34 commentaires
Even if no one tells you, that the novel this is based on is by the same author who wrote "Trainspotting", you'd get that after a couple of minutes for sure. It's too early to really tell, but Ewan McGregor this ain't. Still the central performance is really good and you get the ever beautiful K. Kreuk.
Story-wise you shouldn't expect much. Very predictable and some cliché scenes, with a bad guy who relishes in his role, but almost gets underplayed by the characters inabilities. Our main character is as mostly in this cases one of his own worst enemies. Decent little thriller that has all the right ingredients, but never fully takes off
Story-wise you shouldn't expect much. Very predictable and some cliché scenes, with a bad guy who relishes in his role, but almost gets underplayed by the characters inabilities. Our main character is as mostly in this cases one of his own worst enemies. Decent little thriller that has all the right ingredients, but never fully takes off
Normally a book has more depth. So does this. However the producers felt they had to rewrite the plot to make a better movie, they where wrong!
- patrick-566-621840
- 15 juin 2019
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- renegadeviking-271-528568
- 29 juin 2025
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This movie falls so far from it's intended objectives that I almost wonder if it isn't some sort of multi-layered social joke that the director is playing on his audience. The entire film from start to finish feels as if a naive & innocent thirteen year old boy wrote and directed this embarrassing excuse for a motion picture film to impress his older brother who does drugs. Other than the stylishly ripped-off poster design, there is... LITERALLY.... nothing about this film that doesn't make you constantly cringe out of embarrassment for all involved.
The first batch of reviews that give this movie a 10/10 MUST BE FAKE. There is no way that a person coherent enough to read and write English could possibly view this film as a "Must see film," or "Great Cast, Great Story," or my personal favorite: "The Definitive Film about Ecstasy and Clubbing Culture."
Netflix now has this film, and, just like everyone else, was drawn to it out of love for Trainspotting. After quickly looking up the IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes ratings for the film (IMDB=4.7/10, and Rotten Tomatoes has it hovering around a 14%/100) I knew I probably wouldn't get my mind blown, but I wasn't expecting a film this truly awful.
From the first scene which desperately tries to capitalize on the visual aesthetic of Trainspotting, the entire movie becomes an inconsistent mess of AWFUL acting, childish dialogue, flat and borderline nonexistent narrative, and of course there's the music. This film, adapted from one of the best counter-culture authors of the 20th century, had ALL THE WORK DONE FOR IT. All they had to do was properly rip off Danny Boyle's Trainspotting, apply it to this novel, and they would have at least an AVERAGE film. The entire premise revolves around emotionally exposing the 90's underground rave/club culture, and the entire soundtrack consists of, from what I can tell, the same four bars of the most generic "club beat" I've ever heard, and it only plays in the background of these small scale pathetic "rave" sequences where it becomes obvious that the scene consists of less than 20 extras generically moving in a basement while some cheap strobe lights try to mask the films budget and attempt to make it look like a pulsing, sweating, out-of- mind ecstasy club.
So my advice to you is, watch it, but only if you have a morbid curiosity to see in real-time what it feels like to watch the careers of probably everyone involved get quickly erased out of history. I can't imagine trusting director, cinematographer (if you can call him that), or ANY of the actors or writers to coherently create a low-expectation soap opera episode, much less another film. I suppose I'm glad that it was made, so people know for certain how terrible all parties involved are at their respective craft.
Embarrassing. I just spent ten minutes writing this to save you the pain of this film destroying what little expectations you might have from it.
The first batch of reviews that give this movie a 10/10 MUST BE FAKE. There is no way that a person coherent enough to read and write English could possibly view this film as a "Must see film," or "Great Cast, Great Story," or my personal favorite: "The Definitive Film about Ecstasy and Clubbing Culture."
Netflix now has this film, and, just like everyone else, was drawn to it out of love for Trainspotting. After quickly looking up the IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes ratings for the film (IMDB=4.7/10, and Rotten Tomatoes has it hovering around a 14%/100) I knew I probably wouldn't get my mind blown, but I wasn't expecting a film this truly awful.
