Critical Score 6/10 I gave Trainspotting this rating because not only can I recognize that it’s a monumental classic for British cinema, but I think it did a really good job at the social commentary it provided on addictions (metaphorical or not) and especially problems with drug use. I think the story was told in a way that was fast and engaging while the audience still felt invested in the characters as they felt so real. The cinematography at certain points was also incredible.
Memorable Scene My favourite part of the film is where Renton falls through the “worst toilet in Scotland” because it’s an unrealistic, fantastical scene that does not exactly match with what the film had shown so far. This tells the audience that this movie won’t be as they expected- it shows that it is hyper-realistic and exaggerated, with its trippy scenes, such as when Renton begins to hallucinate the baby on his ceiling as a side effect of the drugs.
film which is also called a movie, or moving motion of pictures, is a work of visual art that stimulates experience and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings or atmosphere through the use of moving images. An opinion on a film will change over a wide range of people; this could depend on the genre, the actors and actresses. So the big question is what makes a film ” good”. Normally a film is good by someone’s opinion however these opinions are based on 2 elements. These are micro and macro elements. A micro element is based on editing, mise en scene, sound, and cinematography. A macro element is based on genre, messages and values, representation, narrative, style, authorship and them. A film doesn’t have to be perfect for it to be good, the film has to connote these elements and entertain people while doing that. While making sure lighting and sound is good while filming and making sure the editing is good the most important element is the messages the film conveys. The message the film delivers to the viewers will create a sense in the mind to only think or feel that message making the film feel intelligent, enigmatic and a good watch as it makes viewers see the film through a different light. This may be important but in order to create a film that can otherwise communicate meanings, it it’s important that the micro and macro elements are up to a good standard. For example making sure the genre links throughout the film is the same and the film showcases that specific genre eg romantic, horror, action. Making sure the sound is right, for example sad music in a sad scene or silence in a scary scene. Making sure the representation and the aspects of society eg age, gender and ethnicity are represented to the audiences in a correct and friendly manner. These elements contribute massively to a film and making sure it is contributed correctly will make a film good. Evidently, The human mind assumes because one person likes something we all like that something (reciprocal liking )however we all have our own opinions and not be afraid to like something different. Not everyone likes the same good film but we all know why we like a good film So in conclusion, although the micro and macro elements are important in reasoning why a film is good, it is also very important to understand that our personal opinions and judgements are what makes a film good. The opinions come from the micro and macro elements.
Trainspotting (1996) Dir. Danny Boyle FIRST RESPONSE
Rating: 7/10
Trainspotting is a grungy movie filled with dark themes, flawed characters and a really good soundtrack. The acting is extremely good, and most of the main characters are very memorable, from the well-meaning Renton to the unfortunate Spud, and the psychotic and hateable Begbie, among other characters who go through a lot of horrible experiences. It creates a grim reality around the characters filled with substance abuse, crime and death, but while the film has its nihilistic elements, it ends in a way that leaves the audience hopeful. The people who deserve a good ending get it: Renton ditches his awful friends and Spud is left £2000, and the characters who need punishment get it: Begbie, who spent the movie violently attacking and threatening innocent people, finally gets arrested. The characters aren’t one dimensional though: Each character has their own flaws and aspects that make them imperfect – Renton ruins his friend Tommy’s life by stealing a sex tape of Tommy and his girlfriend, which results in Tommy’s death, or Spud’s compliance with everything. And the soundtrack is especially memorable, using britpop and techno music to create an atmosphere of normality amongst the grime and filth that decorates the rest of the movie. The movie has a lot of interesting aspects and it all works together well, but its just not the type of movie that I really love. For what it is, however, it was very interesting and I enjoyed it.
Memorable Scene: Renton Goes Through Withdrawal
This scene stands out to me as it is an incredibly absurd scene in an otherwise pretty grounded movie. There are other times when the reality of what you are seeing is called into question, like when Renton completely submerges himself in a grimy toilet and he is shown swimming through an ocean of clean water, but this scene throws away any concept of sanity the movie had attempted to retain. Renton has just been taken out of the hospital following an overdose, and his parents have locked him in his childhood room in order to force him to go cold turkey. The following scene depicts his withdrawal hallucinations and is quite an unsettling few minutes. These hallucinations range from his friends appearing in his room to stare and talk at him, to Begbie being under his covers, a sickly-looking Tommy standing next to him, his room stretching away from him and his parents on a TV screen taking part in a quiz show where the questions have to do with his situation (questions about HIV etc). The most memorable hallucination though is him seeing the baby who died in their drug den crawling across the ceiling towards him, which culminates in the baby’s head twisting around to face him, and then the baby drops from the ceiling onto his face. The scene is uncomfortable and sickening, and the baby makes it quite creepy. Throughout the whole scene, techno music playing behind Renton’s panting and pained screaming., providing a darkly comic contrast between his visions and the music.
