This week we went to see T2: Trainspotting. The first film is truly iconic and a great anti-drug film and a must see!
Now a lot of people expected this to be nothing more than a ‘cash grab’ but director Danny Boyle had always wanted to wait to the actors aged, as felt it could be more faithful to ‘Porno’ the Irvine Welsh written sequel, which has been adapted, like the first book, by John Hodge.
We find Mark (Ewan McGregor) who having run off with all the money earned by his friends from a drug deal in the original movie, has now returned to the UK after living in Amsterdam. We learn he has had a mild heart attack, his job is at risk and his marriage is falling apart.
This film follows him and the reunion with his friends, starting with Spud (Ewen Bremner) who is still an addict, and is at an all time low, his partner Gail (Shirley Henderson) and son have stopped giving him chances, he has lost his job and is now suicidal. Mark’s appearance comes at the right time to give him a second chance.
He then catches up with Simon (Jonny Lee Miller) who is still running cons, with a former call girl, Veronika (Anjela Nedyalkova) and has plans to turn his run down pub into an upmarket sauna (with extras)
Now the 3 friends work together to make Simon’s vision come true, Spud finds a love for life, now working again. Mark reveals all his problems to Simon, whilst both seem to be fighting for the love of Veronika.
The Veronika character acts as a listening post to both, as well as helping Spud find new confidence and serves the film well.
Whilst all things are going smoothly, things will soon take a darker turn, now that Begbie (Robert Carlyle) has broken out of prison, and is on the hunt for Mark, who he blames for everything that has happened to him after he stole the money they had made.
This film is a great movie, it certainly never feels like a ‘cash grab’ sequel and you really are glad you got the chance to see these characters again.
Very much like the first film, it never seeks to glamorise drug use, Spud story shows just how much it has cost him and would Simon have had a better life not using? As the 3 go to pay respects to Tommy, Mark has to face the guilt of giving him his first hit, Simon has to reflect using cost his child’s life.
The film for us however just does not match the first for impact, we feel the Begbie character brings it down, he clearly hasn’t changed from being in prison and is only out due to breaking out, worst still he visits his family and tries to get his son to help him with his latest thefts.
Eventually, Begbie will face the 3 boys and we will let you find out how it all ends.
Much like the first film, this has an incredible soundtrack updated for modern times, the great choose life speech is also updated to include social media and zero contracts.
Fans of the first will love seeing these characters again, as well as Diane,(KellyMacDonald), the schoolgirl that Mark met in the first film, who helps Simon out of a difficult situation.
This film is more about growing old and reflecting on the past, as well as learning from past mistakes of course, rather than the need to score or break away from drugs tale of the original.
All we can say is Choose Life. Choose to watch T2: Trainspottting
You can view the film trailer here:
You can read our review of the original film here:
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