Trainspotting (1996)

* * * *

A brilliant film of juxtapositions, Danny Boyle injects a lot of humour, imagination and surrealism into a dark and gritty film about a bleak life.

 

The cast consists of some well-known British actors and all performed in manners that I had not seen them in before. Getting talented actors means that you thoroughly believed their stories and you sympathise with them. Not only do these male leads standalone quite well but also as a group of friends they are believable. The only female lead, however, seemed to have just been thrown into the film and didn’t have any real purpose or add anything.

The 18 rating is unfortunate, as there is violence, sex and drugs it is understandable, however at the forefront of this film is Boyle’s creativity and humour. One of the most disgusting scenes (involving a toilet) becomes something bizarre and wonderful through a quirky and unexpected move. It is these moments that make this film great and memorable and therefore it is a shame that due to the nature of the story such a well-made film has to be blacklisted as unsuitable for certain people.