Emsp - Blog Posts
22. (A Brief) Ewan McGregor Movie Review: Young Adam (2003)
I haven't made a post in awhile, especially a Ewan movie review. I had started working on the Screentime Percentage about a month ago and then life happened and it got shelved 🫤. I didn't want to leave it halfway done so I finally finished tallying his SP this week! However, this won't be a regular review and I can't guarantee that I'll go back to my original format. I still enjoy tallying the SP but honestly, I've fallen out of love with the review writing portion. It's just a lot and I figured I might as well just do the part I enjoy instead of forcing myself to do the part I don't. So that's my little update!
Synopsis: "Young Adam" is about Joe Taylor, an amoral drifter, who discovers a dead woman's body while with his workmate. As the rest of the town is swept up in the sensational story, Joe is slowly consumed by his secret that he alone knows the true fate of the mysterious woman.
Screentime Percentage: Ewan is on screen for 69/98 minutes making his SP 70%. This means that Rogue Trader has finally been knocked out of the #1 spot!
To Ewan or not to Ewan: Is the movie worth watching for Ewan alone? Yes. Outside of the high SP, this is also an erotic movie so there's lots of sexy Ewan content. I counted seven sex scenes plus one implied, ten shirtless scenes, five kissing scenes, and two nude scenes (one ass shot and the other frontal nudity). This isn't even including the nudity performed by women. There's also the infamous Custard Scene™️ which you just have to experience for yourself. Is the movie worth watching in general? No. I've seen it a few times now and it just fails to interest me. Maybe the book is better but the movie is plain boring.
Where to Watch: It's currently uploaded for free on YouTube.
After watching Ewan's Walk of Fame ceremony I feel reinvigorated. Finally cracked open my notebook to work on the EMSP again!
21. Ewan McGregor Movie Review: Down with Love (2003)
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Rating: PG-13
Director: Peyton Reed
Starring: Renée Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, Sarah Paulson, and David Hyde Pierce
Synopsis: Aspiring author, Barbara Novak, trades her small-town life for the Big Apple in order to promote her new book, "Down with Love." The book stirs up controversy with its message to help women achieve equality by saying no to love and yes to sex. When Catcher Block, resident playboy and New York's #1 journalist, is personally affected by this shift of the sexes, he plots to expose Barbara Novak as a fraud by getting her to fall in love with him.
Ewan Review: Ewan plays the character Catcher Block. Catcher is famous for being THE socialite of New York City. Women want him, men want to be him, and he's highly respected in his field as a journalist. Yes, life is perfect for him...until Barbara Novak shows up out of the blue and turns society on its head! His pride and reliance on the status quo can't bear to see this happen. So, he does what any logical man would do: wage a battle of the sexes! Ewan surprisingly speaks in his Scottish accent for this role! He also speaks in a southern accent which isn't any good, but I'm going to give him a pass this time because of the context. He has two shirtless scenes and LOTS of kissing scenes. I'm talking straight up making out, y'all. There are sex jokes galore and he gets to make his fair share of them. He doesn't have any sex scenes but he does have an implied erection scene. Lastly, he has a stellar song and dance number. His acting performance is incredible. I also just want to add that he is outlandishly handsome in this movie. I don't know how to explain it, especially because he's handsome in practically all his roles. He's a naturally handsome guy, but the way his attractiveness was amplified ten-fold in this movie did not go unnoticed by me. Please tell me if you understand what I'm talking about.
Screentime Percentage: Ewan is on screen for a grand total of 47/102 minutes making his SP 46%.
To Ewan or not to Ewan: Is the movie worth watching for Ewan in general? 1000% YES! Is it worth watching in general? Yes!
Where to Watch: "Down with Love" is available for rent on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and Google Play Movies and TV. You can watch it for free on soap2day.
Closing Thoughts: This movie is an homage to the sex comedies of the 1960s and is played out like one. It takes place in 1962 and the way it transports the audience back to that time is nothing short of fantastic! The costumes, editing, set design, manner of speech, soundtrack, everything down to the last detail was dripping in nostalgia and it was a blast! I feel the need to stress though that this is a SEX comedy. It's about sex. It's all the characters talk about, it's the driving force of the movie, and dirty jokes/sexual innuendos are the foundation of it. Just think it over before popping it in for family movie night.
Leaving Tumblr
Last night, my account was terminated. I don't know why. I was in the middle of using the site when suddenly I was locked out. No warnings. No announcements. Nothing. I was an absolute wreck. I couldn't eat or sleep. There was no word from Tumblr's management team. I could only explain what happened and sit on my hands. I felt utterly helpless waiting and hoping for a miracle. I had a home here. I had friends who became family. People that I love. Fandom that was my absolute joy and honor to participate in. It was all ripped away for no reason at the drop of a hat. My work. My mutuals. My home. Gone. Just like that. I couldn't say goodbye. I didn't know if or how I'd be able to find my moots again. I was able to create a second account called @loycspotting-thee2 and wracked my brain trying to remember my friends' usernames while terrified that that account would disappear too. I couldn't focus on anything. I was completely distraught. Thankfully, a miracle did happen and my account was magically reactivated. Again, no warning. No one reached out and explained what happened. One moment it was here, gone the next, then here again. In all my years of being on social media, I've never feared that a platform would kick me off like that until last night. I stayed up reading story after story of people who have used Tumblr, some of them holding accounts for YEARS with thousands of followers, logging on just to find it wiped from existence on any random day. This is a serious and repetitive issue, but not apparently to Tumblr. I may not have been a Tumblr user for long, but this incident has irrevocably broken my trust. No amount of saving and cataloging and backing up my account will protect me from being a victim of this website's carelessness. I would always have to worry if I'd be the unlucky user of the day that got their account deleted with no guarantee that it would be reactivated. I cannot and will not live in fear that everything I've created and the home I've found will be taken from me again against my will. Therefore, I have decided that the best option for me is to deactivate my account and say goodbye on my own terms. I am absolutely heartbroken to come to this decision. This has been the most unreal online space. I loved it here! It was everything I've been looking for and I only regret not signing up the first time I heard about it all those years ago. I love being in the Ewan McGregor fandom! Where it's not just a fandom. It's a fanhome 😁. I found my voice here, as well as people who heard me. People who understood me. This was my absolute favorite place to be, bar NONE. I felt fulfilled writing and reviewing. There were so many more things I wanted to do and experience with you guys. It was you who encouraged me. You listened, reblogged, commented, and messaged. You accepted me. From the bottom of my heart I love my mutuals. Even if we don't follow each other, if we've talked or interacted with each other's posts I love you too. I love the passion and creativity flowing through this site. I don't know what will happen with the Ewan McGregor Screentime Percentage project. I'm not ready to quit just yet. Maybe I'll start a Reddit or letterboxd account. Of course, for the writing, I can consider joining Ao3. If you want to keep in touch, then I implore you to message me so we can work something out. The friendships I made here are paramount to everything else. I'm going to leave this up for 9 days (or until I'm terminated again 🙄) to give myself time to get things in order. On September 1st, I will say goodbye.
