MOVIE REVIEW: T2 Trainspotting on track for success

IT was some 20 years ago when ‘Trainspotting’ crashed into cinemas with its pounding soundtrack and trippy visuals. And now Renton, Spud, Begbie and Sick Boy are back, a little older and a little stiffer for sure, but are they any the wiser?

This new instalment tells the updated story of Mark Renton (played by Ewan McGregor) who returns home to Edinburgh for the first time in years after running out on his friends with the money they obtained from a dodgy drug deal. The lads, Begbie in particular, never forgot this act of betrayal, and they’re out for revenge. And so the story continues, more dodgy deals, violent encounters, and musings on the futility of life.

As well as the original cast, the same writer, John Hodge, also returns. And so, most importantly, does director Danny Boyle. Following a couple of misfires immediately following the success of the first ‘Trainspotting’ movie, Boyle has consistently produced top class work (‘127 Hours’, ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and ‘Steve Jobs’). 

Usually a film lives or dies on the strength of the script, but occasionally it can be watched and enjoyed purely for the way the story is told by a director so skilled in his art, that the visual experience takes over. Boyle is one such talent, with an eye for a shot, and a seemingly different take on almost every aspect of storytelling. 

The film has a rocking soundtrack as you would expect with a Prodigy remix of ‘Lust for Life’ and songs from Blondie, Queen and our very own Rubberbandits. T2 Trainspotting may well have the greatest appeal for those of us who can remember when the first edition came out, but this is more than just a trip down memory lane. It’s a high octane, entertaining, visually captivating romp with some thought provoking and emotionally moving scenes thrown in for good measure (cue McGregor’s 2017 ‘Choose Life’ update). 

We say catch T2 Trainspotting before it pulls out of cinemas, and score it a trippy 4 out of 5 stars. 

Other releases:

Hacksaw Ridge – 4 stars

Sing – 3.5 stars

Denial – 3 stars

Paul O’Rourke