Ecstasy

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!

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.

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.

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.

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 !!