20. Ewan McGregor Movie Review: Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
Genre: Family/Action
Rating: PG
Director: George Lucas
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, and Hayden Christensen
Synopsis: Ten years after The Phantom Menace, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker reunite with Padmé Amidala, now a Senator of the Republic. Their mission is to uncover who is behind the assassination attempts on her life. Anakin is sent to Naboo to act as Padmé's bodyguard and wrestles with his growing feelings for her as well as increasing visions of his mother. While Obi-Wan searches for her killer, he uncovers a secret plan to plunge the galaxy into war.
Ewan Review: Ewan McGregor returns to his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi, now graduated from a Padawan to a distinguished Jedi Knight and Master to Anakin Skywalker. Obi-Wan has grown into his role as a teacher to Anakin though the two often don't see eye to eye. He must learn to trust in Anakin and give him the freedom to prove himself. Ewan speaks in an English accent and has longer hair than in The Phantom Menace. He also sports a beard. He gets in a few fights and injured in one of them. He also gets soaking wet and tied by the hands twice. His screentime doubles from The Phantom Menace so you get to see more of Obi-Wan's personality which is appreciated. He's very sarcastic and quippy in this movie. His acting performance is very well done.
Screentime Percentage: Ewan is on screen for a grand total of 33/142 minutes making his SP 23%.
To Ewan or not to Ewan: Is the movie worth watching for Ewan alone? Yes. Is the movie worth watching in general? Yes.
Where to Watch: "Attack of the Clones" is available to watch on Disney+ and fuboTV with a subscription, Hulu, Sling TV, and YouTube TV with a premium subscription, and for rent on Google Play Movies and TV, Fandango at Home, and Amazon Prime Video. You can watch it for free on soap2day.
PSA: Ewan McGregor Movie Review
The next movie on the list for review is "Black Hawk Down." A film about the United States' military conflict with Somalia. On principle, I do not watch war movies. I believe that there are much better ways to learn about the devastation of war than watching a movie that, despite even its best efforts, will glamorize the tragedy. For that reason, "Black Hawk Down" will be skipped. The next movie to be reviewed will be "Attack of the Clones."
19. Ewan McGregor Movie Review: Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Fun Fact: Jim Broadbent co-stars in this movie as Harold Zidler. He worked with Ewan on the movie "Little Voice" as Mr. Boo!
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor
Genre: Musical/Romance
Rating: PG-13
Synopsis: A young man named Christian who believes deeply in love although he has never fallen in love moves to France to pursue his dream of being a writer. He is befriended by a group of Bohemian artists who enlist him to help write a play for the Moulin Rouge. Thanks to a mix up, he meets the star of the Moulin Rouge, the courtesan Satine, and falls madly in love her. Unfortunately for him, not only is Satine betrothed to another man, she refuses to allow herself to fall in love.
Ewan Review: Ewan McGregor plays the character Christian. Christian is an optimistic and idealistic man. He believes that there is nothing more important than love. Although he is poor and Satine is meant to marry a rich Duke, he never loses hope that love will find a way for them to be together. Ewan speaks in an English accent for the role. He has a love interest, several kissing scenes, and two implied sex scenes. This is a musical so you get to hear him sing throughout the movie. He cries, screams, moans, and whimpers. His character is basically a puppy in human form so prepare for lots of charming innocence. His acting performance was wonderful.
Screentime Percentage: Ewan is on screen for a grand total of 51/128 minutes making his SP 40%.
To Ewan or not to Ewan: Is the movie worth watching for Ewan content alone? Yes. Is it worth watching in general? Yes.
Where to Watch: "Moulin Rouge!" is available for rent on YouTube, Google Play Movies and TV, and Fandango at Home. You can also pirate it on soap2day.
18. Ewan McGregor Movie Review: Nora (2000)
(the pictures used are from Frock Flicks on Pinterest)
We made it to the new millennium! Time to say goodbye to our 90's lad and say hello to Ewan's 2000's era!
Genre: Drama
Rating: R
Director: Pat Murphy
Starring: Susan Lynch, Ewan McGregor
Synopsis: "Nora" is based on the real life of Nora Barnacle, who was the life partner of the prolific Irish writer, James Joyce. Her story begins as a bright-eyed young woman eager to leave her town. After falling in love with a talented writer, and accomplishing her dream to move out of Dublin, she starts to realize that the life she envisioned for herself is nothing like the reality she finds herself in.
Ewan Review: Ewan plays the character James Joyce. Although the movie is called "Nora" it could have easily been called "James", as the film seems to focus more on him than his counterpart. James is an aspiring Irish writer and a very talented one at that. The only problem is that he struggles to find a publisher for his work which makes him feel insecure in his craft. He is arrogant, self-centered, heavily swayed by the opinions of his friends, and prone to fits of jealousy. He loves Nora and is utterly reliant on her love and support though he can be too proud to admit it. Ewan speaks in an Irish accent for the role, which I don't think is great, but he does act opposite of a native Irish actress so the difference is more noticeable. He has facial hair which changes over time and I didn't like at all. He speaks a little Italian, plays guitar, and sings five times. This movie is smut city! He has a love interest and when they aren't fighting they're fucking. Within ten minutes of the movie, Ewan is whimpering like a puppy while getting jacked off in an alley. He has several kiss scenes and sex scenes, one of which is nude doggy style. He has a shirtless scene, fingering scene, and a masturbation scene. He also exhibits some cuckolding desires which I found intriguing. The creme de la creme in my opinion is the dirty talking sequence. James and Nora write erotic letters to each other which the actors read out loud. One more thing that I must mention is something I've yet to see repeated in a Ewan movie. In one particular sex scene, Ewan strokes Susan Lynch's leg, creeping up her dress, and you see her twitch. Like, the involuntary twitch your body does when someone touches you just right...I'm just gonna leave that right there. Overall, Ewan gives a good performance.
Screentime Percentage: Ewan is on screen for a grand total of 60/107 minutes making his SP 56%.
To Ewan or not to Ewan: Is the movie worth watching for Ewan content alone? Yes! Is it worth watching in general? Y'all are gonna think I'm crazy for this, but no. Maybe if you're a fan of James Joyce, which is the intended audience anyway, then you'll find it enjoyable. The movie itself is pretty boring. While Susan Lynch was the best actor in this film and did incredible, I wouldn't watch this except for Ewan and even that was a struggle when smut wasn't happening. If you're choosing movies to watch based on the Ewan factor then this is an understandable skip. It's extremely unfortunate that even pathetic, jealous, sex couldn't save this for me.
Where to Watch: "Nora" is available for rent on YouTube. You can stream it for free on the following platforms: Tubi, Pluto TV, Sling TV, Fandango at Home, Freevee, Amazon Prime Video, and Redbox.
I'm watching Moulin Rouge for the Ewan Mcgregor Screentime Percentage and I don't think I can do this y'all. This whole speedy style of editing with the quick cuts is destroying me. I worked for 1 hour and only got 11 minutes done. The movie is over 2 hours! After another long ass minute of 1 second jump cuts I had to step away. At this rate it's gonna take me 12 hours to get through this thing. I know the movie doesn't keep this pace the whole time (thank god!) and I keep telling myself that. I think I just have to get through this establishing Moulin Rouge ensemble number and it'll be smooth sailing. Another light in the darkness is that, to my knowledge, Ewan doesn't have another movie where the editors were on cocaine. This should be a one and done. 🤞🤞
17. Ewan McGregor Movie Review: Eye of the Beholder (1999)
Well, we're here. We finally made it to Ewan's last movie of the 1990's. Seventeen. That's how many movies our fave did in the 90's. That's not including tv shows and short films. Seventeen. Movies. Let me put this in perspective. Ewan's big screen debut was in 1994. In the span of FIVE YEARS he did SEVENTEEN movies! Five years, y'all! Out of those seventeen he starred in eleven! Who else is putting up these kind of numbers? Do y'all realize how astounding a career start that is? He wasn't a child actor. He didn't have insider connections. He was a nobody 22 year old with a dream. I'm sure even he never imagined that he would experience that insane amount of success in such a small amount of time. There's a lot that had to go into his success that I could ramble about for hours. But what I will say is that he has got to be the luckiest actor alive.
