Plot: What’s it about?
Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor) lives in a rundown section of Edinburgh, where drugs, crime, and violent are widespread. Renton isn’t above these elements however, instead he indulges in them with minimal remorse. His battle with an addiction to heroin has taken a toll on him, but there is no end in sight for the abuse. His friends aren’t supportive either, as they’re just as involved in the dank, hopeless world he lives in. The world around these youths has jobs, hope, and chances to make a better life, but these things are spurned instead of embraced. Renton and his buddies, Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller), Spud (Ewen Bremner), Tommy (Kevin McKidd), and the ultraviolent Begbie (Robert Carlyle) all choose to live in the darker corners of their town, though Tommy has avoided most of the pitfalls of his friends. Renton also has a girlfriend of sorts, a fourteen year old girl named Diane (Kelly MacDonald), whom he slept with at a wild throwdown. But time has worn down Renton and with a future that looks totally dismal, he makes a serious decision. He is going to swear off drugs and start a normal life, no matter what that takes. Of course, he has promised this to himself and others before, with each time ending in failure. But can this time be the real time for Renton to move on, or will he slide back into his old ways?
A movie about delinquents, heroin addiction, and sex with underage girls, eh? Not the kind of movie you’d think would win over audiences and gain critical acclaim, but Trainspotting did just that and then some. A modern landmark, the film shocked viewers with dark, graphic images, but didn’t leave them cold. At the same time, critics lauded the writing, direction, and performances, so the movie was a smash on both sides. Trainspotting deals with some very dark, depressing topics, such as addiction, death, and total loss of hope. I doubt you’ll relate to the characters, at least I hope you don’t, since none are likable. Some might seem better than others, but no one in Trainspotting rises above the level of drug laden derelict. Even so, you’re sucked into the film’s world, as nasty and repulsive as it can be at times. I wouldn’t recommend this to those in search of uplifting cinema, but for fans of hard, dark pictures, this one’s all you. The film does have moments of light, including some hilarious sequences, but even those are often based in darker sources. Like when a wild night of drugs and random sex ends when a character wakes up and realizes he has shit all over himself, at his conquest’s parents’ home. The movie is powerful, no doubt about it and in this new two disc edition, its more worthwhile than ever.
He has become quite a mainstream star in recent times, but before he was so famous, Ewan McGregor was in this film. He had garnered some attention for his previous turns, but he was put on the map by his work in Trainspotting. His turn here is hands down the finest of his career, one that holds back nothing and never slows down. The intense highs and lows make this a high difficulty role, but McGregor knocks it out of the park. He has the internal mechanisms on full blast, to bring across emotions and feelings we can’t see in his physical presence, but we know are there, quite impressive indeed. The role requires him to go over the top at times, such as when drug use is involved, but this is still a controlled role. He is also asked to do some bold actions, such as nudity and some lively sex scenes, but he is up to the task. In his more recent efforts, McGregor has fallen into more mainstream pictures, ones that require little of his talent. This is a true shame, as he has a lot to offer, but is often wasted by these simple movies. But even a dozen movies like Big Fish or Down with Love can’t erase his superb turn here, no doubt about it. His other films include Velvet Goldmine, Moulin Rouge, Rogue Trader, and Black Hawk Down.
Video: How does it look?
Trainspotting is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. A brand new transfer has been struck for this definitive release, one which turns out to be a substantial improvement on the original edition, which was not anamorphic. The enhanced visuals here have more depth, so smaller details come across in a bolder fashion. The print is in excellent condition, with only minor nicks and grain that never distract in the least. I found colors to be bright and bold, though some scenes lay off the hues a little, as intended. No issues with contrast, which has to be almost pitch black at times, so the black levels look terrific. I saw minimal edge enhancement and compression flaws, so this is a great looking visual treatment.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio has been revamped as well, with a new DTS soundtrack included here, in addition to a Dolby Digital 5.1 option. This is not as audio driven as an action movie, but the film packs some power when it needs to. A lot of music is found in the movie, which comes across with a lot of life and depth here. The bass kicks deep, while the surrounds ensure the musical soundtrack has all the presence it demands. As far as sound effects, some scenes in this movie have some punch, but most are rather reserved. But in this edition, even those calmer sequences have solid atmosphere, which adds a lot to the experience. The dialogue is a little hard to understand at times, but sounds as good as you could want. I was pleased to find some improvements with the DTS option, so if you have the choice, go with this new mix. This release also includes a French language track, as well as English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The first disc is home to some deleted scenes, complete with optional audio comments, as well as a feature length audio commentary session. The comments from director Danny Boyle, producer Andrew MacDonald, writer John Hodge, and star Ewan McGregor are taken from older interviews, so this is kind of an unusual session. Even so, there is a lot of good information revealed, so fans won’t be disappointed. On the second disc, you’ll find the Trainspotting Retrospective, a collection of four featurettes, none of which are that substantial or in depth. You’ll get a look behind the scenes and see some cast & crew interviews, but given the film’s success, I would expect a more polished behind the scenes retrospective. This release also includes a handful of other brief featurettes, a selection of talent files, a slideshow of behind the scenes photos, and the film’s teaser and theatrical trailers.
