#ewen bremner

1x01 - It cracks me up when Stede yells for everyone to hide and he just sort of slumps behind the wheel

1x02 - Listing sea creatures while emphatically whittling his “sharp carrot”

1x03 - Waxing about the Republic of Pirate with an ominous, far-away look—”An isle not too far at all, where the law lies doggo and plunderers rule"

1x04 - I’m gonna have to go with his (and Karl’s) introduction to Ed, especially the matter-of-fact, “Karl’s the bird”

1x06 - There are lots of great Buttons moments in this episode, but I just adore, “Sorry, laddie. Ye triggered my fight-or-bite response”

1x08 - Another great episode for Buttons—I’m gonna have to go with, “Oh lord, you must be Olivia”

1x09 - When Oluwande tries to take himself out of the running for captain and Buttons decides that that settles it

1x10 - Two words—“Pure tone”

2x01 - “May we go back to the sea now, cap’n?” Awww!

2x02 - I just love his delivery on, “Ye don’t know if ye picked up smoking?”

2x03 - Springing into action and giving everyone orders as soon as they zipline back over the Revenge, getting the ship moving so they can escape

I enjoyed the Trainspotting 30th anniversary live event as part of the Edinburgh International Film Festival this weekend. It was cool to watch it in a huge crowd all wearing orange bucket hats (free at the door) along with Irvine Welsh, Ewan McGregor (Renton), Ewen Bremner (Spud), Kevin McKidd (Tommy), Andrew Macdonald (Producer), John Hodge (screenwriter), Racheal Fleming (costume designer), Kave Quinn (production designer) and host, and film critic, Robbie Collin.

The atmosphere was gig-like. No one was misbehaving, everyone seemed united in a moment. The Leith Theatre has just been renovated and saved from fate a lot of old Scottish buildings are facing in our cities, so I could understand them having portra-loos, although they were already out of toilet roll about 45mins after doors opening! The food truck was a nice touch, too. The bar was ridiculously overpriced. £10 for a can of wine. The security team were really nice and efficient, but going by the number of them on site, I think the organisers thought the crowd was going to be made up of Begbies...

The live commentary was fun, but I wished the host had thought up some better questions. The actors all had stuff to say. Ewen Bremner's reveal of the bedsheets scene being chocolate and jelly (jell-o in US vernacular) somehow doesn't make that scene any less disgusting. He also admitted to stealing Spud's yellow glasses (night driving glasses Rachael informed us). And Ewan McGregor was on top form, having just done another live event for the festival shortly beforehand, and bounced onto the stage with energy to meet the crowd. Kevin McKidd also had some thoughts to share about how different Tommy was to other characters he's played. They talked a lot about "Shallow Grave" which I still haven't seen.

The best nuggets of info. came from the costume designer, who I wish Collins had let speak a bit more, and the production designer who was pointing out what parts were filmed in the old cigarette factory in Glasgow (now Citypark) and what quirks they added to the characters hovels, I mean abodes. Like sketches and posters and personal effects. And, as a low budget film, all the outdoor stuff was mostly done adhoc, so them walking about etc. The exclusion being the opening scene where they needed permission to have a quad bike with a camera chase Renton and Spud down Princes' Street (where Ewen chimed in that he couldn't run as fast as Ewan and had a near miss with the bike. "Health and safety was a bit off that day").

There were parts of the film that are so iconic the live commentary had to stop so everyone could enjoy the moment. This includes Renton's "it's shite being Scottish" speech, which got a huge cheer from the crowd, and Irvine Welsh had to remark that this definitely says something about the Scottish psyche.

The photo ops were a good laugh. I, of course, chose the Begbie pose and my sister, the Sick Boy pose (the 2 who sadly didn't make it along to event 😔). There was merch somewhere, but we didn't find it. We had a bit of a time finding the right person to talk to as my sister has a disability and was on the list for the access area. We did find the right person once we were in, but it meant we didn't have time for scoping out merch. I did, of course, take (and wear) a free bucket hat, though.

We stayed for a bit of Irvine Welsh's DJ set after, then boosted. The drinks being so pricey was probably a good deterrent against drunk and disorderly crowds, but it also made it too expensive to hang about too long. We went home to polish off the last of our previously opened Merlot and watch T2 at 3am, like sensible 30-somethings.