Genre: Thriller/Mystery
Rating: R
Director: Stephan Elliott
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Ashley Judd
Movie Synopsis: A British spy know as "The Eye" is sent on a mission to gather intel on his target. When he witnesses his target's murder at the hands of a mysterious woman, he feels an immediate connection to her and strives to keep her from getting caught. His strange compulsion turns into obsession as he secretly follows her and devotes himself to protecting her no matter the cost.
Ewan Review: Ewan plays the character Stephen Wilson aka The Eye. Stephen is a quiet and withdrawn person. He is emotionally and mentally fragile ever since the abrupt loss of his daughter and still sees her everywhere. When he first sees the mysterious woman, he feels a paternal instinct ignite inside him and believes she can fill the hole left by his daughter. I think Ewan gives a good performance in this role. The character is subdued yet intriguing. His motivations are just as mysterious as the woman he stalks which pulls you in. He doesn't have a love interest. He gets into two fights and beats someone bloody in one of them. He doesn't have any nudity but Ashley Judd does. Truth be told, the draw of this movie truly is the acting. Both Ewan and Ashley Judd's performances are amazing. Watching him fall deeper into his obsession is disturbingly mesmerizing. You wonder how far he will go and how long he can keep this up. If you're into yandere and Ewan McGregor then this was made for you.
Screentime Percentage: Ewan McGregor is on screen for a grand total of 48 / 102 minutes making his SP 47%.
To Ewan or not to Ewan: Is the movie worth watching for Ewan content alone? Yes. Is it worth watching in general? Yes.
Warning Before Watching: This movie features a lot of violence with much of it being bloody. There is also an attempted rape scene where the victim is beaten and drugged.
Where to Watch: You can watch "Eye of the Beholder" for free on Peacock. It is available for rent on YouTube, Google Play Movies and TV, and Fandango at Home. You can watch it on the following streaming platforms if you have a subscription: Starz, YouTube Primetime, Hulu, Sling TV, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube Premium, and Philo Premium.
Closing Thoughts: This movie was not a commercial success yet I consider it to be a diamond in the rough. It's high on my list of favorite Ewan movies. On YouTube, there is fascinating behind the scenes footage on the film-making process that made the movie that much more endearing to me. It's called "Documentary about making Eye of the Beholder with Ewan McGregor" on the account "Ewan McGregor Vault".
16. Ewan McGregor Movie Review: Rogue Trader (1999)
We're nearing the end of Ewan's 90's movie run! This movie took me a looooong time to get through because it's so anxiety inducing! You've heard of second-hand embarrassment? Well, get ready for second-hand panic lol.
Fun Fact: Pip Torrens plays a supporting role in this movie as the boss of Ewan McGregor's character. They worked together on the 1995 television show "Kavanagh Q.C."
Genre: Thriller/Crime
Rating: R
Director: James Dearden
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Anna Friel
Synopsis: "Rogue Trader" is based on a real person and event which makes it even more painful to watch. The movie is about Nick Leeson, a young and ambitious employee at England's second oldest bank, Barings. Nick's dream is to work as an investment trader for the bank and after hard work, earns the position. His ambitions don't end there and as he strives to make a name for himself by any means necessary, his pride and deception lead to a catastrophic end that shocks the world.
Ewan Review: Ewan McGregor plays the main character Nick Leeson. Nick is a plucky young man eager to make his mark in the investing world. He's charming, intelligent, and cares deeply for his wife and employees. Unfortunately, he uses these positive traits to his own detriment and the detriment of others. As you watch this movie, it becomes increasingly clear why Ewan was hired for the project as he is Mr. Prince Charming himself. Ewan brings a soft touch to this role. Making a man who caused irreparable harm to god knows how many people sympathetic. You want to see his luck turn around. You want him to do the right thing even as he digs himself deeper and deeper into his mess. Ewan has a love interest in this role and several kiss scenes. He has a nude makeout scene, and is shirtless multiple times. He also gets a very clear ass shot. He gets extremely anxious, and sleep deprived. You will literally see him shake, cry, or throw up at least once. He gets hit in the face with a chair at a bar fight and has a couple boxing scenes. In other words, there's a lot of yummy content in here.
Screentime Percentage: Ewan McGregor is on screen for a whopping grand total of.....65 / 94 minutes! This makes his SP 69% 😱 That is a HUGE amount! "Trainspotting" has finally been dethroned and I honestly don't know what movie, if any, is going to top this score. So start placing your bets!
To Ewan or not to Ewan: Is the movie worth watching for Ewan content alone? Yes. Is it worth watching in general? Yes.
Warning Before Watching: In the very beginning of the movie, a man flashes his penis at a woman he's hitting on. You don't see his penis but it's uncomfortable to watch just the same. There is a miscarriage scene that features light bleeding. It's not graphic but if you're sensitive to such topics and would like to skip, it starts at 53:00 and ends at 54:06.
Where to Watch: Rogue Trader is available for rent on Fandango at Home and Amazon Prime Video. It is also currently uploaded for free on YouTube through the channels "Retrospective - Classic Movies" and "Real Drama". Just search "Rogue Trader 1999" and both options will come up.
15. Ewan McGregor Movie Review: Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
Hey y'all, I'm back! I took a break that lasted longer than expected and it's finally time for me get back to it. This is Ewan's first movie of 1999.
Genre: Family/Sci-fi
Rating: PG
Director: George Lucas
Starring: Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Ahmed Best, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd
Movie Synopsis: "The Phantom Menace" is about two Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, who are sent on a simple diplomatic mission to help a planet in crisis. What they discover is a much larger conspiracy and that their enemy, The Sith, have finally resurfaced after 1,000 years. Aid for the Jedi comes from an unlikely ally, Anakin Skywalker, who is an enslaved child and believed by Qui-Gon to be the Chosen One who will bring balance to the Force.
Ewan Review: Ewan McGregor plays the character Obi-Wan Kenobi who is an Apprentice aka Padawan to his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn. Obi-Wan is near the end of his Apprenticeship and is a very calm, focused, and prepared Jedi learner. While his Master believes little Anakin is the Chosen One and will do anything, even go against their Council's orders, to train the boy, Obi-Wan is not convinced. During their mission, Obi-Wan must use all of his training to confront the Sith and help bring peace to the planet. Ewan speaks in what sounds like a British accent for this role. He doesn't have any love interests, kissing, or nude scenes. His role isn't very prominent so he doesn't do much. He goes swimming with his clothes on if that is important to you and he has a fight scene at the end of the movie which is spectacular. His acting is fine for the little he's given to do.
Screentime Percentage: Ewan is on screen for a grand total of 23/136 minutes making his SP 17%.
