What To Do Now? A Guide For Uncertain Times:

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.

Wow this is so beautiful 🥹

Jumping on the @palfriendpatine66 love train, when I first joined Tumblr I saw her as like, the leader of Ewan McGregor Tumblr and looked to her for advice on how to navigate the space. I probably sounded so dumb and still she graciously answered my questions, held space for me to vent about my writing struggles, and for a time was the only person I could gush about Ewan with. She's truly a shining example of how fans should interact with each other and just a genuinely kind person. I look up to her and strive to be as welcoming to newcomers in fandom as she was to me.

Who's the fandom friend you've known the longest?

I think maybe @palfriendpatine66 (if that's okay to call you a friend? 🫣). I wasn't super involved in fandoms before, mostly lurking, but when I started really getting into star wars (again) I read Pining in Preschool and started following @palfriendpatine66 on tumblr, and thanks to their kindness I got the guts to get more actively involved, which is one of the best things that happened to me so huge thanks for that 💙💙

I got honey, sunshine, and warmth! I can't think of a better way I'd want my kiss described 🤗

people in fanfiction are so good at identifying v specific smells. I literally struggle to identify vanilla when I’m sniffing a candle labelled “VANILLA” how are these kids getting woodsmoke, rain, mint, and a whiff of byronic despair from a fuckin tshirt

New Venture!

For those that care, I'm pressing pause on writing fics for now. I already haven't been writing regularly due to changes in my personal life. I still might drop some here and there though. That brings me to a new idea I've been brainstorming: reviewing Ewan McGregor movies!

Now you might be thinking that's not very original and you'd be correct. @palfriendpatine66 has reviews of some of Ewan's movies and you should check them out! However, I want to do something slightly different. A friend of mine jokingly mentioned they wished that there was a way to see how much screentime Ewan was in so they could decide if the movie was worth their time. I've also seen this sentiment shared a few times here on Tumblr. So I thought it'd be fun to go through his filmography and tally the minutes of screentime myself!

Here's the plan. I will be reviewing movies and TV movies starting with his first role and working towards the present or for however long I stay invested. Cameos and guest appearances will be excluded. Also excluded are TV shows and documentaries. So Halston, the Long Way series, and such won't be reviewed here. The movie reviews will include a tally at the end of how many minutes of screentime Ewan was in compared to how long the movie was. That number will then be converted to a percentage. Example: Ewan had 30/60 minutes of screentime. His screentime percentage is 50%.

I'm very excited and would love to hear y'all's thoughts on the idea!

I don't know how to tag this so I imagine no one will see it. I had to at least try to get my feelings out. I guess this is more for me then. For anyone who cares, I think this is goodbye. I'm so overwhelmed and brokenhearted and downright terrified of Trump's administration and what it bodes for the future. Everywhere I turn I'm being reminded of how terrible he is, how powerless I am, and that there is no hope for a better future. I can't begin to describe the emotions I've been feeling...that I'm currently feeling even as I write this. I feel backed into a corner with no way out. I feel so alone in all of this. I don't know what to do. Like, the responsibility for fixing all this is on my shoulders purely because of my age and I have NO IDEA how to help anyone much less myself. I don't have answers, or a plan, or some indomitable spirit. I've often joked with friends that I've never understood horror movies like "Saw." If I ever found myself in a situation where I was forced between excruciating torture or death, I'd choose death. Hands down. It's not even a question. "Who wants to go through all that? Who wants to live THAT bad?" That's how I'm feeling right now. I don't see how life is worth living. I don't know how to be happy. How to fight. How to hope. Not if I'm alone. And I am alone. A conversation at work sent me over the edge. I wanted to blow my brains out right there. It was then that I realized how naive I was to believe that anyone else cared. That change was happening. Was possible. I am drowning in a sea of hatred. I just can't do this anymore. I don't know what to do, but I can't. do. this.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine "Past Tense, Pt. 1"

FANDOM ALERT 🚨 FANDOM ALERT 🚨

Attention all Ewan McGregor fans! This is not a drill!

I'm pumped! I'm hype! I'm frothing at the mouth cuz TODAY'S THE BIG DAYYYYYY 🎉🎉🎉

Ewan is getting his star on the Walk of Fame TODAY at 11:30am Pacific Time!

Make sure to double check the time conversion for your zone!

