Trainspotting Reviews and Ratings



  • March 26, 2009
    Irvine Welsh is just a genius. Brilliant story, excelent acting.
  • March 23, 2009
    Very good, nothing more I can say about how great it is.
  • March 22, 2009
    fecking awesome, i think i liked this film more because it is filmed and based in scotland, but trust me i loved it!
    it shows just how much pain and damage drugs cause,!
    makes me proud to be scottish:)
    amazing acting and amazingliy filmed! well done scotland!
  • March 20, 2009
    One of the best movies i've ever fuckin seen
  • March 19, 2009
    Very gritty and graphic. Effective storytelling though, in spite of the things it deals with. It's technically in English, but you will probably want to turn on the subtitles. I'm taking half a star off the "worthwhile" rating of four stars because I don't think it was quite good...( read more) enough to justify how graphic and gross it was.
  • March 19, 2009
    just another fab irvine welsh book been turned into a grate movie looking into the lifes of drug addicts in there efort to escape reality in such a raw way .. i have to say i think it was very well done
  • March 14, 2009
    I personally haven't reached that point in my life where heroine becomes my breakfast lunch & dinner so as far as the message from it... didn't connect..but it was very entertaining i loved the thick scottish accents and i fell in love with characters...poor tommy.
  • March 11, 2009
    Sometimes there are those films that not many people will relate to in its subject matter, but the audacious energy keeps them riveted despite it all. Trainspotting is one such film. Adapted from the novel by Irvine Welsh, John Hodge's (A Life Less Ordinary, The FInal Curtain) ...( read more)screenplay is the second straight collaboration with director Danny Boyle (28 Days Later, The Beach), as well as Ewan McGregor. "Trainspotting" is the rather useless habit of keeping track of the various arrival and departure times of trains at a station. Knowing this, the significance to the useless habit depicted in the film, namely heroin addiction, is evident.

    Trainspotting is far from a glamorous depiction of the lives of heroin addicts amid a junkie culture, and the tone and subject matter of the film, with its graphic showcases of such distasteful images, such as a man searching through a filthy toilet for a fix, subconsciously give the effect of repulsion rather than titillation. It's a disgusting movie, but appropriate, because it's a disgusting habit.

    Set in Edinsburgh, Scotland, the story mostly revolves around Mark Renton, played brilliantly by Ewan McGregor (Velvet Goldmine, The Phantom Menace). His life is a sputtering mess, wishing he could get off of the heroin addiction, yet also strangely attracted to the culture. When he isn't shooting up, he is concentrating all of his efforts for his next fix, and although he deeply disappoints his parents, his every ambition is concentrated into the habit. He is surrounded by some friends who also share his addiction, yet are so devoid of character, that they only add more fuel to the fire. The film is about their quest for happiness, their lack of attaining it, and the covering up of the unhappiness through their escapist addictions.

    Much of the reason why Trainspotting is a mostly successful venture is due to Danny Boyle's energetic direction, sometimes surreal, sometimes symbolic, but always engaging. It's both a difficult film to watch, but impossible to avert your eyes from. The cast gives their all, and a good sense of musical accompaniment delivers the proper effect for the film's tone.

    Trainspotting is not a film which will please everyone, as it deals with unsettling subject matter, plus it's chock-full of nausea-inducing sights and sounds. However, for those with an interest in the subject matter, and with strong stomachs, it's about as entertaining a film showcasing the pathetic lives of junkies as one could reasonably expect.
  • March 9, 2009
    ---------------------------------------------
    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. C...( read more)hoose fixed- interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisure wear and matching luggage. Choose a three piece suite on hire purchase in a range of fucking fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who you are on a Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing sprit- crushing game shows, stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pishing you last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked-up brats you have spawned to replace yourself. Choose your future. Choose life... But why would I want to do a thing like that?

    RENTON: I chose not to choose life: I chose something else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who need reasons when you've got hero

    -------------------------------------------
  • March 8, 2009
    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. C...( read more)hoose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a three-piece suite 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?