To Ewan or not to Ewan: Is the movie worth watching for Ewan content alone? Sigh...no. Wait! Before you crucify me, just please take off your nostalgia glasses for a second! This movie and version of Obi-Wan is as dear to my heart as it is to many fans. However, my absolute love for this character doesn't change the fact that the man is barely in the movie. When he is, it's very brief scenes where he tends to be standing quietly in the background. He also has minimal lines. Even Ewan himself has joked about how he was basically hired to just stand behind Liam Neeson. The bulk of his screentime happens in the last TEN minutes of the movie. Ewan being in this film is a plus, not the reason you should watch. So, I'm obliged to say that this isn't the Ewan content you're looking for (pun intended). Now, is the movie worth watching in general? Absolutely! It's such a fun time, the world building is incredible and don't get me started on the film score! Plus, the lightsaber duel at the end is one of the best fight sequences in the entire Star Wars series.
Where to Watch: You can watch The Phantom Menace if you are subscribed to Disney+. The movie is available for rent on Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies & TV, or Fandango at Home. You can also pirate it on soap2day.
14. Ewan McGregor Movie Review: Little Voice (1998)
(sorry, everyone there's not a gif to use for the movie this time! 😭)
Fun Facts!
Philipp Jackson works alongside Ewan again in this movie in a minor role. They worked together on the movie "Brassed Off!"
Jim Broadbent is part of the supporting cast as the character Mr. Boo. He will reunite with Ewan to film "Moulin Rouge!"
The titular character, Little Voice, is played by Jane Horrocks who performs her own songs! They did not hire an impressionist for her to lip sync to; she's just that talented! She also played this role seven years earlier for the stage play version.
Genre: Comedy/Musical
Rating: R
Director: Mark Herman
Starring: Jane Horrocks, Michael Caine, Brenda Blethyn
Synopsis: "Little Voice" is about a young lady (Jane Horrocks), nicknamed Little Voice due to her whispery manner of speaking. She rarely talks and is so shy that she never leaves her house. The only thing that brings her joy is listening to music. Her mother (Brenda Blethyn) is the exact opposite. She's loud, talkative, and unfortunately, doesn't think Little Voice is good for anything. When a talent scout discovers that Little Voice has a gift for impersonating famous singers, all he sees are dollar signs. He just has to convince this girl with a tiny personality to share with the world her larger than life brilliance.
Ewan Review: Ewan McGregor plays the character Billy. Like Little Voice, Billy is a man of few words. While music is the only thing on her mind, his is constantly preoccupied with his pigeons. When he meets Little Voice for the first time he is immediately intrigued by her and tries to get to know the meek young lady. Ewan isn't given much to do in this movie. His character is shy so he doesn't have many lines. He's mostly relegated to being the quiet awkward guy in the background. If you're looking for Ewan content, then I suggest you keep looking. You could call Little Voice a love interest, I suppose. I don't see their relationship that way but that's just my opinion. He doesn't have any kissing, sex, or nude scenes. I believe he speaks in a Yorkshire accent for the movie. His awkwardness is cute and relatable and he performs a heroic act towards the end of the movie. I think acting wise he gives a good performance.
Screentime Percentage: Ewan is on screen for a grand total of 14/97 minutes making his SP 14%.
To Ewan or not to Ewan: Is the movie worth watching for Ewan content alone? Unfortunately, no. He's just a minor character without much screentime or lines. Is the movie worth watching in general? Yes. It's a charming movie with a talented cast.
Where to Watch: "Little Voice" is available for rent on YouTube, Google Play Movies and TV, Fandango at Home, and Amazon Prime Video.
Closing Thoughts: I feel I have the responsibility to point out that the characters Billy and Little Voice are considered "abnormal" by the people around them. They don't understand social cues, they don't make a lot of eye contact, they barely talk and when they do, it's only about the specific interest they have, and they have unusual mannerisms. In other words, while the movie doesn't explicitly give them a label, I think they're meant to be autistic or at the very least are coded that way. I'm bringing it up because I don't know if the actors are on the spectrum but I've heard from those who are that the autistic community has often been hurt by even the most well-meaning depictions of the neurodivergent. I'm not autistic so I don't think it's fair for me to say whether the actors performance was harmful in their depiction or if it was done well and respectfully. All I can do is give you a heads up so that you aren't blindsided if you decide to watch it.
13. Ewan McGregor Movie Review: Velvet Goldmine (1998)
Happy Pride Month!❤️🌈❤️We've made it to 1998 and can take a breather because Ewan only made two movies this year. How appropriate that on the first week of Pride Month the first review is the LGBTQ film "Velvet Goldmine"! I swear I didn't plan this. Maxwell Demon must have arranged it in the stars 😏. Also, I came across three different runtimes for this movie. The version I watched had a runtime of 1 hour and 58 minutes so the Screentime Percentage is based off of that.
Fun Fact: Toni Collette co-stars in this movie. She was in "Emma" with Ewan!
Genre: Musical/Drama
Rating: R
Director: Todd Haynes
Starring: Christian Bale, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Ewan McGregor, Toni Collette
Synopsis: If you're someone who doesn't like musicals because of the "unrealistic" factor then you'll be happy to know that's not the case here. The movie is a musical because the characters are singers/musicians and they perform throughout the movie. The film is about British glam rocker Brian Slade who fakes his own death and disappears from the public in the 70s. Ten years later, Arthur Stuart, a journalist, is given the task to unearth what really happened to the rockstar and where he is now. His search brings him in contact with former stars who knew Slade and causes him to reflect on his own tumultuous past.
Ewan Review: Ewan plays the character Curt Wild. Curt Wild is a gay American man who's the lead singer and guitarist of his band The Rats. Brian Slade is greatly inspired by Curt and convinces him to collaborate on some projects. Eventually, what starts as a professional relationship blossoms into something more. Ewan speaks with an American English accent for this role which sounds a little funny at times. He has long blond hair for some of the movie which I like. He has two male love interests and a kiss scene. There's also one sex scene and one implied sex scene. He pretty much never wears a shirt and in one scene even strips nude while performing! And yes, that means you get to see his penis. Speaking of performing, he sings thrice and two of those times are full performances. Fun fact: he sang all of his vocals live instead of lip syncing to a pre-recorded track while filming! As far as acting, I think he did well with the limited amount of screentime he had.
Screentime Percentage (numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number): Ewan is on screen for a grand total of 20/118 minutes making his SP 17%.
To Ewan or not to Ewan: Is the movie worth watching for Ewan content alone? Yes, even though he doesn't have much screen time, he makes the most of it. Is the movie worth watching in general? Yes, it's a great LGBTQ movie! Plus, the soundtrack is infectious.
Where to Watch: "Velvet Goldmine" is available for rent on YouTube, Google Play Movies and TV, Fandango at Home, and Amazon Prime Video. It's also currently uploaded for free on YouTube through the account SELVA BEATS. Just search "Velvet Goldmine 1998 filme raro leg". Heads up: the movie has Portuguese subtitles that can't be turned off. Lastly, you can pirate the movie on soap2day.
Closing Thoughts: This movie makes me go Wild (pun-intended😉) with each watch. The music, costumes, performances, acting, EVERYTHING makes my heart pound. When I watched it for the first time I said the same thing Arthur did in the movie, "That's me! That's me!" It's been 26 years since it was released and in 2024 I was able to say, "That's me." I felt hope. I felt less alone. And I know I'm not the only one who saw themselves and felt the same. "Velvet Goldmine" is a beautiful movie in every way and well worth a watch.
