T2: Trainspotting — Choose life!
Latest Danny Boyle’s film plays on nostalgic feelings of the viewers and does it well. This is the sequel we all wanted. This is an outstanding example of how every sequel movie should be made. T2: Trainspotting raises a sense of nostalgia not only for the viewers but also for the whole film crew. T2: Trainspotting comes to life as a result of the incredible synergy of makers of the original Trainspotting film. The sequel is made by the same director Danny Boyle with a script written by the same scriptwriter John Hodge. We have here same but aged main role actors Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Robert Carlyle and Johny Lee Miller. We also have few same actors on supportive roles. The author of the Trainspotting novel Irvine Welsh plays the same cameo in sequel again. The movie is shot partly on same old locations and even a soundtrack uses few same old songs. Finally, the sequel has many flashbacks and self-references to the first film. T2: Trainspotting even explains where the movie name comes from in a flashback scene which was not included in the original film. Sequel adds up to the original story and doesn’t have any worth mentioning shortcomings.
And of all this happened after more than 20 years since the release of the original movie. Can you imagine how awesome this is? It was a tough challenge for sure to make sequel not to look worse and not to repeat the original movie but Danny Boyle and John Hodge pulled it off. I can not imagine the burden of responsibility of movie crew. How you suppose to make a good sequel when the predecessor owns titles like: “The best Scottish film of all time” and “The best British film in the last 25 years”. Sequel will not surpass the fame and glory of the first film, but still it is a worthy and timely continuation.
T2: Trainspotting continues a story from 1996. It was a story about wasted youth of three drug-addicts and a criminal in a black comedy-drama genre. The sequel is about a dramatic reunion of grown up men who live and suffer from consequences of their past life actions, habits, crimes and betrayal. It is more a wasted life now, not reckless youth. The genre remained the same and sequel has the same lack of moral as the original film. It shows some unpleasant moments of miserable life of wicked addicted men. It was satisfying to watch how “Rent Boy” meet “Sick Boy” 20 years after Mark Renton betrayed his crime companions and got away with money. Also, there is a nice plot twist hidden right in the first part of the movie, which I didn’t predict and was surprised. Because usually in movies we see plot twists close to the finale but not during the reintroduction of main protagonists.
One of the funniest scenes in the movie is when Begbie encountered Renton in a night club. But the most emotional, powerful and nostalgically strong scene is when Renton visited his parents place. He went to his old room with train themed wallpapers. Then he checked his old vinyl record collection and chose one record to play. Before song started I was already 100% confident that I know what song exactly will play now and I was right. That moment gave me goosebumps. I hope you won’t consider this as a major spoiler because it is the most predictable thing you can imagine. And the good thing is — it is not a cliché, it is another well placed self-reference to original movie.
As I conclusion I recommend to watch T2: Trainspotting to all fans of Trainspotting. It is an unique chance to experience strong nostalgia. Chance to meet again your favorite skag-addicted junkies and a riotous sociopath. An opportunity to follow “Rent Boy”, “Sick Boy”, “Spud” and “Begbie” on their thrilling adventures on streets and in bars of Edinburgh. I enjoyed every moment of this film. If you like British black comedy genre but for whatever reason not familiar yet with Trainspotting movie — watch it, then watch the sequel.