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Trainspotting (1996)
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Overview
Release Date:
19 July 1996 (USA) moreTagline:
Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a starter home. Choose dental insurance, leisure wear and matching luggage. Choose your future. But why would anyone want to do a thing like that? morePlot:
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. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 18 wins & 13 nominations moreUser Comments:
Sublimely excellent moreCast
(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 |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for graphic heroin use and resulting depravity, strong language, sex, nudity and some violence.Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
94 minCountry:
UKLanguage:
EnglishColour:
ColourAspect Ratio:
1.78 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Dolby DigitalCertification:
Argentina:18 | Iceland:16 | Australia:R | Brazil:18 | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (DVD rating) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:-16 | Germany:16 (bw) | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Israel:18 | Italy:VM14 | Japan:R-15 (cut) | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/18 | Singapore:R(A) | South Africa:18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:RMOVIEmeter: 
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Danny Boyle credits the Spike Jonze-directed music video for "Sabotage" by the Beastie Boys as a major influence on the opening sequence of the film. moreGoofs:
Crew or equipment visible: When Renton is in his bedroom being forced off heroin by his parents and the baby is crawling across the roof towards him after Sickboy has made an appearance, there is a close-up shot of Renton cowering against the pillow. The shadow of the camera is visible against his face and the pillow. moreQuotes:
[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 suite on hire purchase in a range of fucking fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck you are on Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing fucking 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, fucked 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?
more
Soundtrack:
A Final Hit moreFAQ
What happened to the baby?Why is it called "Trainspotting"?
What is Sick Boy's actual name?
more
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After reading some of the reviews that trash this film I had to speak up.
This film is gritty and dirty. There is content which is not pleasant, swearing and violence amounts other things. What else would you expect a film about drug addiction to be about? Well more than that actually, it about choices and what you Choose! Never at any point did this film make drugs look at all appealing to me in any way, I never did understand why so many people thought that it did. At no point did it ever say "Look at this, its cool." For those who think the level of swearing in this film is too much then they clearly haven't spent any time with working class people in Britain, not just Scotland. I being one of them can say its fairly accurate in that account.
That being said, those things do not take anything away from the film, the quality of plot and story, or the acting which is Stunning! Robert Carlise as Begbe was excellent, and Ewan MacGregor shined. Also the character Spud was worth a mention he really was quite good.
This film is in my Opinion a work of Genius, that represents the book accurately.