Friday, February 4, 2022

That lust for life doesn't go anywhere



One of the very best movie experiences I ever had was taking my little sister to see Trainspotting in 1996 when she was 18, and she turned to me eight minutes into it and said: 'Is this the movie?'. She thought it was the trailer. Me and Tina have been in different countries for years, but we'll always have that moment.

It was a logical assumption for her to make - with such vivid pacing, the film literally hits the ground running to Iggy Pop and doesn't fucken let up at all. It's so much of its time, but still also speaks to the wasted youth in all of us, everywhere, for always. And while we didn't all get in the toilet like that, a lot of us got close.

I also watched the 20-years-later sequel the other day, and think it's just as accurate in its portrayal of middle aged wankers, as the original one was of young wankers. But nobody wants to hear people moaning about getting old. We're all getting there, pal.

The second movie does feel weirdly underrated, even though it was also often forced. There is its excruciating attempt at a new 'Choose Life' monologue, and the barking needle drop of the Lust For Life remix is terribly overdone, but..

It's okay. We all get old together.


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