on real life.

Then, there’s the writing. Trainspotting features an engaging plotline and witty dialogue. The dialogue, in fact, is full of one of the things I love about writing: sometimes, you get to write a line that reflects exactly how people really feel about something in the most perfect way. John Hodge uses concrete dialogue to help develop both the characters and the plot. Too often lately, I find I’m watching movies with superfluous dialogue, or poor writing: that’s absolutely not the case here. This film is both funny and poignant. It explores the realities of heroin addiction while including lighter moments of a dark side.

The music of Trainspotting is noticeable, but not in a distracting way. Rather, the songs used in each scene were well chosen and really add to what’s happening in the way that the music in a movie should. Take, for instance, the famous scene in which Mark Renton is going through heroin withdrawal in his childhood bedroom at his parents’ house. Part of the reason why that scene is great is the frenetic electronic beat in the background, which adds to the tension as Renton’s withdrawal symptoms and his hallucinations become steadily more unbearable.

Clearly, this movie comes highly recommended by me. If you haven’t seen it, you’re definitely missing out (“No I’m not”-my romantic comedy loving mother), and if you have it, watch it again. Trainspotting is one of the best crafted films out there.