There have been many films about drug addiction, but only a very few match the wildness and darkly humorous trip into madness like Danny Boyle’s 1996 disturbing cult sensation Trainspotting.
Buy Criterion Collection’s TrainspottingBased on Irvine Welsh’s novel, the film stars Ewan McGregor as Mark Renton, a troubled Scottish heroin addict who tries to kick the habit and wipe his savage slate clean. However, the road to recovery isn’t usually paved with easy intentions, as the mystique of drugs and the influence of his mates Spud (Ewen Bremner), Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller), Tommy (Kevin McKidd), and Begbie (Robert Carlyle) threaten to destroy him.
Despite its unpredictable kineticism, Trainspotting doesn’t sugarcoat the often harrowing (and gross) circumstances with addiction. It shows it…in graphic detail. It also has one of the most terrifying dream sequences in all of film, where a baby (who died from neglect) is seen crawling on the ceiling and turning her head 180 degrees. Sorry for this spoiler, but let that be a warning before seeing the film.
The ’90s wasn’t my favorite decade, but a lot of movies back then were really good, and Trainspotting was definitely one of them. I still think it holds up well and is quite the cautionary tale about the effects of drugs.
Making its Criterion debut, I’m sure the film will be a revelation to film collectors, especially in 4K UHD. The supplements also sound very neat and informative. They include audio commentary featuring Boyle, producer Andrew Macdonald, screenwriter John Hodge, and McGregor; nine deleted scenes with commentary from the filmmakers; new interview with production designer Kave Quinn and costume designer Rachael Fleming; theatrical teaser and trailer; and much more. There are also essays by critic Graham Fuller and author Irvine Welsh, Welsh’s glossary of terms from the novel, and limited-edition glow-in-the-dark packaging.
I give this my 100% recommendation. This release should make a worthy addition to any collection. Just don’t watch if you’re easily triggered.
Other release:
Mudbound (Criterion): Dee Rees’ acclaimed drama about two men returning home from World War II to work on a farm in rural Mississippi where they struggle to deal with racism and adjusting to life after war. On 4K UHD & Blu-ray.
Thanksgiving (Sony): Eli Roth’s gory holiday hit where a mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes a town in Plymouth, Massachusetts after a Black Friday sale goes horribly wrong.
Scarlet Street (Kino): Fritz Lang’s classic 1945 film noir stars the great Edward G. Robinson as a man in mid-life crisis who befriends a young woman (Joan Bennett). Her venal fiancé (Dan Duryea) persuades her to con Robinson out of some of the fortune she thinks he has. On 4K UHD & Blu-ray.
The Tune (Deaf Crocodile): Bill Plympton’s 1992 cult classic about Del, a songwriter for the obnoxious Mr. Mega, who is in love with Didi, Mega’s secretary. His quest to write a hit tune brings him to the wacky world of Flooby Nooby, where he just might learn to write songs from the heart.
