10s Movie Review - Trainspotting 2

Director: Danny Boyle
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 117 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Kelly Macdonald

Description: After 20 years abroad, Mark Renton (Ewam McGregor) returns to Scotland and reunites with his old friends Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller), Spud (Ewen Bremner), and Begbie (Robert Carlyle).

Review: A life, a job, a career, a family and luxury. At the beginning of the first “Trainspotting”, lead character Mark Renton didn’t want to think about all this. He was hanging out with his friends, hoping for a heroine kick. ‘Rent Boy’ wanted a clean sleight and got clean. But his friends had a bad influence on him.
Doyles work of art from 1996 pictured the relentless subculture. What made “Trainspotting” so good, were the quick montages, rough edges and a pulsating soundtrack.
Boyle waited so long for a sequel, because he wanted his actor to physically look older. Twenty years later it looks like Mark is finally leading a normal life. He lives in Amsterdam, has a solid job and is even married. He returns to Scotland to settle some issues. He visits Spud, who is still an addict and has a struggling relationship with his ex and son. Simon is leading a life a crime, but has big plans for his pub. And then there is Begbie, who has been in jail for twenty years. He wants his son to follow in his footsteps and is out for revenge on Mark.
“Trainspotting” was a unique film. “Trainspotting 2” is a really good sequel. The evolved dynamic between the characters is the best part of the film. The film isn’t as intense and visually rough as the first. But still has a lot of depth.
Real friendships last a lifetime, that’s one thing that’s sure. Even with the unstable factors present.
History repeats itself, but also manages to adapt and change. “Trainspotting 2” is a solid sequel, totally worth waiting those 20 years for.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movue Challenge 2017 - # 7: Trainspotting

Director: Danny Boyle
Genre: Drama/ Comedy/ Crime
Runtime: 94 minutes
Year: 1996
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Kevin McKidd, Robert Carlyle, Kelly MacDonald

Description: Renton (Ewan McGregor), deeply immersed in the Edinburgh drug scene, tries to clean up and get out, despite the allure of the drugs and influence of friends.

Review: Mark Renton is a junkie and seems to like his lifestyle. While he is telling us how great it feels, we see reality. The viewer gets the chance to form an opinion.
Danny Boyle is a fantastic director. He always manages to set the tone of a scene, by using color and his way of filming. The sometimes unrealistic images, that show how Renton feels at that moment, and the soundtrack turn this film into one long trip.
Ewan McGregor plays the main character. But there is a lot going on around him. Ewen Bremner plays Spud, Renton’s best friend. He is hilarious! And Robert Carlyle, as Begbie, should be unlikeable with his temper and violent way of life. But somehow, he is a joy to watch.
“Trainspotting” is funny (not humor for everyone), original and wonderful. One of Danny Boyle’s best films.

Rating: 5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 109: 28 Weeks Later

Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
Genre: Drama/ Horror/ Thriller
Runtime: 95 minutes
Year: 2007
Starring: Robert Carlyle, Catherine McCormack, Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner, Imogen Poots, Idris Elba, Harold Perrineau

Description: Six months after the rage virus was inflicted on the population of Great Britain, the US Army helps to secure a small area of London for the survivors to repopulate and start again. But not everything goes to plan.

Review: When it comes to horror sequels, they seldom succeed. Most of the time it’s nothing new and just a a repetition of the previous film, but then worse. “28 Weeks Later” is the sequel to the fantastic film “28 Days Later” and it’s one of the few good horror sequels.
In “28 Days Later” the British population is completely extinct by a mysterious zombie virus and the American army has taken over control. 28 Weeks after these happenings they want Brittain to repopulate.
The original was very scary, those zombies are terrifying especially because they are so fast. “28 Weeks Later” also has that, but adds a bit more gore to it all. It’s visible that Danny Boyle didn’t direct this film, the camera work is a bit more chaotic and much quicker. But it’s a good way to add effects to the film.
“28 Days Later” is still the better movie, but I think “28 Weeks Later” is a strong horror sequel with a good cast.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

In the Picture: The Characters from "The Full Monty"

"The Full Monty" is such a great movie, good Brittish humor and a lot of loveable characters.

Gary “Gaz” Schofield
Played by: Robert Carlyle
Gaz has a troubled relationship with his ex-wife because he’s failing child support payments. He lost his job as a steel worker and can’t keep the promises to his son Nathan. Gaz is the one who comes up with the idea of a male stripper act, because women go mad for them and pay a lot of money to see them. But Nathan isn’t happy about it, because he just wants to do ‘normal things’ with his dad.

Dave Horsefall
Played by: Mark Addy
Dave is Gaz’ best friend and also a former steel worker. He’s married, but very insecure about his appearance. Dave gained weight and now that Gaz is thinking of starting a male stripper act, his selfesteem is no longer. Even in his marriage things aren’t going well, because his wife thinks Dave’s cheating on her.

Lomper
Played by: Steve Huison
Lomper also worked with Dave and Gaz, as a security guard. After losing his job, he doesn’t know what to do with his life so he decides to end it. Dave and Gaz stop him from committing suicide and Lomper joins them in their act. Lomper is a real quiet and shy man, who’s very attached to his sick mother.

Gerald Cooper
Played by: Tom Wilkinson
Gerald is a former manager who has been hiding from his wife the fact that he’s been laid off. He thinks his wife can’t live without the luxory and will leave him if she finds out about the job loss. Gaz and Dave always make fun of Gerald, but invite him to the group after seeing his dance moves. He could actually teach the guys some routines for their act.

Horse
Played by: Paul Barber
Horse is an older man who auditions for Dave and Gaz. He’s not a very good dancer but they let him in anyway.

Guy
Played by: Hugo Speer
Guy isn’t a very good dancer either, although he says he can walk up a wall. But it also turns out Guy is very well endowed. Later it appears he’s gay and he falls for the shy Lomper.

Favorite Character: Dave Horsefall

Movie Tip #23 - The Full Monty

Director: Peter Cattaneo

Starring: Robert Carlyle, Mark Addy, Tom Wilkinson, Steve Huison, Paul Barber, Hugo Speer

Description: The setting is Sheffield England, once the "City of Steel", home of a massive steel industry and jobs aplenty. Today with the industry in decline and the steelworks closed down there is widespread unemployment and despair. Two unemployed friends (Robert Carlyle and Mark Addy) stumble upon a Chippendales-like show that's very popular with the local women. Eventually they decide they too would like to give it a go, but they can't dance and aren't what most would call good physical specimens. They have their doubts but are determined to give it a shot. On their way they pick up four other unlikely candidates and begin practising for the big night. To drum up interest, they boast they'll go 'the full monty' (a phrase meaning 'all the way' - nude), something they hadn't planned and aren't sure they can deliver. Will they ?, won't they ?, can they keep their antics from their families ?, can they stay out of trouble ? can they pull a crowd ?. All will be revealed, well maybe.

Review: The story itself is a reason to watch the movie. It's a wonderfull movie, made by the Brittisch, who know how to make a good comedy. My favourite scene of the movie is when the men stand in line and the song "Hot Stuff" starts playing on the radio. All of a sudden the guys start practicing their routines, in a sneaky way. It's very funny. There's also a musical version of this film and I'm planning to go see it in January. But for now, I'll watch the film and so should you!!!