    This movie is set in Eddinburgh and begins wiht the sardonic narration(the quote above) of Mark Renton.
    Mark instead of "choosing a life" has with his mates prefers to live in a meaningless heroinaddiction. Through the movie we meet his friends; Spud, Sickboy, Tommy and Begbie. We followed Mark, Spud and Sickboy as they try to sober up and quit heroin, which of course is no-where as easy as they thought.
    The whole movie is narrated by Mark Renton as we watch him and his friends dig themselves deeper into their addiction and other drug-related tradgedies like AIDS and death occur...

    The movie is rather messy in true Danny Boyle style. I for one really enjoyed this movie it is one of a kind to me. It's a tragig story about some young scottish junkies that doesnt really want to "choose life"...Ewan McGregor is amazing as Mark Renton.
    And I have to say that this is one of my favourite movies...through all time...
    And those beautiful scottish accents...
    Definitly worth seeing for anyone who likes different, real and sardonic movies...I know I do...

    The movie ends with Renton narrating again...and it is just as sardonic as when we first heard his voice. when he was being chased down the road with Spud...

    Now I've justified this to myself in all sorts of ways. It wasn't a big deal, just a minor betrayal. Or we'd outgrown each other, you know, that sort of thing. But let's face it, I ripped them off - my so called mates. But Begbie, I couldn't give a shit about him. And Sick Boy, well he'd done the same to me, if he'd only thought of it first. And Spud, well okay, I felt sorry for Spud - he never hurt anybody. So why did I do it? I could offer a million answers - all false. The truth is that I'm a bad person. But, that's gonna change - I'm going to change. This is the last of that sort of thing. Now I'm cleaning up and I'm moving on, going straight and choosing life. I'm looking forward to it already. I'm gonna be just like you. The job, the family, the fucking big television. The washing machine, the car, the compact disc and electric tin opener, good health, low cholesterol, dental insurance, mortgage, starter home, leisure wear, luggage, three piece suite, DIY, game shows, junk food, children, walks in the park, nine to five, good at golf, washing the car, choice of sweaters, family Christmas, indexed pension, tax exemption, clearing gutters, getting by, looking ahead, the day you die.
  • March 6, 2009
    " I don't feel the sickness yet, but it's in the post. That's for sure. I'm in the junkie limbo at the moment. Too ill to sleep. Too tired to stay awake, but the sickness is on its way. Sweat, chills, nausea. Pain and craving. A need like nothing else I've ever known will soon ta...( read more)ke hold of me. It's on its way."
  • March 5, 2009
    The best drug movie on earth, period. It got all of the elements in a drug infested realm to entertain.
  • March 5, 2009
    I don't remember much of this movie but I remember it was very good. I have to see it again. One of the best movies that Ewan has done.
  • March 2, 2009
    shocking movie, first of genre
  • March 1, 2009
    Quite a depressing and troubling film, but I couldn't stop watching it. It was well done.
  • February 28, 2009
    Fucking greatttt film,
  • February 25, 2009
    A dark, comedic film. Not a dark comedy, but incorporates different genres. The acting is very solid from everyone, and Robert Carlyle stands out among the bunch.
  • February 24, 2009
    A great but strange and at times disturbing movie. The film has a great cast. Ewan McGregor really stood out in his role. Shows the true dark side of heroin. The scene with the dead baby was very disturbing but most likely happens every day with junkies to high to take care of th...( read more)eir kids. The characters are great and interesting and the story solid. Not a movie for everyone.
  • February 23, 2009
    awesome act by Ewna McGregor...
    U should see this!
  • February 23, 2009
    i just love this film. probably my favourite.
  • February 18, 2009
    scary tale but educational
  • February 17, 2009
    Fantastico,fantastico, fantastico...non ci sono altre parole per descrivere questo scorcio di vita scottish&stoned!!!
  • February 15, 2009
    I saw this movie long time ago, I think since High School. Like it Love it.... Its an awesome perfomance
  • February 15, 2009
    Some of the best performances I've seen. Excellent cast!
  • February 14, 2009
    Such a brilliant adaption of the book. One of Ewan McGregor's best roles.
    It's such a dirty and raw take on life and drug abuse. One of my all time favorite movies.
  • February 11, 2009
    Deservedly one of Danny Boyle's most notorious films, painfully gritty but powerfully alive with sincerity in both the suffering and the triumph it depicts. Heavy but never leaden, fleet-footed on its immersive journey all the way to hell and back, the film is like almost drownin...( read more)g to death and finally coming up for air. Given the dismal punishment that came before it, that final breath is a powerful token of life.
  • February 11, 2009
    This is the perfect example of an extraordinary life of a 'crack' but they have excellent accent
  • February 8, 2009
    Decadencia, depresión, drogas o una vida perfecta, Ustedes que eligen?
  • February 7, 2009
    Considering I thought this film was about people who watched Trains for a living I was surprised by the excessive drug use warning at the beginning.

