T2 TRAINSPOTTING
UK, 2017, 117 minutes, Colour.
Ewan Mc Gregor, Ewen Bremner, Johnny Lee Miller, Robert Carlyle, James Cosmo, Shirley Henderson,
Directed by Danny Boyle.
Trainspotting became a classic of the 1990s, based on a novel by Irvine Welsh, it was setting Edinburgh but in the sub culture of drugs in the city, focusing on four men in their 20s, their exuberantly reckless life, the impact of drugs – and a certain move toward self-destruction.
But, here they are again, 20 years later. Have they changed at all? Have they learned from their experiences? And what have they been doing during the previous 20 years? This is a story of four men in their mid-40s, also Edinburgh, and there is still something of a drug-culture.
For those who appreciated the first film, there is no doubt that this film will be more than interesting. One very serious reviewer remarked that all the “magic� from the original film had gone. “Magic� is not exactly the word that comes to mind when considering Trainspotting. There is a lot of sentiment, of the affectionate and affable type as well is the hostile and aggressive type, but there is also a great deal of reminiscing with one character remarking that they were “tourists in their own nostalgia�, something which many of the audience will be indulging in as well.
And what has happened? Ewan Mc Gregor is Mark Renton returns to Edinburgh after 15 years in Amsterdam, a finance course, a job, a wife – but this all now collapsing. Johnny Lee Miller Simon is involved in blackmailing clients of a prostitute that he is set up with a camera and has inherited a derelict pub. Ewen Bremner’s spud, quite an interesting character in this film, has been on drugs, tried rehabilitation, been on several jobs but, there is an enjoyable collage showing how he turns up an hour late for everything and is now on his own, yearning for his wife and son. And Robert Carlyle’s Begbie? In prison all these years, but now with a brainwave to get a fellow prisoner to stab him so that he has to go to hospital and where he can walk out, trying to resume his life, meetings wife and son, the son intended to go to college but his father forcing him to go on a botched burglary expedition.
So, there we are. What will they do now?
Mike finds he doesn’t want to go back to Amsterdam, is reunited with his father, experiences the animosity of Simon but then decides to stay and help on a project where Simon can turn his pub into a sauna (that is, brothel). He is in a relationship with the prostitute he set up, Veronica, who is from Bulgaria and a shrewd operator as well. Spud helps with the renovation of the pub meanwhile writing down his stories which Veronica is fascinated with. And Begbie, he is after some revenge on Mark.
All this happens, more or less, but Simon does get charged for his blackmail, but not before going to members of a fund to appeal for a grant and then going to a club where he and Mark Steele all the credit cards and, in a high point in the film, because all the crowd is loyalist and hasn’t forgotten the Battle of the Boyne, are forced to sing the song, Mark improvising, the song being 1690, and the end of each chorus is “not a Catholic left� which is an amazing hit with everybody vigourosly joining in.
There is a buildup to a climax with Begbie attacking Mark, defended by Simon, and Begbie delivered in the boot of the car to the prison gates. And Veronica, with the help of spud, is no mean exploiter herself, especially with the financial grant money.
Trainspotting fans may well be invigorated by this sequel – but it does present a kind of sub- culture world, some dead ends in life unless one is in exploiter. but spud is a great success with his stories, going to see his wife and son and she suggesting a title for them!
1. The original as a cult film? Of the 90s? The cast, Edinburgh, the situations, the drug culture, the end of the 20th century? The director?
2. 20 years, all going back on memories, “tourists in their own nostalgia�, changes on not, experience and learning – or continuing, exploitation? The world of Irviine Welsh, the drug world – and the writer doing a cameo himself?
3. The title, Mark’s wallpaper, the trains? The change from Trainspotting of the 1990s?
4. The city of Edinburgh, the streets in the city centre, Arthur’s seat the views, the railway stations, the poorer areas, the pub? Prison? The musical score?
5. The introduction to Mark, his return, living in Amsterdam, wife, lying about having children, his accountancy course and job, companies merging and his losing his job and resigning? The money from 1996 for each? Going home, the welcome from his father? Going to see Spud, their friendship? Going to see Simon, the visit to the pub, the conversation, the fight, Simon’s viciousness, the issue of the £4000? Mark going, deciding to stay? Veronica, Simon and the blackmail scheme, the plan for the brothel, the attraction to Veronica, his deciding to stay, the building of the brothel, Begbie getting out, pursuing Mark, the extensive fight, Mark winning, Begbie in the boot of the car outside the prison? The highlight of Simon and Mark raising the money, going to the board for the grant and spending their story about…? Stealing the credit cards the club – and improvising the 1690 song, the Battle of the Boyne and everybody joining in – “no Catholics left�?
6. Spud, years of drugs, many jobs, his being fired, the collage of his being one hour late for everything? The money from Mark, drugs? Seeing Gail, wanting to see his son? Back on the drugs, the dealers on the steps? Going to group – and 11 more steps? Helping with the building of the brothel? Friendship with Veronica, telling the stories, her urging him to write them down, her reading them? Begbie in the stories, his liking them? Ironically, the money plan, Spud has expert in forgeries, the grant money going to Veronica in Bulgaria? Visiting Gail, his son – Gail and the stories and suggesting a title?
7. Simon, the same after 20 years, his blackmailing scheme, the teacher and the threats, the money, his having to intervene with the client being too rough? His being left the pub, very few customers? Mark arriving, Simon’s bitterness, the fight – and the lone drinker continuing drinking? The conflict about the £4000, handing it over, paying debts? The plan for the brothel, the drawings, Mark and not going to Amsterdam, telling the truth, staying, helping with the plane, the appeal for the loan, the robberies in the club, singing 1690? Simon’s arrest, going to see the lawyer friend, expensive? Begbie, arriving, the fight with Mark and Simon saving him? Ironic – the relationship and her leaving?
8. Begbie, in prison, getting this prisoner to spike him, in hospital, escaping, going to see his wife and son, the son wanting to go to college, the burglary with his son, going awry? Plans, his son standing up to him? Simon, Spud and the stories and liking them? Wanting revenge on Mark, the fight, losing, in the boot of the car outside the prison?
9. Past characters: Gail and her son, the lawyer, begged his wife and son, Mark and dad?
10. Veronica, her character, from Bulgaria, in Scotland, her work, shrewd, getting the money – and the percentage for spud?
11. An Edinburgh a slice of life, 21st-century?
