Set and filmed roughly 20 years after the cult classic Trainspotting, T2 to some may seem like one of those sequels that was made way too late in the game and nobody will remember the original therefore have no interest in the sequel. I’m here to tell you that that couldn’t be farther from the truth. T2 continues the journeys of Mark, Spud, Simon and Begbie, and for the most part if you weren’t a fan or just didn’t happen to see the first, you will most certainly not get the desired effect director Danny Boyle was hoping for while making this. On the other hand, if you were a fan of the original, you’re in for a real treat. Not only does T2 take our characters on new individual as well as group journeys, but it showcases how far they’ve all come or sunken over the past 20 years, as well as putting on display some of the best cinematography I have personally seen in not just a 2017 movie, but any movie period, courtesy of Anthony Dod Mantle.

Loosely based off of Irvine Welsh’s sequel novel ‘Porno, T2 finds our characters about 20 years later getting themselves into more adult shenanigans, and being addicted to Money and revenge as opposed to heroin.  Mark (played by Ewan McGregor) returns to Scotland to catch up with his old mates after the events of the first, hoping that enough time has passed that they’ll forgive him, but to his surprise everyone is still pretty sour about how events transpired and if you felt the end of the first was unfulfilling, this movie really elaborates on that and really gets into the characters minds and thoughts. This movie, like most Tarantino films, is a character piece, and if any character wasn’t played as perfectly as they were, or if you’re not invested in these characters, the movie won’t work. But spending almost 2 hours with these characters will fly by given how seamlessly John Hodge composed the script.

The soundtrack for the film is just as classic and catchy as the first, featuring new and returning artists such as Queen, Wolf Alice, Iggy Pop, and Underworld. With themes such as fear of nostalgia, and changing your present to better your future, as well as selfishness, it’s truly a shame this movie was not released to a wider audience, it seems this movie really resonates with current times. T2 is easily one of the best sequels, as well as a stand alone movie of 2017. Danny Boyles camera work, Mantles cinematography, Hodges writing, as well as all actors involved work, T2 Trainspotting ranks as one of the all time best movies, and hopefully when its Blu-Ray release comes, it will find its audience, or attain the same Cult status as its predecessor.

10 out of 10

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