Trainspotting - 1996 - Ewan McGregor.

Shocking, stylish and simply superb.

Danny Boyle's Trainspotting follows the life of Edinburgh lad Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor), a young man addicted to heroin with not much else going on in his life; yet that's how he likes it. Mark hangs round with his 'so called mates' Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller) and Spud (Ewen Bremner), who are also heroin addicts, and Begbie (Robert Carlyle), a psychotic, near alcoholic who will jump at the first hint of a fight. After kicking the heroin after a few close shaves with the law Mark moves to London, only for his mates to come straight down after him and persuade Mark back into the world of drugs.

Trainspotting stylishly highlights the isolated effect of heroin addiction with Mark Renton orchestrating us through the troubles of his life, pointing out that once hooked everything else in the world becomes mundane. Ewan McGregor delivers a performance I still believe is his best. He portrays a man who knowingly leads a pathetic and useless life, yet uses the highs of heroin to pick him up from the darkest corners of his existence. Boyle uses these severe changes in emotion to deliver some of the deepest moments of the film, not to mention some of the funniest.

Danny Boyle displays a full range of innovative direction throughout this film with sequences touching on the surreal. A perfect example of this is 'the worst toilet in Scotland' scene where Mark Renton seems to swim into the toilet so that he doesn't loose his gear. This stylish and darkly amusing scene shows the trouble that an addict would go to in order to secure their next score.

I feel a major part of the films success is down to its cast, with the supporting roles all performing well. Jonny Lee Miller gives Sick Boy a subtle sense of intelligence via his extreme knowledge of James Bond, whilst Robert Carlyle's Begbie steals every scene due to his unpredictability. Ewen Bremner perfectly shows Spud for what he really is, a simple chap who just follows his friends.

A shocking yet stylish Danny Boyle film that for me is one of the most influential films of the 90s. One of the best British films of all time. 

J.Henderson.

9/10.