T2: Trainspotting (2017 UK) Cert. 18

Director: Danny Boyle
Stars: Ewan McGregor, Kelly Macdonald, Jonny Lee Miller, Robert Carlyle

 

After 20 years away, Mark Renton (McGregor) returns to Edinburgh, the only place he can ever call home, in retreat from a mid-life crisis.  But the past will soon catch up with him in the form of Begbie (Carlyle), out of prison and still set on revenge after the heist-gone-badly that capped the original film.

 

As well as running into Begbie, Renton soon finds (or is found by) Spud and Sick Boy, bringing  the four central characters from the 1996 “Trainspotting” together again. (The wonder, given their earlier recreational pursuits, is that all four of them are still walking the face of the earth.)

 

Boyle’s “long-awaited (or perhaps feared?)” (The Guardian) sequel, developed from both Irving Welsh’s original novel and his subsequent “Porno”, sees our four ‘heroes’ older but not necessarily wiser.

While acknowledging the disappointments and disillusionment of middle age, it is also “a wildly invigorating and enjoyable film” (The Independent) with a screenplay and soundtrack that match up to past glories.

 

Hey-ho, yet another Mark Kermode ‘film of the week’ brought to you at the David Lean Cinema.  Here is his Review from The Guardian (Observer, actually).  Had planned a link to a news item on a fight that broke out in the audience at a screening of “T2: Trainspotting” but the newspaper reporting this on-line required clickers either to join their paid service or turn off their ad-blocker (you are all using ad-blockers, aren’t you?).  But interesting to note that this incident was not in Scotland (which, while only accounting for 10% of the UK population provided 25% of first week cinema admissions) but in leafy Dorchester! 

The Guardian review includes a link to the Trailer, which can be seen below (warning – The Guardian notes that this trailer contains images of nudity and drug use) [fvplayer src=”https://youtu.be/EsozpEE543w”]

 

David Lean Cinema, Croydon on Tuesday 21st March 2017

Show starts at 7.30PM, Ticket prices: £8.00 & £6.50 (concessions)

– click on the time to make a booking. Cookie Error? See here…….

Our Kind of Traitor (2016, UK), 108 mins, cert. 15)

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Screenings at 2.30* and 7.30pm

* the 2.30 screening will have subtitles for people with a hearing loss 

Director: Susanna White

Stars: Ewan McGregor, Damian Lewis, Stellan Skarsgård, Naomie Harris

Perry (McGregor) and Gail (Harris) are an ordinary British couple holidaying together in Marrakech, Morocco. Whilst here, they befriend Dima (Skarsgard), a garrulous oligarch and money launderer for the Russian mafia.

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After Dima asks for their help to deliver classified information to MI6, the couple are propelled on a perilous journey, becoming embroiled in a deadly game of espionage and politics. 

 

 

Based on the novel by John le Carré, this gripping spy thriller delivers stylish cinematography and brilliant performances from the ensemble cast. 

Review (Guardian), includes a links to the Official UK Trailer: here

or skip the words and go straight to the Trailer, below:

[fvplayer src=”https://vimeo.com/154972186″]

David Lean Cinema, Croydon on Thursday 14th July 2016

Shows start at 2.30PM or 7.30PM, Ticket prices: £8.00 & £6.50 (concessions)

– click on the time to make a booking