RRs Short Take T2: Trainspotting 2 - A sequel for the film lover alone - 3.5 stars

Short Take 
The phrase comes from the film industry, originally, and it means a short bit of recording or “something that only takes a short time,” especially if a longer version may be done later.

RR's Short Take review: A short review of a film with potential discussion points



RR's Short Take: 3.5 stars
        
Summary: The boys are back. Academy Award winning director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire) revisits the lives of the addicts from Edinburgh. Twenty years after the original betrayal, Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor) makes a nostalgic venture back to see what happened to his mates. Spud (Ewen Bremner) has tried to get his life right, but has found himself back on the smack and in the projects. Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller) is running scams on rich men and owns his grandmother’s pub and Begbie (Robert Carlyle) remains in goal. With Renton’s return, all have to come to terms with his double-cross and how they will respond to his treachery. When the realities of his return are made known to them all, he must decide if he is going to stay or to run again. (It would be worthwhile to watch the original film to understand and appreciate the sequel.)  

Renton's speech that makes seeing this film all worthwhile:
"Choose life, choose Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and hope that someone, somewhere cares Choose looking up old flames, wishing you'd done it all differently And choose watching history repeat itself. Choose your future, Choose reality TV, slut shaming, revenge porn, Choose a zero hour contract, a two hour journey to work and choose the same for your kids, only worse, and smother the pain with an unknown dose of an unknown drug made in somebody's kitchen. And then... take a deep breath. You're an addict, so be addicted. Just be addicted to something else. Choose the ones you love. Choose your future.  Choose life."

Short-take: 
With the advancement of Danny Boyle's career since the original Trainspotting, the question maybe, did he have to go make sequel? The answer is a resounding, yes.

It is a based in the disturbing world of heroin addiction and the criminal underworld, but the quality of acting and writing lift this film above the standard sequel. Like the original, this is a film for adult audiences and those who appreciate art-house cinema. The humour, relationships and continuance of the character's lives provide a troublesome, but engaging journey. 

Caution: This is full of adult content and it would be advised for mature audiences only. 

REEL DIALOGUE: What are some of the bigger questions to consider from this film? 
1. What does the Bible say about illegal drugs? (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 Peter 5:8)
2. How should we respond to violent acts against others? (Psalm 11:5, Matthew 5:38-39)
3. Can we control our thoughts? (Mark 7:20-22, Philippians 4:8)

Trailer for the film

Written by Russell Matthews based on a five star rating system @ Russelling Reviews #russellingrevs #T2 #trainspotting #Trainspotting2

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