I am never ever doing heroin. There was controversy at the time over this film glorifying hard drug use but I think it’s a pretty effective counter measure. The withdrawal symptoms are portrayed horrifyingly vividly by McGregor. Combined with Boyle’s fantastic use of camera angles it makes it my favourite part of the film. Apart from this there’s much to be admired. With a budget of just £1.5 million and shooting only lasting 35 days Boyle has performed a miracle. Most scenes were shot in one take as they just didn’t have the funds. This explains the film being slightly rough around the edges but still has managed to become highly acclaimed all around the world. Ewan McGregor was always Boyle’s first choice to play Renton and his performance explains why, he is clearly completely dedicated to the role in the film especially as he lost 26 pounds in 2 months to gain the required physique of an addict. At first I could barely recognise him. I also enjoyed the soundtrack very much, fitting the tone of the film perfectly. The treasure trove of pop culture references for the observant viewer to notice were a subtle but welcome reference to the film’s distinctly British background. The film’s make-do approach to filming scenes does add a certain charm to the film however does add the few issues I have with the film. Some scenes are a little too rough and could have benefitted from a touch more care and consideration especially with a few of the side characters. Despite its faults I would recommend this to anyone and is a superb piece of cinema. 8/10
Submitted May 26, 2020 at 04:36AM by isaacrobi333 https://ift.tt/2zn3CYO