12. Ewan McGregor Movie Review: A Life Less Ordinary (1997)
This is Ewan's last movie of 1997 and oh boy, is it a good one! And yes, the plot is just as zany as his previous two movies lol. Here are some fun facts before we begin!
Ewan's wife, Eve Mavrakis, is credited as Art Department Associate.
Once again the terrific trio of Danny Boyle, John Hodge, and Andrew Macdonald are reunited with Ewan to create movie magic! Sadly, Ewan and Danny's friendship took a huge blow after this project. The grudge would last for nearly two DECADES before they worked together again.
Stanley Tucci plays a minor role in the movie and will work with Ewan again in the future.
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Rating: R
Director: Danny Boyle
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Ewan McGregor
Synopsis: Robert Lewis is experiencing the worst day of his life. He gets fired, dumped, and evicted all within twenty-four hours! He decides his only option is to speak to the CEO and demand his job back. Instead, he ends up kidnapping the man's daughter, Celine! In the midst of this chaos, two angels are sent from Heaven to help Robert and Celine fall in love.
Ewan Review: Ewan plays the character Robert Lewis. Robert is a hopeless romantic and aspiring writer. He's a sweet guy who doesn't know how he ended up as a wanted criminal but thinks he's gone too far to turn back. Thankfully for him, there's one person who's willing to help him be a convincing kidnapper and get the ransom money he needs...his kidnappee, Celine! Ewan gives a great performance in this role. His chemistry with Cameron Diaz is even better than his with Nicole Kidman for "Moulin Rouge!" in my opinion. He has two kiss scenes and a shirtless scene. He performs a song and dance number which is really fun. He wears the kilt which to my knowledge is the only time he's done so on screen to date. Robert is more innocent compared to Celine so that brings about some cute moments of confusion. Best of all, he sobs like a baby in one scene and it was *chef's kiss 🤌*. He needs to do more comedy roles because he's genuinely good at it! All the actors had great chemistry and gave stellar performances.
Screentime Percentage: Ewan is on screen for a grand total of 53/104 minutes making his SP 51%.
To Ewan or not to Ewan: Is the movie worth watching for Ewan alone? Yes! I'm a fan of his raspy screaming voice (and he does a lot of it), he sings, dances, and seeing him cry in fear is always appreciated. Is the movie worth watching in general? Also yes! It's funny and the actors play off each other so well. The story is unique and the soundtrack is great too!
Warning before Watching: There are some bloody scenes in the movie. Nothing super graphic but I still want to issue a warning for those who are uncomfortable by such depictions. Two characters get shot in the head and there's a close up of their wounds. There's a scene of a character intentionally cutting them self and drawing a large amount of blood. Lastly, a character is cut by someone else and there's a close up of the wound.
Where to Watch: "A Life Less Ordinary" is currently available for rent on Fandango at Home. You can also watch on Amazon Prime Video if you have a premium subscription or you can pirate it on soap2day.
Closing Thoughts: It truly sucks that this movie wasn't well-received and was commercially unsuccessful. We need more movies like this that a take chance on a wacky story! I call them "silly goofy movies" and they are sorely lacking in Hollywood today. I implore you to give this movie a watch. It's a great time!
11. Ewan McGregor Movie Review: The Serpent's Kiss (1997)
Fun Fact! If you're a fan of the "Long Way" motorcycle series with Ewan and his best friend Charlie Boorman, then you'll be pleased to know that their friendship began on this movie! Charlie has a minor role in the film as a secretary. He and Ewan met while filming and bonded over their love of motorcycles. The rest is history!
Genre: Drama/Romance
Rating: R
Director: Philippe Rousselot
Starring: Pete Postlethwaite, Greta Scacchi, Carmen Chaplin, Ewan McGregor
Synopsis: "The Serpent's Kiss" is about the Smithers family. Mr. Smithers wants to give his wife the gift of a garden so he hires a top-notch landscaper that his in-law recommends to him. Mrs. Smithers isn't very interested in the garden but prefers games and tricks. Specifically those she can play on people. Their daughter, Ann/Thea, is a peculiar girl. She reads far too much and gets along better with nature than people. While her mother indulges her, her father worries for her health and hires a physician to "cure" her or her abnormalities. Once the young landscaper arrives, it becomes evident that he is not just there to build a garden, but to use his expertise to exact revenge for his secret employer.
Ewan Review: Ewan plays the character Meneer Chrome who is a famed Dutch landscaper. He takes a job in England with the goal of transforming the overgrown lawn of the Smithers family into a one-of-a-kind, modern, garden. As he works on the project, he becomes interested in his boss's eccentric daughter while her mother becomes interested in him. Ewan speaks in a Dutch and English accent for this role but mainly Dutch. I'm not familiar with Dutch accents but I'm going to be bold and say that his was terrible. It annoyed the crap out of me! I couldn't take it seriously, it was forced, and completely took me out of the movie every time he opened his mouth. I would've enjoyed this movie a lot more if he didn't have to use that god awful accent. He has a female love interest and two kiss scenes. One is with a man and the other is with a woman . He also does some flirting with his boss's wife. There's an implied sex scene and implied nudity. You do get to briefly see him shirtless though. He wears a wig and you also get to see the worst haircut he has ever had in a movie to date. His performance isn't very good. There were a couple moments where it felt like I was listening to him recite lines from a paper. It didn't seem like he was all in for this project but decided to coast through. This might be a nit-pick but it's not a spoiler: not long after we meet his character he randomly tosses his wig off for no discernable reason and he never puts it back on. Nobody says anything about it. All the men of high class wore wigs in the movie so I assumed for a man to walk around wigless in front of high society would be deemed offensive. Anyway, I don't know what the point of that scene was.
Screentime Percentage: Ewan is on screen for a grand total of 44/106 minutes making his SP 42%.
To Ewan or not to Ewan: Is the movie worth watching for Ewan alone? No. Although he is in much of the movie, he just doesn't do a lot nor is he interesting. Honestly, the character is boring. I wouldn't turn this on for Ewan. Is the movie worth watching in general? Sadly, it's another no from me. In all fairness, it's so weird that it charmed me a little but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I don't know what audience this movie was made for.
Warning before Watching: There is a whole incest subplot in the movie. There aren't any sex scenes or anything but the movie makes sure you know they're related so keep that in mind. In a scene where Thea is overcome with emotion she intentionally cuts her face. The scenes of her being "cured" of her "illness" by the physician could also be uncomfy to watch. There's nothing graphic but you do hear her scream in pain and just the general treatment of this character is sad. Lastly, you see someone die from poison.
Where to Watch: "The Serpent's Kiss" is available to stream for free on Tubi, Sling TV, Redbox, Amazon Prime Video, and Freevee. It's also currently uploaded for free to YouTube. Just search "The Serpent's Kiss Full action Movie Drama Ewan McGregor".
The Ewan McGregor Screentime Percentage (EMSP) List
I thought it'd be helpful to make a list for the movies that I've reviewed so far. I will update it as new reviews are posted. Unfortunately, I'm not yet able to add links to direct you to the full review. The letters EMSP stand for " Ewan McGregor Screentime Percentage" which is how long he spends on screen in a given movie. It is ordered from his highest screentime percentage to lowest. I hope this helps those looking for a new Ewan movie to watch!