From the first scene which desperately tries to capitalize on the visual aesthetic of Trainspotting, the entire movie becomes an inconsistent mess of AWFUL acting, childish dialogue, flat and borderline nonexistent narrative, and of course there's the music. This film, adapted from one of the best counter-culture authors of the 20th century, had ALL THE WORK DONE FOR IT. All they had to do was properly rip off Danny Boyle's Trainspotting, apply it to this novel, and they would have at least an AVERAGE film. The entire premise revolves around emotionally exposing the 90's underground rave/club culture, and the entire soundtrack consists of, from what I can tell, the same four bars of the most generic "club beat" I've ever heard, and it only plays in the background of these small scale pathetic "rave" sequences where it becomes obvious that the scene consists of less than 20 extras generically moving in a basement while some cheap strobe lights try to mask the films budget and attempt to make it look like a pulsing, sweating, out-of- mind ecstasy club.
So my advice to you is, watch it, but only if you have a morbid curiosity to see in real-time what it feels like to watch the careers of probably everyone involved get quickly erased out of history. I can't imagine trusting director, cinematographer (if you can call him that), or ANY of the actors or writers to coherently create a low-expectation soap opera episode, much less another film. I suppose I'm glad that it was made, so people know for certain how terrible all parties involved are at their respective craft.
Embarrassing. I just spent ten minutes writing this to save you the pain of this film destroying what little expectations you might have from it.
- seanfoulkes
- 19 juil. 2013
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- kieran_sekuloff
- 3 mai 2012
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- themissingpatient
- 9 août 2012
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- tomgillespie2002
- 26 août 2012
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Billy Boyd playing DJ 'Woodsy' yells that immortal line while in hospital as nurses try to give him some of their sedatives.
I quite liked this film and its underrated because the acting and script are pretty good. Adapted from a book by famous novelist Irvine Welsh, this film is about the ecstasy culture of the 90's. There have been a few films which capture dance club scene better than this, but in my opinion this is still a good film and its more than just about getting high. Its about love and death and family and friends.
Adam Sinclair (Lloyd) and Kristin Kreuk (Heather) are the lead actors and their relationship forms the heart of the movie. Its actually quite difficult show a believable love story. Its so easy to get it wrong. This pair did a good job. The club scenes were pretty good and I generally liked the soundtrack, and it captured the party drug taking well.
I liked the fact that the actors and script didn't elevate the characters into anything other than just ordinary people. Lloyd doesn't have job and Heather is unhappily married and works for the anti-narcotics association whilst raving at weekend. Yes that put a wry smile on my face! There are extraordinary people around them (gangsters) and drug trafficking storyline to keep story interesting but basically this is a romance with some drugs thrown in. Its the love drug vs the real thing sort of story. 6/10
I quite liked this film and its underrated because the acting and script are pretty good. Adapted from a book by famous novelist Irvine Welsh, this film is about the ecstasy culture of the 90's. There have been a few films which capture dance club scene better than this, but in my opinion this is still a good film and its more than just about getting high. Its about love and death and family and friends.
Adam Sinclair (Lloyd) and Kristin Kreuk (Heather) are the lead actors and their relationship forms the heart of the movie. Its actually quite difficult show a believable love story. Its so easy to get it wrong. This pair did a good job. The club scenes were pretty good and I generally liked the soundtrack, and it captured the party drug taking well.
I liked the fact that the actors and script didn't elevate the characters into anything other than just ordinary people. Lloyd doesn't have job and Heather is unhappily married and works for the anti-narcotics association whilst raving at weekend. Yes that put a wry smile on my face! There are extraordinary people around them (gangsters) and drug trafficking storyline to keep story interesting but basically this is a romance with some drugs thrown in. Its the love drug vs the real thing sort of story. 6/10
- g-white723
- 29 févr. 2016
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- rgiblett66
- 23 avr. 2012
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Worst film of its genre I have seen and there are some real stinkers. Really didn't get it, at all. I have read all Irvine Welsh books, including his early works and am truly speechless. Was really looking forward to seeing it. Sacrilege! Started off o.k, then lost its way and turned into a disgracefully cheesy, poorly scripted, love story. Male character massages female character 'youve had your heart broken, I can feel it in your back' cue dance music. 'its the small things that matter, you don't talk about them'....'the small things are the big things'. WHAT! Actors with really poor dutch, Scandinavian and even Scottish accents, can do better myself! Basically just dance music punctuated by terrible 'love' dialogue and speed-ed up camera work. Genuinely had to turn it off as the dialogue was that embarrassing it make me queasy. Its the anti train-spotting and in no way resembles Irvine Welshs work. If you are expecting a Danny Boyle type or Irvine Welsh based movie you will be sorely disappointed. It contains drugs , yes, and its based in Scotland. Thats it.
