Choose Wondering Who The Fuck You Are

"Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a three-piece suite on hire purchase in a range of fucking fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck you are on a Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pishing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked up brats you spawned to replace yourself. Choose your future. Choose life... But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose somethin' else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you've got heroin?"

So said the character Renton, played by Ewan McGregor, in the film Trainspotting. This little speech was a shot heard 'round the world of arthouse cinemas. I'll never forget the exhilarating experience of watching this film in a theater in Manhattan. That was 10 years ago. This movie still thrills me, in a way only Pulp Fiction and a few other films can. Here's a partial list of what I love about Trainspotting: the music, the kinetic energy, the humor, the accents, the shite, the rebellion, hopelessness, recklessness, tragedy, betrayal. I could go on. But instead I'd just like to share a little music from the film. These music files are in mp3 or AAC format, for your pleasure:

Nightclubbing by Iggy Pop

Born Slippy by Underworld

Temptation by New Order