Not only is nostalgia no longer what it used to be, it seems it is starting to apply to events of, at least perceived, recent memory.
T2, which prompted the above reflection, is the 12th feature film directed by Danny Boyle, who after acquiring global notoriety with his 2nd feature Trainspotting (1996) directed a series of high octane thrillers and dramas, at their worst in the facile mutilations of the likes of Slumdog Millionaire (2008), at their best perhaps in the Chekovian portrayal of Steve Jobs (eponymous, 2015). Must admit I never much cared for T1, heroin chic not being quite my thing and the late 80s/early 90s brit acid scene having come about 10 years too late for me in terms of 24/7/365 immersion in urban popular culture. But Boyle's filmography appears to be improving as progresses and T2 confirms the impression.
T2 catches up with the same quartet of dopeheads of 20 years previous, namely Rent Boy (Ewan McGregor), Spud (Ewen Bremner), Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller) and Franco (Robert Carlyle), 20 years older but not in the slightest wiser, involved in all sorts of small crookery which to all but themselves is evidently too retarded to succeed (I grew up in the South suburbs of Lisbon in the 70s, know the type so well I can read their minds). It all ends well, sort of, and criminal activities excepted, as all find closure and Rent Boy goes back to live with his dad at the age of 46 (he, not the dad) playing David Bowie/Iggy Pop's Lust for Life as closing credits roll.
T2 is a resounding love song to Edinburgh and the 90´s, derelict concrete suburbia rhyming with Scotland's breathtaking beauty in Danny Boyle's manic MTV editing. Few shots in T2 last more than 2 seconds and no sooner you're engulfed by their flash than something similar, or completely different, pops up. However, what once (T1) was at least part posture now comes across as elegy, to me reminiscent, in intent if not in style, of the films of Shane Meadows.
To quote Green Day, 20 years have gone so fast. Can it really be 20 years already? No, actually more like 21. Nothing to be done so forward ho.