Young Adam (2003): 70% (69 / 1 hr. 38 min.)
2. Rogue Trader (1999): 69% (65 / 1 hr. 34 min.)
3. Nora (2000): 56% (60 / 1 hr. 47 min.)
4. Trainspotting (1996): 55% (52 / 1 hr. 34 min.)
5. Nightwatch (1997): 51% (52 / 1 hr. 42 min.)
6. A Life Less Ordinary (1997): 51% (53 / 1 hr. 44 min.)
7. Eye of the Beholder (1999): 47% (48 / 1 hr. 42 min.)
8. Down with Love (2003): 46% (47 / 1 hr. 42 min.)
9. Shallow Grave (1994): 44% (41 / 1 hr. 33 min.)
10. The Serpent's Kiss (1997): 42% (44 / 1 hr. 46 min.)
11. Moulin Rouge! (2001): 40% (51 / 2 hrs. 8 min.)
12. Brassed Off (1996): 24% (26 / 1 hr. 47 min.)
13. Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002): 23% (33 / 2 hrs. 22 min)
14. Blue Juice (1995): 22% (22 / 1 hr. 39 min)
15. The Pillow Book (1996): 22% (28 / 2 hrs. 7 min.)
16. Nothing but the Truth (1995): 21% (21 / 1 hr. 41 min.)
17. Velvet Goldmine (1998): 17% (20 / 1 hr. 58 min.)
18. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999): 17% (23 / 2 hrs. 16 min.)
19. Little Voice (1998): 14% (14 / 1 hr. 37 min)
20. Doggin' Around (1995): 11% (10 / 1 hr. 29 min.)
21. Emma (1996): 11% (13 / 2 hrs. 1 min.)
22. Being Human (1994): 2% (2 / 2 hrs. 2 min.)
10. Ewan McGregor Movie Review: Nightwatch (1997)
New year, new movies! In 1997, Ewan starred in three movies and all of them had some pretty bizarre plots lol. Let's start at the beginning with "Nightwatch"!
Genre: Horror/Mystery
Rating: R
Director: Ole Bornedal
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Nick Nolte, Josh Brolin
Synopsis: "Nightwatch" follows Martin Bells, a college student, who takes a job as the new night watchman at a morgue at the same time a serial rapist/murderer is on the loose. As the police hunt for the criminal, and more evidence is brought to light, Martin comes to the terrifying realization that he is their prime suspect!
Ewan Review: Ewan plays the main character Martin Bells. Martin is in college as a law student and is best friends with a mean, sexist, and inconsiderate (the list could go on) prick. Ewan has a female love interest and they have a couple kissing scenes as well as a really tender moment early in the movie. He speaks with an American English accent which isn't too shabby except when he gets scared and then he pretty much drops it lol. Speaking of scared, he spends a lot of the movie screaming, and crying. He has a bathing scene with no real nudity but if you pause at just the right time it's possible to see his package from afar. He also gets a public handjob, beat up, bit, and bound. In other words, you get a slew of very weak, vulnerable, and submissive Ewan content.
Screentime Percentage: Ewan is on screen for a grand total of 52/102 minutes making his SP 51%.
To Ewan or not to Ewan: Is the movie worth watching for Ewan content? Yes. Is the movie worth watching in general? Yes. Caveat: if you wish to be entertained then the movie will entertain you. But it espouses such harmful views of women that you might not be able to look past it and enjoy the story.
Warning before Watching: there is a violent murder within the first 3 minutes of the movie and another towards the end. There are close ups of mutilated, naked, dead bodies and lots and lots of blood. The movie is also incredibly sexist and revels in cruelty against women.
Where to Watch: You can stream the movie for free on Pluto TV or soap2day. It's available for rent on YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies, and Fandango at Home.
Closing Thoughts: This movie is in the horror genre seemingly because of the gore and suspense. The true horror of this film is the misogyny and general treatment of women. I was more disturbed and disgusted by the way the male characters interacted with the female characters. Mind you, this movie is not a cautionary tale. It is not about the pitfalls of sexism. The male characters do not receive comeuppance for their behavior. It is treated as natural. It is celebrated. We are to understand and sympathize with these chauvinists. We are to find humor in their hatred and charm in their cruelty. The funny thing is, you could (and I did) read a homoerotic subtext within the relationship of the two male best friends because they truly only love each other while their female love interests are just an afterthought. This movie is gross for all the wrong reasons and I will not be watching it again.
9. Ewan McGregor Movie Review: Brassed Off (1996)
We made it to our last movie of 1996 and boy, is it a good one!
Some fun facts before we begin!
Pete Gunn has a minor role in the movie as the character Simmo. You might remember that he worked alongside Ewan in the movie "Blue Juice"!
While the movie takes place in the village Grimley, the story is actually inspired by the mining village Grimethorpe whose pit was closed just three years before the movie released.
The Grimethorpe Colliery Band performed all the band numbers in the movie.
Ewan's character plays a tenor horn in the band. I think it's a fun fact because when Ewan was a teenager, he played the French horn!
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Rating: R
Director: Mark Herman
Starring: Pete Postlethwaite, Tara Fitzgerald, Ewan McGregor
Synopsis: "Brassed Off" is about the 1980s pit closures in the United Kingdom. It takes place in Grimley, a coal mining village, that is next on the chopping block to have it's colliery shut down. The village is also home to the Grimley Colliery Band which has existed for 100 years and the characters are all part of. But with the possibility of the pit closing comes the possibility of the end of the band for good. Band leader Danny (Pete Postlethwaite) challenges the men to fight one last time to win the National Brass Band Competition in London. When Gloria (Tara Fitzgerald), a former resident of Grimley, makes a surprise return to the village, she joins the band and sets out to bring hope to the weary miners.
Ewan Review: Ewan plays the character Andy Barrows, a coal miner and member of the local band. Andy is initially excited to be reunited with Gloria as the two had a former romance. However, when he learns why Gloria has been keeping her return a secret, he becomes unsure whether he can trust her or if they were ever meant to be. Ewan wears an earring in this role and speaks with a Yorkshire accent. His character is broody so expect a lot of scowls which is a change of pace from his many smiley characters. He has an implied sex scene and a makeout scene. His acting, along with the rest of the cast, gets an A+ from me!
Screentime Percentage: Ewan is on screen for a grand total of 26/107 minutes making his SP 24%.
To Ewan or not to Ewan: Is the movie worth watching for Ewan alone? No. He already doesn't have much to do in this movie and he's part of an ensemble cast so the story is spread out over several different characters. Honestly, I found myself more interested in other storylines than his. He's good when he's on screen and is nice to look at but this just isn't a Ewan content heavy role. Is the movie worth watching in general? Absolutely! This movie has an amazing story, the actors have great chemistry, the music is phenomenal, and you get to learn in an intimate way about an important time in history. I can tell you that before watching this movie I didn't know anything about the miner strikes or pit closures. Now, I'm reading up on the history!
Warning before watching: There is a suicide attempt scene.
Where to Watch: "Brassed Off" is available for rent on YouTube, Fandango at Home, and Amazon Prime Video. You can also watch it for free on soap2day.
