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Trainspotting
List Price: Unknown [Buy now and save at Amazon]
The Movie:
Although it's been ages since I've read Irvine Welsh's fascinating novel about a group of junkies, I've always had the impression stick with me - what a fascinating novel, full of impressively well-thought out details and fully-realized characters. Although I was originally less than thrilled with Danny Boyle's quick 94 minute burst of a movie, it's since grown on me.
Ewan McGregor stars as Renton, a heroin addict who has occasionally tried to give up the stuff, but failed. The movie follows Renton and friends Spud (Ewen Bremner), Tommy (Kevin McKidd), and Sean Connery-obsessed Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller), who are occasionally joined by their hard-drinking and often psychotic friend Begbie (Robert Carlyle), who gets the entire group of them in trouble.
The film does not glamorize drug use, yet it does present the fact that the user does get an extreme high from the use - an early scene has Renton explaining the hows and whys - essentially saying, "we get something out of it, we're not stupid, or at least, that stupid." But, it also shows the extreme downhill slide that happens not only during withdrawal, but as a result of drugs and how people forget about those around them who are important in their lives.
The performances are excellent, and each of the main characters has a highlight moment or two - Spud's interview-on-speed is a pretty amusing scene and Renton's dive into one of the worst toilets in the land (possibly the world?) is hilariously disgusting. Miller's Sick Boy also has a few good bits talking about the career of Sean Connery. Boyle's rapid cuts and sharp visuals might signal a film that really doesn't focus much on the characters, but I've always been suprised at how well-realized the characters were able to become in a matter of only 94 minutes.
It's a superb film that, in my opinion, has gotten better with repeated viewings. The only problem is that the only DVD version is an early release from Miramax that offers the American version of the movie. The Criterion Laserdisc edition not only is a special edition with commentary, but also offers the UK edition of the picture. Criterion has talked about a DVD release of their edition, but nothing has happened yet with it.
The DVD
VIDEO: One of the studio's earlier releases, "Trainspotting" is presented in non-anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen and definitely isn't up to the standards of more recent releases. Sharpness and detail are generally passable, although I'd certainly say that several sequences throughout the picture look noticably soft.
Edge enhancement occasionally becomes noticable and irritating as well as some noticable pixelation on occasion. Print flaws aren't terrible, but there are some minor marks and scratches that infreqently appear. A couple of times, the picture strangely jittered slightly. Colors don't always fare particularly well throughout the movie; although they look bright and clean during many scenes, they also occasionally look rather smeared.
SOUND: "Trainspotting" is presented Dolby Digital 5.1 and really doesn't provide much in the way of surround use. The front three speakers do provide a nice amount of information; although the movie folds up to mono during several sequences, the music has a really nice, rich presence throughout the picture. Surrounds occasionally kick in a bit of information for the music, but that's really about it. Audio quality seemed clear and natural, with dialogue easily heard and understood, although some may have trouble with the accents.
MENUS:: Menus are basic and non-animated with film-themed images.
EXTRAS:: Trailer.
Final Thoughts: "Trainspotting" is an excellent, well-acted film, but it's unfortunate that it's still never gotten the DVD presentation that it deserved. Audio/video quality is pretty unremarkable and video quality is especially lacking. Not to mention the fact that there's really nothing in the way of extras, either. Wait for the Criterion edition, rent this one when you're in the mood to watch it.
Although it's been ages since I've read Irvine Welsh's fascinating novel about a group of junkies, I've always had the impression stick with me - what a fascinating novel, full of impressively well-thought out details and fully-realized characters. Although I was originally less than thrilled with Danny Boyle's quick 94 minute burst of a movie, it's since grown on me.
Ewan McGregor stars as Renton, a heroin addict who has occasionally tried to give up the stuff, but failed. The movie follows Renton and friends Spud (Ewen Bremner), Tommy (Kevin McKidd), and Sean Connery-obsessed Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller), who are occasionally joined by their hard-drinking and often psychotic friend Begbie (Robert Carlyle), who gets the entire group of them in trouble.
The film does not glamorize drug use, yet it does present the fact that the user does get an extreme high from the use - an early scene has Renton explaining the hows and whys - essentially saying, "we get something out of it, we're not stupid, or at least, that stupid." But, it also shows the extreme downhill slide that happens not only during withdrawal, but as a result of drugs and how people forget about those around them who are important in their lives.
The performances are excellent, and each of the main characters has a highlight moment or two - Spud's interview-on-speed is a pretty amusing scene and Renton's dive into one of the worst toilets in the land (possibly the world?) is hilariously disgusting. Miller's Sick Boy also has a few good bits talking about the career of Sean Connery. Boyle's rapid cuts and sharp visuals might signal a film that really doesn't focus much on the characters, but I've always been suprised at how well-realized the characters were able to become in a matter of only 94 minutes.
It's a superb film that, in my opinion, has gotten better with repeated viewings. The only problem is that the only DVD version is an early release from Miramax that offers the American version of the movie. The Criterion Laserdisc edition not only is a special edition with commentary, but also offers the UK edition of the picture. Criterion has talked about a DVD release of their edition, but nothing has happened yet with it.
The DVD
VIDEO: One of the studio's earlier releases, "Trainspotting" is presented in non-anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen and definitely isn't up to the standards of more recent releases. Sharpness and detail are generally passable, although I'd certainly say that several sequences throughout the picture look noticably soft.
Edge enhancement occasionally becomes noticable and irritating as well as some noticable pixelation on occasion. Print flaws aren't terrible, but there are some minor marks and scratches that infreqently appear. A couple of times, the picture strangely jittered slightly. Colors don't always fare particularly well throughout the movie; although they look bright and clean during many scenes, they also occasionally look rather smeared.
SOUND: "Trainspotting" is presented Dolby Digital 5.1 and really doesn't provide much in the way of surround use. The front three speakers do provide a nice amount of information; although the movie folds up to mono during several sequences, the music has a really nice, rich presence throughout the picture. Surrounds occasionally kick in a bit of information for the music, but that's really about it. Audio quality seemed clear and natural, with dialogue easily heard and understood, although some may have trouble with the accents.
MENUS:: Menus are basic and non-animated with film-themed images.
EXTRAS:: Trailer.
Final Thoughts: "Trainspotting" is an excellent, well-acted film, but it's unfortunate that it's still never gotten the DVD presentation that it deserved. Audio/video quality is pretty unremarkable and video quality is especially lacking. Not to mention the fact that there's really nothing in the way of extras, either. Wait for the Criterion edition, rent this one when you're in the mood to watch it.
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