Trainspotting (1996)

Renton, deeply immersed in the Edinburgh drug scene, tries to clean up and get out, despite the allure of the drugs and influence of friends.

Director:

Danny Boyle

Writers:

Irvine Welsh (based on the novel by), John Hodge (screenplay)

Stars:

Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller

Top Rated Movies #162 | Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 23 wins & 33 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ewan McGregor	...	Renton
Ewen Bremner	...	Spud
Jonny Lee Miller	...	Sick Boy
Kevin McKidd	...	Tommy
Robert Carlyle	...	Begbie
Kelly Macdonald	...	Diane
Peter Mullan	...	Swanney
James Cosmo	...	Mr. Renton
Eileen Nicholas	...	Mrs. Renton
Susan Vidler	...	Allison
Pauline Lynch	...	Lizzy
Shirley Henderson	...	Gail
Stuart McQuarrie	...	Gavin / US Tourist
Irvine Welsh	...	Mikey Forrester
Dale Winton	...	Game Show Host

Storyline

A wild, freeform, Rabelaisian trip through the darkest recesses of Edinburgh low-life, focusing on Mark Renton and his attempt to give up his heroin habit, and how the latter affects his relationship with family and friends: Sean Connery wannabe Sick Boy, dimbulb Spud, psycho Begbie, 14-year-old girlfriend Diane, and clean-cut athlete Tommy, who's never touched drugs but can't help being curious about them...

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Plot Keywords:

drugs | drug culture | filthy toilet | scotland | heroin addict | 

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Taglines:

Never let your friends tie you to the tracks.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for graphic heroin use and resulting depravity, strong language, sex, nudity and some violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

Danny Boyle was excited by the story's potential to be the "most energetic film you've ever seen - about something that ultimately ends up in purgatory or worse."

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Goofs

After Renton has sex with Diane, he has nothing on his penis, but once he gets kicked out into the hallway, he pulls a condom off.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Mark "Rent-boy" Renton: [narrating] 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. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a three-piece suit on hire purchase in a range of fucking fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck ...

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Crazy Credits

The voice-over during the end of the end credits cites the seven movies in which Sean Connery played "James Bond".

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Alternate Versions

Canadian DVD version features some of the original dialogue that had been re-dubbed for American release. In some scenes the Scottish dialect/slang are more pronounced, particularly in Spud's job interview (he is virtually incoherent at times).

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Connections

Referenced in At the Movies: Gattaca/The House of Yes/A Life Less Ordinary/FairyTale: A True Story/Sunday (1997)

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Soundtracks

Mile End
Performed by Pulp
Written by Nick Banks (as Banks) / Jarvis Cocker (as Cocker) / Candida Doyle (as Doyle) / Steve Mackey (as Mackey) / Russell Senior (as Senior) / Mark Webber (as Webber)
Published by Island Music Ltd
Courtesy of Island Records Ltd

User Reviews

What a horrible movie! Two thumbs up!

Trainspotting is the story of a humor, violence, goofiness, abuse, friendship and sadness in heroin-addicted Scotland.

It's a really vulgar film, with lots of disgusting scatological humor, pointless violence, and the pain of a life on heroin.

But it's very well done, with a snappy, realistic script, lots of genuinely funny moments, some truly moving and sad scenes about this horrible existence, and, in the end, many important things to say.

I ended up liking this movie, even with the harshness of some of the scenes. I don't know if I necessarily need to see it again, but it's worth seeing once.

8 out of 10.

Barky

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 August 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Trainspotting

Filming Locations:

78A Talgarth Road, West Kensington, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$3,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$262,673, 21 July 1996

Gross USA:

$16,491,080

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$16,593,356

Company Credits

Production Co:

Channel Four Films, Figment Films, The Noel Gay Motion Picture Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min 105 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1