    I wasn't however put off by this, I was compelled by the fact it was a Danny Boyle film.

    I was impressed by Ewan McGregor be...( read more)cause it was so different from Obi Wan which I have known him for most of my life. His acting was impressive as was the rest of the casts.

    The strange, surreal world is what impressed me the most. The going into the toilet to a river bed, the baby on the ceiling, the shit filled sheets!

    I truly unforgetable film that shocks and surpirses but most of all pleases.
  • February 3, 2009
    A very amusing description and insight into the life of young heroin addicts. It doesn't glorify or degrade or anything, all it does is tell a story. It's not only funny, witty besides some heart-felt and sad moments but also hopeful and very honest.
    I must praise Ewan McGregor...( read more) in this film. He gave a wonderful performance of an addict trying to find his way back into the light.
  • February 3, 2009
    Classic novel made into a great film adaptation. This film is definitely in my top 3 favorite films. I'm also scottish, so it has a special place in my heart.
  • February 3, 2009
    funny movie the 1st time i watched it was with my mom and dad, and the sceen when he crawls in to the jon, we lol so hard we had to pause it to catch our breath!
  • February 3, 2009
    Nunca antes el mundo de las drogas fue visto de una manera mas guay, espectacular banda sonora!!
  • February 2, 2009
    such a great adventure
  • February 1, 2009
    Danny Boyle's most acclaimed film, Trainspotting shows us the story of four friends with different personalities but share the same similarity, Drugs.

    Set in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the beginning of the movie we are shown that the main character and narrator is Renton (Ewan McGr...( read more)egor).
    we watch his 'junkie' phase part of his life with his mate in the first part, and his 'clean' state in the other.
    The pain and suffering of addiction is well portrayed here, some scene are gross & disturbing.
    It have some dark comedy moment which makes it unique. The direction is well filmed, fast paced and sharp dialogue.
    Great cinematography, and well, i loved the ending. Brilliant !

    Ewan McGregor did fantastic, one of his best movie. Other cast did well, specially Begbie (Robert Caryle).

    Tommy: Doesn't it make you proud to be Scottish?

    Renton: It's SHITE being Scottish! We're the lowest of the low. The scum of the fucking Earth! The most wretched, miserable, servile, pathetic trash that was ever shat into civilization. Some hate the English. I don't. They're just wankers. We, on the other hand, are COLONIZED by wankers. Can't even find a decent culture to be colonized BY. We're ruled by effete assholes. It's a SHITE state of affairs to be in, Tommy, and ALL the fresh air in the world won't make any fucking difference!

    9/10.
  • January 31, 2009
    Disturbingly accurate depiction of heroin addicts lives.
  • January 28, 2009
    this movie blew my mind. the poo in the bed and ensuing hilarity was priceless. dade murphy ftw.
  • January 25, 2009
    I'm Scottish, what do you think my opinion is?
  • January 24, 2009
    This was one of the first movies I remember that had a lot of fast editing in it. It's a brilliant funny movie about a depressing subject.
  • January 24, 2009
    Most favourite movie very fascinating
  • January 23, 2009
    ewan mcgregor
    jonny lee miller
  • January 23, 2009
    Prawie (czemu?) idealny.
  • January 22, 2009
    ok this movie will make u never wont to try heroin

Summary


Trainspotting Summary