Solid Geometry (2002)

What is it?
A mere 24-minute televised version of an Ian McEwan story. Drama and sci fi mainly. Ewan McGregor plays a married man with little direction, with a wife with even less, who discovers his Grandfather’s documents about an amazing scientific possibility. He submerges himself in finding out how to travel to another dimension, and then uses it to free himself of conjugal necessities. It’s dark, funny, and you agree with his final action completely. I don’t want to say what it is; I suggest you watch it instead.

Who is in it?
Mr McGregor is the only one I recognised, but the author’s name gives it enough status. However, it does not appear to have won any awards and nominations. Philistines.


Long Way Round (2004)

What is it?
A documentary following Ewan and friend Charley Boorman on a trip around the world on BMW bikes. Mr McGregor came up with the idea of going around the world “the long way round” and from that they set up the whole thing including another guy – Claudio- to film them, meeting their support vehicles at certain points. It sounds like they did it the girlie wuss way, but believe me, the support vehicles suffer enough. You get the whole story, right from setting up the trip to trying to get Claudio his bike test completed (oops) to their return to their families. Lots of fun and games as Ewan gets petrol in his eye and falls off his bike a lot. They get to know the ways of European lorry drivers, some people’s barely rational viewpoints of rivers being usable roads, and they also end up enjoying the hospitality of an eastern European mob boss. No awards or nominations either, but there is the promise of another trip by the boys. Hurrah.

Who is in it?
Ewan and Charley as mentioned before, but the stars of the show go right from Claudio, riding a dodgy bike he bought in the middle of nowhere and wupping the arses off the BMWs on scary terrain, to the random guy who wanders up on a horse in the mountains with a ciggie in his mouth giving them dodgy looks and then shaking their hands. Lovely.


Trainspotting (1996)

What is it?
What isn’t it? Drama, comedy, tragedy, a jolly hard look at the yoof of today, and at times it was jolly hard to look at the screen. Heroin addicts and their partners in crime generally roughing places and people up, with a very poignant look at how heavy drug use and the threat of HIV affected people at a time when no-one else would dare put this kind of thing on the big screen. Lots of Scottish colloquialisms to confuse the English and Americans too. Ha ha.

Who is in it?
For starters, a barely recognisable Robert Carlyle as the psychopathic Begbie steals the screen when you’d rather not see what he was doing.

Awards and nominations
2 Baftas, 1 Brit for best soundtrack, and nominated for an Oscar. 18 awards won in total.


Star Wars – Revenge of the Sith (2005)

What is it?
The third attempt for the New Star Wars films to get it right. Luckily, this one hits the mark best as getting back to the original Lucas style. Why do I like it? Because Ewan is clearly enjoying himself playing Obi (but had by now stopped making the light sabre noises himself), because as he says himself it’s rare he plays the same character in different films, and because he gets to gleefully ride that big lizard thing that squeals a lot. It all harks back to the true joys of the originals.

Who is in it?
Frank Oz doing Yoda. Great stuff.

Awards and nominations
Rather embarrassingly, the Teen Choice award for action/adventure. 5 other nominations.


Moulin Rouge! (2002)

What is it?
Firstly, it’s a musical and I hate musicals. Usually lots of people repeating lines ad nauseum with big mouths and shiny faces. This lovely little romantic film, about unrequited then requited then ooh who’s going to die love stuff, set in the early 20th century is big, beautiful and charming. That probably isn’t enough to convince you, so what about the fact it proves that the lovely Ewan McGregor is a man of many talents and can sing. Well. The music is modern and well put together. Love it.

Who is in it?
Nicole Kidman also proves she is worth the cash with a good little voice on her as well, but for me the main star is Kylie as a green fairy. Has to be done.


Awards and nominations
This is my chance to really prove why on earth this film is in my top five. This film did not win a Teen Choice award, oh no. But it got six Oscar nominations, winning two for costume and set. Two Baftas, one Golden Globe, five Australian Film Institute wins, it even won a Silver Goddess and a Robert. This film in all had sixty two award wins and sixty seven other nominations. So there.

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