Closing Thoughts: This movie so creatively weaves together a story of anger, depression, and hope. The characters are fleshed out and feel real. You hurt for their plight and root for their fight. The movie has a bittersweet ending. I applaud the director, Mark Herman, for sharing with the world the harm done to the miners of the U.K. and their perseverance through it all.
8. Ewan McGregor Movie Review: Emma (1996)
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Rating: PG
Director: Douglas McGrath
Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Toni Collette
Synopsis: "Emma" is a movie based on the Jane Austen novel of the same name. It boasts a large cast of talented and recognizable actors. Several of them will go on to work with Ewan again in future projects. The movie is about Emma Woodhouse, a young socialite. Although she is an available bachelorette, she enjoys secretly matchmaking couples in her town instead of finding love for herself. She believes greatly in her matchmaking skills, though her pride and naivety cause her to fumble more often than not. When Emma befriends Harriet Smith, a debutante with unknown family heritage, she makes it her mission to find her new friend a fitting husband. Instead, she finds herself more trouble than she knows what to do with.
Ewan Review: Ewan plays the character Frank Churchill. Frank is the stepson of Emma's friend and former governess, Mrs. Weston. He is a charming young man who thrives on being the center of attention. When he arrives in town to visit his father, the townswomen immediately become enamored with the handsome bachelor. Even Emma, who previously thought she was not interested in marriage, can't help being swept off her feet by the gentlemen's advances. Ewan wears a wig in this role I believe because his hair would still be short from filming "Trainspotting." It's not a bad wig but there were some moments where I had to squint and say "yeah, I don't think that's his hair" lol. He uses an English accent for this role and honestly, it doesn't sound very good. He's done English accents before but this one just doesn't sound natural, especially compared to his co-stars. He sings twice in the movie! He performs two duets and the first one always makes me laugh because of how he randomly jumps in. He's also in a dance scene which was really fun. As far as his performance, it's nothing special in my opinion. Again, maybe it's because he was surrounded by a large cast of talented actors, but he didn't seem to shine like he normally does. Or maybe he was tired from filming four movies back to back and the fatigue had begun to set in. Luckily, since his character is a minor one, it doesn't really matter and I still had a good time watching him.
Screentime Percentage: Ewan is on screen for a grand total of 13/121 minutes making his SP 11%.
To Ewan or not to Ewan: Is the movie worth watching for Ewan content alone? My opinion is no. He's a fun perk that you get with the movie but I wouldn't turn it on just to see him. Is the movie worth watching in general? Yes! It's fun. It's cute. It has a happy ending for everyone. It even won two Oscars for best movie score and costume design. It's a calm, low stimulating movie that's still entertaining.
Where to Watch: "Emma" is currently available for rent on YouTube and can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video if you have a subscription.
Conclusion: If you like period pieces then I think you'd like "Emma". It's a beautiful movie and a nice change of pace from the overstimulating movies of today.
7. Ewan McGregor Movie Review: The Pillow Book (1996)
Genre: Erotic/Romance
Rating: Un-Rated
Director: Peter Greenaway
Starring: Vivian Wu, Yoshi Oida, Ewan McGregor
Synopsis: "The Pillow Book" is an erotic film about a woman, Nagiko, who has a fetish for men writing on her body. What started as an innocent tradition of her father writing on her for her birthday, evolved into an obsession with finding the perfect calligrapher / lover. Nagiko also aspires to be a writer like her namesake, Sei Shonagon, the author of The Pillow Book. After she is rejected by a book publisher who sexually assaulted her father she instead decides to walk the path of revenge.
Ewan Review: Ewan McGregor plays the character Jerome, a bisexual English translator. He is chosen by Nagiko to help with her revenge unbeknownst to him. He is completely nude several times in the film, has a female and male love interest, and sex scenes with both of them. He has an English accent for the movie and has a couple lines in French and Japanese. Another fun fact: you might notice that he's pretty slender in this role and that's because he was in the process of losing weight for his role in "Trainspotting".
Screentime Percentage: Ewan is on screen for a grand total of 28/127 minutes making his SP 22%.
To Ewan or not to Ewan: Is this movie worth watching for Ewan content alone? Yes! Did I mention the nudity? Is it worth watching in general? I say yes. I know this movie won't be for everyone. It's a weird story, highly erotic, and has slow pacing. Still, I enjoy it and wouldn't dissuade someone from watching.
Where to Watch: "The Pillow Book" is currently available to rent through YouTube.
Movie Warnings: There are some things that happen in the movie that you might want to be aware of before committing to watching it. Nudity nudity and more nudity! Women and men are naked and yes that includes seeing their genitals. There are a LOT of penises in this movie. There's blackmail via sexual assault as well as a suicide scene, skin cutting, blood, and defiling of a dead body.
Conclusion: The Pillow Book" is a beautiful work of art. Though it is a weird story, it's also interesting and captures your attention. Though it's highly erotic, the eroticism adds value to the story and isn't there just for shock. And while the pacing may be slow, it allows the viewer to absorb information and appreciate the visual storytelling. I encourage you to open your mind and give it a chance. Like Nagiko, you just might learn something new about yourself.
6. Ewan McGregor Movie Review: Trainspotting (1996)
We've made it to another year and it's a big one! That's right, Ewan only had two projects in 1995, but that's because our boy was extremely busy in '96. He released FOUR movies that year! What's really wild is that isn't even his record number for movies released in one year. 😱
A quick fun fact before we get started: The producer of "Trainspotting", Andrew Macdonald, has a cameo in the movie as a prospective renter. He was also the producer for "Shallow Grave"!
Genre: Crime/Drama
Rating: R
Director: Danny Boyle
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Jamie Lee Miller, Ewen Bremner, Robert Carlyle, Kevin McKidd, Kelly McDonald
Movie Review: The movie "Trainspotting" reunited Danny Boyle as director, John Hodge as screenwriter, and Ewan McGregor as leading man. "It is about a group of friends/heroin addicts living day to day in Edinburgh, Scotland. Their only goal is to score their next hit of the drug by any means necessary. The story is told from the perspective of the main character, Mark Renton, who attempts and struggles at getting clean. The movie is essentially a day in the life of an addict. Like a train wreck, you can't look away, even as the characters speed towards death. It's unflinchingly honest, gritty and captivating. It was also a smash hit! Nowadays, people primarily know Ewan McGregor for his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi but may not know that his role in Trainspotting is what actually launched his career.
Ewan Review: Ewan McGregor plays the main character Mark Renton aka Renton. Renton is a junkie who loves being a junkie. For him, there is no greater pleasure than being high. Though he sometimes realizes that sobriety is the better choice, he can't help but to fall back into addiction. He's a selfish asshole (a recurring theme with Ewan characters) who is friends with selfish assholes. Renton also has a sexual relationship with a child. The movie doesn't frame this relationship negatively or explore any repercussions so do with that information as you will. Ewan gives a stellar performance and even lost around thirty pounds for the role!
Screentime Percentage (Numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number): Ewan is on screen for a total of 52/94 minutes making his SP 55%. This is his highest score yet!
To Ewan or not to Ewan: Is the movie worth watching for Ewan McGregor content alone? Yes. Is it worth watching in general? Yes. Fair warning, the movie can be dry-heave inducing. There's nudity, graphic depictions of drug use, lots of blood, two feces scenes, and decaying bodies.