- deanpjackson_1973
- 21 août 2012
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- natashabowiepinky
- 3 mars 2014
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I recently spent a month in bed due to surgery and was desperate for entertainment of any kind. My wife and I sat down to watch this flick and from the beginning it had ominous tones of wasting my time. All along I was trying to escape the feeling that this movie was written on-the-fly by a pair of 7 year olds trying to impress their families at a reunion.
I am desperate to think of something positive to say! The sound quality was atrocious, sets were clutter and noise, all the characters felt wooden and dead. I have been impressed by Billy Boyd in the past but he was not able to overcome the writing, Kristin Kreuk is just name-important enough that she was wasted, and Adam Sinclair should consider roles that do not require acting skills.
I am desperate to think of something positive to say! The sound quality was atrocious, sets were clutter and noise, all the characters felt wooden and dead. I have been impressed by Billy Boyd in the past but he was not able to overcome the writing, Kristin Kreuk is just name-important enough that she was wasted, and Adam Sinclair should consider roles that do not require acting skills.
If you are wondering what my summation above means then you most definitely belong in the same amateur film club as the writers of all of those glowing reviews. The fact that they put the Irvine Welsh name in the film title is an abomination. I was around in the 90's in the US club scene and have swallowed an uncountable number of E tabs during that time. I have also read Welsh's book and when I combine that with my own life experiences it makes me want to seek out this hack "director" Rob Heydon & turn him into a mute.
When I consider how magnificent Boyle's adaptation of Trainspotting was and how gritty & real it was to the point that I often thought to myself wow the guy behind this had to be an actual addict, the surreal actualities that were involved. I'm also a recovering heroin addict(clean for 8 years)so I suppose you can say I have a good deal of insight into these two topics. Getting back to the real point, to the real problem of the huge void of reality & lack of reverse perspective in this film Ecstasy. I believe the only people keeping this film from completely drowning are young people who believe life is all fun & games, that the party never stops. People that have no perspective on what good film is that are simply drawn into the light of the drug content. Those who refuse to see the dark implications involved as their brain is slowly getting damaged pill by pill, the extreme depression, CNS complications & suicidal tendencies growing stronger by the TAB.
When I consider how magnificent Boyle's adaptation of Trainspotting was and how gritty & real it was to the point that I often thought to myself wow the guy behind this had to be an actual addict, the surreal actualities that were involved. I'm also a recovering heroin addict(clean for 8 years)so I suppose you can say I have a good deal of insight into these two topics. Getting back to the real point, to the real problem of the huge void of reality & lack of reverse perspective in this film Ecstasy. I believe the only people keeping this film from completely drowning are young people who believe life is all fun & games, that the party never stops. People that have no perspective on what good film is that are simply drawn into the light of the drug content. Those who refuse to see the dark implications involved as their brain is slowly getting damaged pill by pill, the extreme depression, CNS complications & suicidal tendencies growing stronger by the TAB.
- Thrill_KillZ
- 10 août 2012
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- deansmith497
- 18 oct. 2013
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- lauren-campbell-818-357064
- 14 oct. 2013
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Well...I went to the premier, I felt older and uglier than everyone else there, I had huge expectations due to the Irvine Welsh endorsement of the project, and the knowledge Trainspotting was and is the king of UK indie films , so I was set up for a miserable cold rainy Tuesday evening in South East London and remembering that the last time I walked through the doors of the Ministry of Sound, I only managed to stay in there for about 20 minutes before being ejected..(use your imagination
20 years ago I might add) , added to my fear of another deflated experience at the birth place off Vodka Jellies and Mecca of modern dance music . I took my seat and tucked into the free popcorn. The lights dimmed the film rolled and the music started, my ears pricked and after the 4 beats in a bar huge bass smashed through my eardrums and made my heart beat dance in time with it - I was back in the club on the podium semi naked smiling from ear to ear and chewing my jaw off !!
I couldn't believe how Rob Heydon has nailed the clubbing experience so well , having seen him on an interview for the film , he comes across as though he'd be better suited to directing a Surbiton church hall adaptation of 'The Good Life ' ... how wrong I was , he must have done some serious damage in his day because to interpret to this level of accuracy meant he was there ! The acting was superb, really mature actors nailing their characters , having seen a clip , I immediately was comparing Adam with Ewan Mc Gregor before Adam had even spoke a word , I needn't have bothered , Adam has huge personality that comes across very well , he looks and sounds great and he is quite obviously his own man and made this 'his' film Another thing that was totally unexpected, in fact 'unexpectedly brilliant' was the cinematography was nothing short of top notch . I hope you like this film, if like me you were there, you can only attest to its accuracy, it walks the fine line well of showing how the drugging club culture does allow colourful imagination and frees the most repressed spirit but like any drug or alcohol fuelled experience the time to pay the piper will come and you can be sure the piper will asked to be paid when your least capable of paying him, Heydon portraits this with the reverence it deserves . Well done great film !!
