“Fargo” and “Scream” were on the list of best films of ’96, but the award ultimately goes to “Trainspotting” – Danny Boyle’s drug thriller based on Irvine Welsh’s 1993 novel of the same name. The film follows Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor) and his junkie pals as they scheme, manipulate, and backstab their way through mid-’90s Edinburgh, Scotland, in search of their next score. We often see the resulting horrors through a detached lens. It might seem strange for overdoses, criminal charges, fights, ruined relationships, and degrading moments to be depicted almost comedically, but it all makes sense: these are nothing but annoyances for our protagonists, who see every interaction as either a stepping stone or an obstacle to getting high. However, when tragedies pierce through this emotional barrier, it’s truly haunting.
Like the heroin addiction it portrays, “Trainspotting” is a roller coaster. It’s at different times heartbreaking, hilarious, thrilling, scary, and suspenseful. What’s important is that whatever emotional strings it tries to pull, it succeeds. The Rotten Tomatoes critics consensus says as much: “A brutal, often times funny, other times terrifying portrayal of drug addiction in Edinburgh. Not for the faint of heart, but well worth viewing as a realistic and entertaining reminder of the horrors of drug use.”
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Website or contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4537).