8 Things You Learn Re-Watching Trainspotting
6. Renton Never Acknowledges His Momentous Role In Tommy's Death
One thing that becomes even more apparent - and affecting - on a second viewing, is that Renton stands as pretty much the sole architect of Tommy's death.
There's an ambiguity as to whether Renton actually directly gives Tommy his first hit or merely stands by when the he proclaims that he "can find out for himself". The film - it appears - would have you lean more towards the former. Either way it reflects badly on Renton given that - in that all-too-fleeting period of the film - he was clean himself. You got yourself strike one there, Mark.
This is all made even worse given that it was Renton who pilfered the, er, intimate video that ultimately ended Tommy and Lizzie's relationship. What followed was Tommy seeking to fill the void left by his break-up - and so it was that he turned to the only thing his friends had ever described as "better than sex" - heroin. That's strike two.
You could argue that this is hardly groundbreaking insight - only to be accessible from a re-watch. Yet it is not so much about noticing as it is about interpretation. And there is - as always - a third strike, which has the ability to affect your relationship with the film's profoundly flawed protagonist. That is: Renton's astoundingly apathetic - bordering on nihilistic - attitude towards Tommy's death.
In the scene at the funeral, Renton sits at the back of the church with Gavin who relays blunty the circumstances of his friend's passing. Yet Renton doesn't bat an eyelid. Not the hint of a tear. In fact, he seems - if anything at all - to show a morbid curiosity. Even at the 'wake' he manages only half a protest against a proposed drug deal before orchestrating himself into taking a sacrificial hit... the martyr.
In fact, the only time Renton shows the slightest display of remorse over Tommy (and Spud and the baby) is during that hallucinogenic enforced detox - where he shows quite clearly that he can't deal with the guilt.
Perhaps in T2 time and maturation will have eaten away at Renton's conscience?