I couldn't believe how Rob Heydon has nailed the clubbing experience so well , having seen him on an interview for the film , he comes across as though he'd be better suited to directing a Surbiton church hall adaptation of 'The Good Life ' ... how wrong I was , he must have done some serious damage in his day because to interpret to this level of accuracy meant he was there ! The acting was superb, really mature actors nailing their characters , having seen a clip , I immediately was comparing Adam with Ewan Mc Gregor before Adam had even spoke a word , I needn't have bothered , Adam has huge personality that comes across very well , he looks and sounds great and he is quite obviously his own man and made this 'his' film Another thing that was totally unexpected, in fact 'unexpectedly brilliant' was the cinematography was nothing short of top notch . I hope you like this film, if like me you were there, you can only attest to its accuracy, it walks the fine line well of showing how the drugging club culture does allow colourful imagination and frees the most repressed spirit but like any drug or alcohol fuelled experience the time to pay the piper will come and you can be sure the piper will asked to be paid when your least capable of paying him, Heydon portraits this with the reverence it deserves . Well done great film !!
- FlashCallahan
- 24 oct. 2013
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- Art_Of_The_Underground
- 6 août 2013
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- kpmichaels-466-163389
- 3 sept. 2012
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I was a bit apprehensive about this film as I am a massive fan of Trainspotting and felt it may let the side down. I was fortunate enough to see a pre-screening and this could not be further from the truth, it is a great film in its own right and I recommend that anyone go and see it. I saw it with my girlfriend and she really enjoyed it as well so its not just one for the lads. I enjoyed the way it shows how the tedium of middle class life can go skidding off the rails on a roller-coaster ride. It's refreshing to see a film that deals with relationships/happiness/love that doesn't have Hugh Grant turning the contents of your stomach with lines like "love really is all around"! p.s. Kristin Kreuk...well...enough said
- jrghsolutions
- 16 avr. 2012
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I wasn't sure if I would like the movie as I was a huge fan of Trainspotting and also Welsh's work but it totally blew me away. Hayden's direction manages to convey a real sense of the brutal underworld involved in the drug culture while unfolding the rather unconventional love story at the same time. Great performances from Sinclair and Kreuk but Billy Boyd simply stole the show for me (think Spud from Trainspotting meets Donkey from Shrek).Having read the book I think that Hayden and McCafferty eloquently captured the essence of the book and incorporated some really touching emotional scenes with Lloyd and his dying father, adding a slightly softer side to the movie. I'll be going to see this again and again and predict that it becomes as big a success as Trainspotting.
- lynnfrancesjohnson
- 18 avr. 2012
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I recently watched this film at the Vail Film Festival. This story is about, well.... it's in the title. I was not sure how I would take this at first being fearful that it would be a Trainspotting knockoff. I was very pleased that even though it is about drugs like Trainspotting, it has a unique story that stands on it's own two feet. I do fee that the first act dragged a little before the story really began moving. I have seen other reviews from old people (me being not too young myself) complaining that this should have been a nostalgic piece or should contain dub-step tracks... that is complete rubbish. I am a fan of most Genre's of EDM but I feel the tunes in this film fit very well. Other than some minor editing choices, this film delivers a great love/human story... no spoilers here. I am a fan of Trainspotting, It's all Gone Pete Tong, Go and Groove. I feel this story fits nicely into these films as far as content/story go. I hope you enjoy it too and I am excited for it to come to America.
- FrankEdmonds
- 3 avr. 2012
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I saw this in Toronto at the North by Northeast (NXNE) festival. It took me back to my university days in England when I attended a few all night raves and witnessed some of the prevalent drug culture that surrounds such events. The cinematography and music was just right and made you feel that you were inside the dance clubs experiencing the atmosphere and excitement. I enjoyed the performances of Adam Sinclair, Carlo Rota and Billy Boyd who all played opposing neurotic characters. The movie highlighted the temporary perceived highs of ecstasy while showing how the reality of life can be a real downer. After watching the movie it made me appreciate all the work that was undertaken behind the scenes to get the funding and cast together which took over a decade!
- raymondshum
- 17 juin 2012
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