With Trance heading into cinemas next Wednesday, the Flickering Myth writing team look back at their favourite Danny Boyle movies. Next up, Luke Owen looks at 1996’s Trainspotting….
“Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a f***ing 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 f***ing fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the f**k you are on Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing f***ing junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pissing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, f***ed up brats you spawned to replace yourselves. Choose your future. Choose life… But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose somethin’ else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you’ve got heroin?”
And with that, Danny Boyle was cemented in cinema history.
Amazingly my first introduction to that classic narration was from PF Project who sampled Renton’s words in their song “Choose Life” released the same year. It wasn’t until a few years later upon seeing the film did I understand the significance and just how brilliant of an opening it is to an outstanding movie.
Based off the Irvine Welsh book of the same name, Trainspotting tells the story heroin addict Renton as he struggles through the life of 90s addiction, booze, sex and dance music. Not only does the film feature graphic scenes of drug use, it also contains defecated bed sheets, AIDS, cot death and borderline paedophilia (not to mention Ewan McGregor’s member). It is not a film for the faint hearted and I know people who say that can’t watch “that baby shot” to this day.
Boyle shines with creative camera uses to show how addiction grabs hold of people. What should have been a simple sit down interview for Spud is filmed in a frenetic quick cut speed-induced state which not only adds to the comedy of the scene but shows the effects the drug has on the character.
What should have been a quiet drink for Begbie turns into a blood filled bar fight where all the real violence happens off screen due to Begbie’s clear lack of caring.
What should have been Renton’s final hit turns into a POV carpet framed ride from hell set to Lou Reed’s Perfect Day. It’s a rollercoaster movie that doesn’t let go of its audience from the opening moments until the closing credits. For me, this is Boyle at his best.
The performances from every cast member are sublime with Robert Carlyle stealing the show as psychopath Begbie and Jonny Lee Miller as the suave and super cool Sick Boy coming in a close second (his speech about James Bond still rings true to this day). But of course the real star of the show is Ewan McGregor as Mark “Rent Boy” Renton. He oozes charisma and his portrayal of a recovering heroin addict going cold turkey is scarily real which is only supported by the creative visuals from Danny Boyle and “that baby shot”.
Boyle may now be a national treasure among British directors and many would argue that his later films eclipse this in terms of quality, but I will always pick to watch Trainspotting over 28 Days Later, Sunshine, 127 Hours, Slumdog Millionaire et al. Perhaps it’s because its set within that 90s dance era that always seemed so appealing to me as a young male, or perhaps it’s the wonderful script from John Hodge or just the incredible cast and direction. Whatever it is, Trainspotting will always remain my favourite Danny Boyle movie.
Choose life. Choose Trainspotting.
Originally published March 20, 2013. Updated November 6, 2019.