The ceremony will be streamed live on www.walkoffame.com

I'm excited to show up and SHOW OUT for our mans!🤩🤩🤩

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. 🤞🤞

SFW Alphabet: Catcher Block (Down with Love)

shoutout to my bestie @hellsalad for being a listening ear, helpful guide when I got stuck, and general inspiration for me to keep writing 💞

A - Affection (How affectionate is he? How does he show affection?)

Catcher is very affectionate and not afraid to display it publicly. He likes walking arm in arm or with his arm around your waist. When you hold hands, he periodically kisses your knuckles making you feel like royalty.

B - Best Friend (What is he like as a best friend? Where does the friendship start?)

Being best friends with THE Catcher Block means that you can truly say that you have friends in high places. He has the hookup for all the best restaurants, sports games, and nightlife entertainment. There's always something new to do when you're with him. He's a very fun and energetic person to be around. Your friendship began at the Know Magazine office. You were a junior journalist and had the great fortune of being paired with Catcher (much to his chagrin at the time) as your mentor. The friendship had a bit of a bumpy start but you showed a lot of promise in the field and impressed him. Now, it's hard to imagine never being friends!

C - Cuddles (Does he like to cuddle? How does he cuddle?)

Absolutely! He likes when you lay your head on his chest with one leg over his. He holds one of your hands with his and his other is wrapped around you rubbing your back. He's not really into spooning as he likes to see your face.

D - Domestic (Does he want to settle down? How is he at cooking, cleaning, etc?)

He's not eager to settle down preferring instead to enjoy the relationship one day at a time. It being the 60s, he most definitely doesn't ask you to move in with him before he puts a ring on your finger. He's not a good cook and mainly eats out or has the occasional TV dinner. He hired a maid to clean his bachelor pad but still keeps things tidy on his own.

E - Ending (If he had to break up with his partner, how would he do it?)

He would take them out to dinner and rip the bandaid off. He would try to spare their feelings by saying the cliche "it's not you it's me." or get them to to think that breaking up is their idea. He doesn't want the breakup to be nasty so that the door's still open for "sex a la carte" in the future. He's not heartless though, and if the relationship was a deep one then he'd mourn the end in private just like anyone else. (Ice cream and sad movies included).

F - Fiance (How does he feel about commitment? Does he want to get married?)

Catcher avoids commitment like the plague. He likes having many lovers to choose from like a buffet and being tied down would ruin that. He's one of the most desirable and eligible men in New York so he wants to have fun while he still can. Marriage isn't something that ever interested him until he met you. He can't help but feel like the two of you could make a beautiful life together. He's not yet ready to admit these feelings to you but giving up his lifestyle of rotational lovers in favor of exclusivity with you is a start.

G - Gentle (How gentle is he both physically and emotionally)

He's a gentleman so is very gentle physically. Of course he doesn't want to hurt you and loves pampering you at every opportunity. As far as emotional gentleness, he still has some learning to do. It's not that he enjoys hurting your feelings; far from it! But he's brash, arrogant, and used to getting his way which causes him to be insensitive at times especially to things he doesn't understand.

H - Hugs (Does he like hugs? How often does he do it and what are they like?)

He's not really much of a hugger unless you consider his embraces while making out "hugs." Catch doesn't hug often but when he does he usually opts for a side hug or a brief front hug if it's a friend.

I - I Love You (how fast does he say the "L" word?)

"I love you" falls off his lips easily....a little too easily. During his philandering days it wasn't an issue for him to say it to get what he wanted. Now, getting him to say it and mean it is a whole different ball game. Vulnerability is not one of his strengths. While the love he feels for you is genuine, it's still a new feeling for him. Be prepared to wait awhile to hear him confess his love.

J - Jealousy (How jealous does he get? What is he like when jealous?)

Catcher is a jealous man through and through. A bit ironic considering his background. He keeps his cool though and doesn't make a scene. He doesn't need to. Everyone knows who he is. A steely gaze and a snide comment is enough to send a suitor packing. When the two of you go out, you're practically joined at the hip and he makes sure everyone knows you're an item with his public displays of affection.

K - Kisses (What are his kisses like? Where does he like to kiss you? Where does he like to be kissed?)

Kisses with Catch are very heated and he loves making out anytime, anywhere. He likes to kiss a trail from your mouth, down your jaw, to your neck where he lavishes you with tender kisses and gentle bites. He likes to be kissed around his ears. It's a major weakness for him. His whole suave persona crumbles when you kiss the shell of his ear. Give him a nip and nuzzle and he's putty in your hands.

L - Little Ones (How is he around kids?)