Where to Watch: "Trainspotting" is currently for rent on YouTube or you can watch it for free on soap2day. You can also stream it if you have a subscription to Paramount+, MGM+, or Amazon Prime Video.
Conclusion: "Trainspotting" is a movie deserving of its accolades. The writing is phenomenal, the actors gave it their all, the soundtrack is perfect, and the opening monologue is iconic. It's my belief that everyone should watch this movie at least once.
5. Ewan McGregor Movie Review: Blue Juice (1995)
Before we start, I have to give a disclaimer. For some reason, there are two different runtimes for this movie. The first is 90 minutes and the second is 99. I don't know if the second is special edition or has extended scenes, but that's the one I watched so the Screentime Percentage will be based on that runtime.
Fun fact: Keith Allen has a minor role in this movie which is a fun fact because he worked alongside Ewan in Shallow Grave!
Genre: Comedy/Sport
Rating: R
Director: Carl Prechezer
Starring: Sean Pertwee, Catherine Zeta-Jones
Synopsis: "Blue Juice" is about J.C., a surfer and local legend, experiencing anxiety over growing older and settling down. With his 30th birthday on the horizon, his childhood friends make an unexpected visit and plunge his life into chaos. J.C. has to decide what's more important: the call to adventure or the call of love.
Ewan Review: Ewan plays the character Dean Raymond. He's one of J.C's. friends and is a drug dealer. He wants to turn his life around but keeps hurting his friends in the process. He smiles and laughs a LOT and holds hands with another member of the friend group twice. He has long hair that's covered by a hat the majority of the movie. The hat has the brand name Stüssy on it which made me smile because Ewan eventually plays a character with the last name Stussy. We also get to see him with a bloody face due to a fight scene. His performance was fine and I really liked his character's outfits.
Screentime Percentage: Ewan is on screen for a grand total of 23/99 minutes making his SP 22%.
To Ewan or not to Ewan: Is the movie worth watching for Ewan McGregor alone? Yes. Is the movie worth watching in general? Yes. This movie has grown on me a bit. Maybe I relate to the characters' internal struggles of life moving too fast, the fear of stagnating, no longer finding joy in your career, or allowing anxiety to rob you of new experiences now that I'm older.
Where to Watch: "Blue Juice" is currently free to watch with ads on YouTube.
Conclusion: It's cute and has some interesting themes it wants to explore. I just don't think it explores them well. It's a pleasant movie but one that you randomly stumble upon while waiting at the dentist or airport, if that makes any sense.
4. Ewan McGregor Movie Review: Nothing but the Truth (1995)
TRIGGER WARNING: In this review, I mention sexual violence because that is what this movie is about. I don't go into great detail. Still, if the topic of sexual violence/assault is triggering for you then this is your warning to scroll past.
Ewan McGregor's first project of 1995 was the pilot episode of British television series Kavanagh Q.C. titled "Nothing but the Truth." You might be asking yourself, "television series? I thought those were going to be excluded?" You're right and the reason I included this episode in our movie review list is because it has a runtime of an HOUR AND FORTY-ONE MINUTES. Where I come from, we call that a movie. The episode is also a standalone project, meaning that you don't need to watch the whole series or even an additional episode to finish the plot or understand the narrative. Everything you need to know for the episode happens in the episode.
A couple fun facts before we get started!
In this project, Ewan works alongside Geraldine James again. You might remember her from our previous review as the ex-jazz singer in "Doggin' Around." I thought that was cool! Here, she plays Eleanor Harker Q.C. (Queen's Counsel) who is the prosecutor attorney.
If you've ever heard Ewan say that he met his wife while working on a project, THIS is that project! This is where he met his first wife, Eve Mavrakis, who is credited as the Assistant Art Director. The episode aired January 3, 1995 and six months later they were wed.
Let's dive in!
Movie Review: "Nothing but the Truth" stars the late John Thaw as the titular Kavanagh Q.C. James Kavanagh is a senior barrister and arguably the best. While he couldn't be more adept at his job as a barrister, the same cannot be said for his job as a husband and father. The demands of these roles pull him in different directions and cause friction between him and his wife. The main plot is about an affluent young man accused of sexually assaulting the woman for whom he works. Naturally, it's a he said/she said situation. He claims that it was a consensual fling while she claims the opposite. The evidence corroborates both of their stories to an extent which makes it even harder to know who is being honest. As one of the best lawyers in Britain, Kavanagh is tasked with defending the accused. Unfortunately, defending a man accused of rape only creates more cracks in the foundation of his familial relationships. Armed with his intellect and belief in the inherent goodness of man, Kavanagh is determined to find nothing but the truth.
Ewan Review: Ewan plays the character David Armstrong who is our young man accused of sexual assault. He has a posh English accent and is incredibly soft-spoken. He also has a stutter which sounds a bit forced at times. This role is my absolute favorite for his long, silky, hair era! We get a few shots of it in the half-up/half-down style but for the majority of the film it's all down. They must have given him a full on blow out because that hair was thick, long, and luscious! His hair needed it's own acting credit. Ewan also showcases his acting skills really well in this role. I've felt for a long time that Ewan performs best in roles that require subtlety and he does a great job in this one. On a more critical note, even though he often plays characters who are depicted in a negative light, those stories tend to require you to suspend your disbelief. That is not the case with this movie. This is a serious topic and the movie handles it with the seriousness it deserves. If Ewan brings you comfort and you only engage with his more wholesome roles, then this might not be for you. There are no graphic depictions of sex in the movie but there is sexual audio twice and in the court scenes the characters go into detail about the incident.
Screentime Percentage (All numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number): Ewan is on screen for a grand total of 21/101 minutes making his SP 21%.
To Ewan or not to Ewan: Is this movie worth watching for Ewan content alone? Yes, even with the low percentage! Again, his hair is *chef's kiss* 🤌. We get to see him sweaty and working in the dirt as well as dressed up in a three piece suit. There's also a brief makeout scene and shirtless scene. Is the movie worth watching in general? This is very difficult for me to say but my answer is no. My opinion is that the movie is /only/ worth watching for Ewan. If he wasn't in it or was in it even less then it'd be a skip for me. The premise is interesting but the movie can be slow in places. Also, maybe it's just because this was the pilot episode or the legal system being different in Britain, but there were significant issues not addressed in the court scenes that make the ending a little less satisfying. If you like crime shows, then you might like this regardless of the Ewan factor. But be warned, this is not a flashy, fast-paced drama like Law and Order SVU or Criminal Minds. It's an old, British, drama about an old lawyer.
Where to Watch: "Nothing but the Truth" is currently uploaded for free on YouTube through the channel "Ewan McGregor Vault". Just search "Kavanagh Q.C. Nothing But the Truth with Ewan McGregor". If you want to watch the full series, all episodes are also uploaded for free on a YouTube playlist through the channel "o p i u m 1". Just search "Kavanagh Qc".
Conclusion: "Nothing but the Truth" is a hidden gem in Ewan McGregor's career. Unlike other crime shows I've seen, this movie was unique in that there wasn't very much information the audience had that the characters didn't. You really have to pay attention, trust your gut, and hope the verdict is the right one. This also makes the movie great for rewatches because you'll start to notice things in the background that add to the story. I highly suggest watching this with another person because if you're like me, you're going to have a lot to talk about as the truth is revealed.
