Who Needs Reasons When You’ve Got Heroin?

A review on Trainspotting by Danny Boyle – 172297

Trainspotting by English director Danny Boyle has definitely made its way up my list of favorite films of all-time. Upon first viewing of the film, the unabashed rawness of Boyle’s masterpiece kicked me quite in the gut. While the first few films viewed in class were all sort of peculiar, Trainspotting was a wild, untamed ride that kept me hooked in spite of the intense gore and violence, ceaseless smut and vulgarity, and the brazen portrayal of drug addiction. I would say that all the themes found in the movie are definitely not my cup of tea–had we not watched this in class, I would not have ever given this film a chance. However, I am also quick to say that simply judging the film by its disturbing scenes, without giving it much of a chance to redeem itself, would lead one to miss out on one of the greatest films of all-time.

Personally, I believe that what kept me fixated on the film’s story is the complete unreliability of Renton both as a narrator and a decent human being. He seems to have been provided by his parents with everything materially, coming from a relatively middle-class family, but nonetheless still chooses the life of a heroin addict. I must say, the pessimism Renton holds over life have been infuriating at times, considering how many shots he’s had at living a clean, drug-free life. With his parents’ constant support of sending him to rehabilitation, spending thousands of pounds to get him off drugs and heroin completely, coupled with his sporadic episodes of detoxification, it was difficult to comprehend Renton’s character as a whole. Firstly, he had exhibited a desire to get off the drugs; though clearly, it was easier said than done. Here, we understand the great complexities of drug addiction. While some might say that it comes as a choice, it is also important to acknowledge that they are victims of substance abuse that have destroyed millions of lives. Renton’s constant desire to turn his back on heroin is often trumped by the physical and mental struggle of needing the drugs back in his system—and the cycle repeats all over again.Moreover, Renton’s lack of judgment and taste in decent friends exerted heavy influence in his long-time struggle with heroin addiction. And to be fair, Renton is not the best person you could ask for a friend either. While his complexity as an individual frustrated me throughout the film’s duration, I believe that this is what makes him a great character. He rarely follows through with what he says and even deceives his friends without unabashed remorse; as in the case of having stolen Tommy and his girlfriend’s sex tape, leading to a bad breakup which had left Tommy distraught. Instead of dissuading Tommy from resorting to heroin use as a temporary escape from his emotional grief, I would go as far as saying that Renton had enabled his friend’s drug abuse. To put salt on the wound, Tommy was the most decent and respectable one out of his friend group–living a comparably healthier lifestyle than his peers who were heavy users of narcotics. He did not partake in the life of crime and theft his friends lived, but all this was washed down the drain. Due to his crippling drug abuse and his contraction of HIV/AIDS, Tommy had lost all purpose in life brought about by the lack of a health and proper support system. On the other hand, ironically enough, Renton was now clean thanks to his parents’ assertiveness after his overdose which had nearly costed his life. But if there was something Renton had done right in his lifetime, it would probably be his decision to move to London and start with a new slate. If there was something he had done even better, it’d be his choice to take all the money with him and start anew.