Review: "T2 Transpotting" is a Fun Return to a Deranged World

Scene from T2 Transpotting

A lot has changed since Trainspotting was released in 1996. In director Danny Boyle's career, he has had three Oscar nominations, including one win for Best Director (Slumdog Millionaire). He directed the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England. Jonny Lee Miller is now Sherlock Holmes in Elementary. Even Ewan McGregor became Obi-Wan Kenobi in a few Star Wars movies. To say the least, the rough and tumble gang of Scottish drug addicts had quite a career ahead of them. It makes sense then why it was so hard for Boyle to bring the cast back together for a sequel to the breakout indie hit. To say the least, it's a miracle that everyone managed to show up. It's even more surprising then that the performances are great - it's the writing that unfortunately takes some of the good will out of the nostalgically named T2 Trainspotting.

After 20 Years, "Trainspotting" Still Has a Lively and Enduring High

Scene from Trainspotting

There are few opening scenes in 90's cinema with the electricity and iconography of director Danny Boyle's Trainspotting. Without notice, Renton (Ewan McGregor) is running from police as the heavy drums of Iggy Pop's "Lust for Life" accompanies a mantra on how to live a good life. It's something that since has been emblazoned on posters without recognition that the three minute scene's voice over monologue is a subversion. Renton is one of those who didn't get his life together. Instead, he chose drugs. Not because it makes him feel sad, but elated. Over the course of the next 90 minutes, Boyle's adaptation of Irvine Welsh's phenomenal book of the same name took audiences through the world of Scottish junkies that helped to popularize Britpop and electronica while making drugs seem like both the greatest thing in the world, and the absolute worst. Trainspotting is a furious ball of doped-out energy that it creates a natural high that holds up after 20 years.

Is "Anna Karenina" Able to Separate Itself from Other Best Picture Period Pieces?

Keira Knightley 

Next Friday sees the release of director Joe Wright's fifth film Anna Karenina, an adaptation of the Russian novel by Leo Tolstory that follows the titular character (Keira Knightley) on her journey through love in the 19th century. With all of the attention surely going to be focused next week on director David O. Russell's Silver Linings Playbook, is it possible that Wright can pull an upset and bring period pieces back to the Oscars, and more notably the Best Picture category? Can he nab Knightley her second Best Actress nomination and possibly a win?