Analysis of Trainspotting Film Trailer

The trailer for ‘Trainspotting’ begins with a sound effect of a non-diegetic train, as we see black and white production company logos of ‘Lionsgate’ and ‘Miramax’. The sound effect stops and loud, fast paced non diegetic music starts with a medium long shot of a man shown running through an urban street. A non diegetic voice over is then heard with a low pitched Scottish accent, which is calm and descriptive, as opposed to the action onscreen. Also, this is suggested to be the voice or thoughts of the man running as it is played along with him. The man has a shaven head and an earring in which suggest that he is stereotypically a criminal. He is running with a man who looks similar to himself, and is wearing the same type of clothes; jeans, a plain t-shirt and a jacket. The men have worried looks on their faces which to an audience, suggests they are running from something or someone. Two men are shown in the background also running, both wearing smart suits, contrasting with the first two men and separating the four in class; the two men in the foreground being of a lower class that the two in the background.

A jump cut shows the men running again but lower down, focusing on their legs and the fast speed, which is accompanied still by the fast paced music. A panning shot of a low angle is then seen of the man running down some stairs, and by the focus being on him, it is clear to an audience that he is the main character of this film. A diegetic sound of a car screeching to a halt is heard as the man slides across the bonnet in another medium long shot; this adds to the excitement and makes this chase more interesting for an audience.

The man is shown through a medium shot in black and white, stood still and laughing, with a reflection of light on the screen, suggesting that the point of view is from inside the car looking at him, and showing him finding danger comical, this signifies to an audience that this man has mental problems, or has a drug problem, which is the basis of the film, ‘Trainspotting’. A red box with a bold white font reading, ‘Renton’ wipes across the screen before the man, showing this is his name.

The mise-en-scene uses colour again as we see a two shot of the man and a woman, wearing a sparkly dress and a red coat, connoting femininity and passion, as the colour red connotes passion and love. The non diegetic voice over changes to a woman’s voice, in a higher pitch but still in a Scottish accent, which suggests this woman he is with is now speaking. ‘A little bit crazy, a little bit bad’ are words used by the woman to describe the man which makes the audience believe the two are an item and she is referring to him being ‘a little bit bad’ which is obviously a paradox, and is delivered in a sweeter way than just ‘bad’ as she likes him.

The relationship is made clear for the audience between these two characters, as a medium shot is shown of both characters stood before a bed, taking their clothes off, which suggests the two are about to sleep with one another. The bedroom they are in seems more likely to belong to the woman as there are plenty of books, a radio, pink bed sheets and a pink ornament, which are all feminine colours and more likely to belong to a female than this tough-looking man.

The second man shown running with Renton at the beginning is shown trying on large framed glasses with yellow lenses in a public toilet. This shows the audience that this man is also ‘not all there’. The screen changes to black and white and the same red box wipes across the screen, with the name, ‘Spud’ inside it; introducing this character and suggesting that he is another main character.

This man is blatantly intended to add comedy to this film as a long shot of three people in suits suggesting importance and authority are shown asking him a question, to which a medium shot is shown of him staring at a picture behind of a beach, turning to them and saying ‘what?’ with a gormless look on his face. Another man is shown in the toilets in a medium close-up shot, with bright white hair, dark eyebrows, an orange t-shirt and a black blazer, suggesting he is into the fashion of this time and is a confident individual. He sticks his tongue out fully with an angry expression on his face, signifying the ‘rock and roll’ look of this time, and the screen once again changes to black and white and the name ‘Sick Boy’ appears, introducing this man, obviously by nick name which offers an audience a more distanced view of this character.

Sick Boy and Renton are shown in a two shot with a gun and binoculars, mimicking Sean Connery as James Bond as they refer to Miss Money-Penny. A long shot shown a man with jeans, doc marten boots and a dark jacket on his back in a park being attacked by a white bull terrier dog; seen as dangerous animals, alike Bill Sykes’ dog in the musical, ‘Oliver’. A medium long shot is then shown of raised hands surrounded by smoke, which signify people in a night club dancing, this is followed by Renton in a medium shot raising his arm and shouting again, in a cloud of smoke. This shows to an audience the type of lifestyle Renton has, of drugs and nightclubs, the smoke provides a hazy atmosphere and makes it difficult to see what it truly onscreen.

Renton and Spud are shown in a two shot drinking from one milkshake with two straws, adding comedy to this trailer and to the film, persuading people to watch it. The two are wearing suits, which contrast with the casual wear they started with. A close-up of a middle-aged man in a vest, also wearing gold earings and a gold necklace makes a diegetic scream before being introduced as ‘Begbie’. Judging by his attire, he is also portrayed as the stereotypical criminal of this film trailer.

A graphic match is shown of Renton falling to the ground in a field and then onto a wooden floor, which shows to an audience his tendency to be ‘out of it’ and hit his head a lot. The clips quicken in pace and the non diegetic music changes so a fast paced rock song before two shots of Renton kissing the woman he was with previously are shown, and a long shot of the four main characters crossing Abbey Road, in a shot similar to the Beatles Vinyl cover was.

Positive comments of the film wipe across the screen in white font and a red box, in between clips of the four main characters smiling in close-up and medium close-up shots. Renton is shown in a close-up shot under water, shaking his fist and saying ‘come one’, which contradicts the danger of drowning if one was to speak underwater. The trailer ends with the four main characters wearing smart-casual clothes, standing on a platform as a train passes by, with a diegetic sound of a train sounding it’s horn. This leaves the audience on a high and relates back to the title, 'Trainspotting’.