“Medicine for a Sick Society” ITF Watch: Trainspotting (1996 film)

Danny Boyle’s cult-hit adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s debut novel became an immediate critical darling, and makes many lists of the best British films ever made. In episode 282, Luke & James discuss a legendary production, Ewan McGregor’s commitment to understanding the drug scene, a similarity of message to Fight Club’s, what the color red represents, and what sort of responsibility artists have for the art they make. They finish by casting their vote for which was better: the book or the movie!

References

• “Choose Drugs” interview by Irvine Welsh

Ink to Film

• Purchase Trainspotting or any of the other source books or guest novels at Ink to Film's bookshop: www.bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm
• Ink to Film's Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky (@inktofilm)
• Home Base: inktofilm.com
• Intro Music: "Everyone You Know" by Letter Box

Luke Elliott

• Website: www.lukeelliottauthor.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/luminousluke
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/lpelliott/
• Threads: https://www.threads.net/@lpelliott
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/luminousluke.bsky.social

James Bailey

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jame_Bail
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/jamebail/