This film is extremely well made and is a true testament to British film-making. The cast are simply superb and the choice of songs in the Tarantino-esque jukebox style soundtrack are all chosen very well. A lot of the sequences to myself and most likely the audience are very memorable, such as the scene where he goes to the ‘worst toilet in Scotland’ and the hallucinogenic scene that follows. Another scene that I liked that is of the same ilk is the scene in which Mark Renton overdoses on heroin and sinks into the carpet and as he is taken to the hospital, his perspective of him being sunk into the carpet is still on the camera lens, which I think is very unique and interesting.
However, the film does feature a lot of disturbing images, which would be off-putting for some viewers. I, however, think that the grotesque imagery throughout highlights the messages of the film, which I think are to show the damage that drugs can cause to people and the people around them and the state of people in lower classes who are left to rot with no one around them.
Memorable Scene
For me the most memorable scene throughout the film is when the character Tommy is found dead, due to cat-related aids. Though this scene may be viewed as a moment of dark comedy in the film, to me it really exemplifies the character of arc Tommy, which is a perfectly innocent, healthy person, who’s life has dramatically changed and ended due to drugs. This once again pushes home that anti-drug message of the film.
I give a rating of 8/10. For me throughout the whole movie, it felt like you where watching a true story of the group of people. This feeling was created by the actors, who’s acting was very talented and quite emotional to watch. The acting created the feeling of a realism of social issues in life.
The most memorable scene for me was when Renton is in his locked bedroom and is having withdrawal symptoms. This is the most memorable scene for me because I though the acting from Ewan McGregor made the scene very memorable and unforgettable. I also though the sound that was used was amazing because as the music got quicker and louder the more Renton got more fidgety and angrier.
Trainspotting – Micro elements
Sound – my favourite seen that used sound amazingly was when he was having withdrawal symptoms in his bedroom. I liked the way they used sound because as Renton was getting more and more fidgety and anxious and increasing with his symptoms the music/ Sound get faster and slightly louder over the time of this scene
Editing – In this scene the use of adding a title of the names of each character help the audience to understand each character individually and instead of guessing which character is who you already know who they are from the use of editing. This creates a sense of being knowledgeable as you don’t have to go finding in the film who is who.
Mise En Scene – In this scene I thought the mise en scene used showcased the scene perfect. There is a group of old people playing bingo and Renton is just sat in the middle of the gathering feeling uncomfortable and wanting to get out of the situation he is in. In this scene it creates a sense of the two different life’s that Renton and his parent have; Renton’s life – unsettling and upsetting, Parent’s life – fun and a social life.
Cinematography – in this seen, the camera is a birds eye view of Renton laying on the floor. This creates a sense that Renton is feeling week and appears to be needing help, as the audience we are looking over him creating a sense that we are watching him get defeated by drugs. This scene get quite disturbing and upsetting when there is a a shot of Renton looking up with a rectangle frame creating a sense that he is in a coffin and he is dying.
Throughout the duration of this film I was highly captivated, by multiple factors; the story-telling, the soundtrack and overall personality’s of characters. A memorable scene for me was when Mark Renton overdosed and was taken to hospital. This stood out to me sue to the soundtrack and the cinematography within this scene.
In this screen grab from this moment, before he overdoses the carpet falls into the ground creating a coffin shape that it falls in. This moment stands out due to the symbolism, the coffin shape representing his life slipping away from him. The carpet slipping is filmed at a low angle showing the moment in focus which I think makes it more powerful to me. It also stands out due to this whimsical event, we see this in the toilet scene it shows the effect that drugs have on their viewpoint and what they perceive.
9/10 – This was a very highly anticipated film for me as I know that it is a beloved cult film, and I enjoyed it a lot. I really like how it dealt with really difficult topics such as heavy drug use, sexuality and social matters. The acting was amazing which really kept me invested throughout the film, along with the use of narration.