Catcher says he wants a big family one day but how he acts tells a different story. Simply put, children and Catcher don't mix. Occasionally, a young boy who looks up to him will ask for an autograph and he'll oblige. Otherwise, he's content to not interact with them. It's in the best interest of his suits after all.

M - Morning (What are mornings like with him?)

Since Catcher started his "New Man" era, he knows that he can't spend the night with you as the temptation to *ahem* get to know you "all the way better" would be too strong. Therefore, on weekdays, your mornings together start at work. If he's not traveling, you share a pot of coffee in his office before starting your hectic workday. You guys chat about how your evening was, how you slept, etc. On weekends, he picks you up to go out for breakfast or you attempt cooking together which is always a fun experience.

N - Night (How are nights spent with him?)

Catcher takes you on a date somewhere new every night! He loves the nightlife and sharing new experiences with you. Sometimes, you like to have a more calm evening by enjoying an intimate dinner before slow dancing to his extensive music collection. He always walks you back to your apartment and you end the night with a lingering kiss.

O - Open (When does he open up about himself?)

When it comes to physical intimacy, Catcher Block is bar none. But emotional intimacy? Well, he's a tough nut to crack. His debonair persona, while flashy and alluring, doesn't have much substance. He is very keen on making sure that people only know about him what he wants them to know. It takes him several weeks to get there so it's very special when he does let his guard down and shares his heart with you fully. This vulnerability usually happens in the quiet moments of life together. Sitting on the veranda watching the sunset, reading together on a rainy day, or enjoying a quiet Sunday breakfast. Moments when he doesn't have to be The Man About Town™️, just your man.

P - Patience (How easily angered is he?)

99% of the time Catcher is cool as a cucumber. The 1% of the time he gets riled up is because someone insulted his sex appeal, journaling skills, or you. At that point you might as well step out of the way and let him do what he does best: destroy the offender with an exposé.

Q - Quizzes (How much does he remember about you?)

He's capable of remembering a lot about you, however, because he's had so many partners during his playboy days, he sometimes confuses an ex's info with yours 😬.

R - Remember (Favorite memory with you?)

Catcher's favorite memory with you is of the first time your bond began to form. You got to accompany Catcher to Japan while he worked on an article. It was there that you both were introduced to karaoke by the man you were interviewing. It would be offensive to turn him down so you nervously went through with it. Turns out, Catcher is actually a good singer! The two of you grew more comfortable as the night went on and even sang several duets! Catcher was impressed with your willingness to put yourself out there for the job. Belting his heart out with you by his side felt like magic.

S - Security (How protective is he?)

He's not super protective. He knows that you can take care of yourself. If you couldn't, then you wouldn't be in the cutthroat world of journalism. Of course, that doesn't mean he won't always have your back.

T - Try (How much effort does he put in?)

Catcher is a man who believes in going above and beyond. It's how he become the best journalist in New York after all. He applies this mentality to anything he sets his mind on. Or in this case, anyone. He pulls out all the stops when wooing you and even after you start going steady. Of course, he doesn't want to seem like he's trying since that would ruin his laid back persona. But in his heart, he's genuinely eager to please.

U - Ugly (What are his bad habits?)

Let's just say that putting others first is not second nature to him. It's not that he goes out of his way to be selfish, he's just never had to share before. He's used to going where he wants and doing what he wants whenever he wants. He hasn't had a relationship deeper than a fling so thinking about how his decisions affect you doesn't really cross his mind. This also leads to another bad habit which is assuming that what he wants is also what you want.

V - Vanity (How concerned is he with his looks?)

VERY! Never a hair out of place or a wrinkle in his wardrobe. He's sexy and he knows it and you best believe he flaunts it.

W - Whole (Would he feel incomplete without you?)

He would be heartbroken if your relationship didn't work out and he does miss you when you're apart. However, he would be able to bounce back eventually though you'd always have a place in his heart.

X - Xtra (Random headcanon)

He's not quick to cry but the song "Moon River" never fails to make him misty-eyed.

Y - Yuck (Things he doesn't like in general or in a partner)

Catcher is very open to new experiences. His motto is: "I'll try anything once, twice if I like it" (wink wink). Therefore, someone who prefers living in a set routine or refuses to step outside their comfort zone isn't going to last in a relationship with him.

Z - Zzz (What is a sleep habit of his?)

He's a wild sleeper. Limbs all over the place, tossing and turning, all that jazz. He's also a blanket hog.

Infinite Sadness

I had a vision.

Technically a companion piece to this.