First Take: T2 Trainspotting- choose life.

Spoiler free as usual. Because this film has been 21 years in the making. 

SYPNOSIS:

A continuation of the Trainspotting saga reuniting the original characters.

It’s been 21 long years since Renton, Begbie, Sick Boy and Spud graced the big screen, and it certainly feels like it- but Danny Boyle is back with the long awaited sequel, and luckily, it did not disappoint.

Boyle’s direction is on the ball much like his work on the original, and with frequent collaborator (and master of handheld cinematography) Anthony Dod Mantle behind the camera, it does feel like a group of old friends coming together to make magic- one of the many themes deeply rooted in John Hodge’s screenplay (that only takes influences from Irvine Welsh’s follow-up Porno). Speaking of the story, it not only develops the backstories of the original characters, but it also allows the legacy of the original 1996 film to breathe through it, showing the impact that the 20 years away has had on the old gang. With all this in mind, it is advisable to re-watch the first film- look away and you will miss a vital plot detail.

Performance wise, not much has changed- Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle and Jonny Lee Miller are back and are just as good as ever, but Ewen Bremner has really evolved as Spud in this film. To say why would spoil a lot of the plot, but all 4 of them are able to convey the right emotions needed throughout the film. The new characters are just as good, with

Anjela Nedyalkova as Veronika (another character who I can’t talk about due to spoilers). But of course, the soundtrack has a high act to follow- and the selection we have here features the old classics (remixes of Lust for Life from The Prodigy for example) alongside newer acts, with a score from Underworld’s very own Rick Smith (another frequent collaborator with Boyle) providing the driving force for the more emotional scenes.

THE VERDICT

T2 Trainspotting is a film that does what it needs to do- keep the loyal fans entertained while also making modern audiences aware of the original. It may feel like a ‘greatest hits’ collection, but there is still plenty of life in the old dog yet.

RATING: 5/5