The most memorable scene in Trainspotting for me was when Mark Renton overdosed on heroin because I think that it was really well done with the way they film it. I love the shot from Renton’s point as he sinks into the floor with the Mother Superior looking down at him. It gives a really claustrophobic feel and makes it seem as if he is in a coffin. As well as this, the music being Perfect Day by Lou Reed adds some irony to the scene. To add to this irony, there are some shots of an ambulance going past where he is along with the noises of the siren, which I think really shows the fact that the Mother Superior doesn’t care about him, only his money as it shows him putting Renton into a taxi, where he is then dumped outside A&E.
Cinematography in Trainspotting:
I like the use of an over the shoulder shot in this scene. It is eye level, which I think adds to the background narration and the fact that this is extra-diegetic (breaking the 4th wall). This makes the spectator feel more connected with the character, even though he is not in a relatable situation whatsoever.
Mise-En-Scene in Trainspotting:
The mise-en-scene in this scene feels intentionally uncomfortable and almost sterile but it also reflects the time it was set in. Spud’s surroundings feel like they are supposed to contrast his chaotic personality and how he is acting while he is on speed. While it is a comedic scene, the look of his messy hair and suit makes you feel almost bad for him because his lifestyle is making him struggle to get a job.
Editing in Trainspotting:
I chose this scene as an example of editing because I like how it shows the difference between their lifestyles. Tommy wants to get out and explore because he is healthy and clean, while the others are lagging behind, not wanting to go with Renton even drinking. I think that it marks a change in Tommy because it is only a scene later that he tries heroin, which is what contributes to his death.
Sound in Trainspotting:
I really like the use of sound in this scene because they have the song Perfect Day by Lou Reed playing in the background, which adds a lot of irony to it as Renton had just overdosed. It also makes it a lot sadder, as it shows how they treat drug addicts like scum, which emphasises the irony. The only other thing that is heard in the scene are ambulance sirens, which ultimately drive past Renton entirely. I think that this is really powerful in showing the situation that he is in; that the Mother Superior does not care about him, only his money and that his drug addict friends would betray him for money and drugs.
The film portrayed an accurate and in depth representation of drug addiction and the lower class Scotland at the time. I can see why the film would be considered to be a classic as it is very unique and portrays a powerful message. However, it was very graphic and vulgar even though it adds to the storyline it felt uncomfortable to see at times.
Stand out scene: When Renton comes off heroin and is experience intense hallucinations as a result of withdrawal, this scene stand out to me as even though Renton is experiencing a lot of mental pain the scene still gives off a sense of hope as his addiction is subsiding and he’s stopped taking the drugs making the audience feel hopeful for his future.
Personally I enjoyed this film. It has a sense of culture to it. People from the UK would understand and recognise the movie for what it is. A main reason for the high score is because of the soundtrack. With iconic songs like Bornslippy made the movie for me. For me the movie is almost an advert on why yo shouldn’t do drugs. It shows off a heroin addict in the worst and true way living in Scotland.
At some point I couldn’t watch and thought where to much. Especially when they showed needles where I couldn’t watch. Other than that the movie was great and I highly recommend.
Memorable scene
A memorable scene for me is the last period of the movie where Mark Renton has just taken the drug money from the hotel. It has a voice over of Renton explaining he is now clean from drugs and is going off to live his life. The final scene is Spud being given a chunk of money Renton left him as he felt that Spud was the one who deserved it.
I really enjoyed this film. my score out of 10 would be 8.5/10. there are some very realistic scenes and representations of how British politics created a legacy of disaster for Scotland specifically. There’s no censoring in this film which allows the audience to be shown what the realities of living in Scotland during the heroin and AIDS epidemic was really like.
The exploration of gender is very interesting to, as topics like gender expression in a place like Scotland during the mid to late 90s would have been very stigmatised.
a scene which was memorable for me was when Renton went to Tommy’s apartment. Renton was now clean and trying to get himself together, while Tommy was deep in the pits of addiction and had contracted AIDS. there is a parallel between Tommy and Renton as before Tommy was using heroin he represented the middle class of Scotland which had not been affected by the terrors of drug abuse. Renton represents the disease of drug abuse and how it can ruin peoples lives, e.g. the events of Renton stealing Tommy’s sex tape lead him to using heroin and eventually dying.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
TIME CODE 5:31
In this scene as well as many others we can see the character Swanny, also known as Mother Superior. Every time we see this character he is in the drug den surrounded by a sinister red light. The red light in this film represents all of Renton’s vices; sex, drugs, death, and everything else that is stopping Renton from “choosing life” When the audience sees the red light they know that Renton or one of his friends will most likely be using heroin, this creates a sense of anxiety within the spectator.
