Scotland may not be a big country, but it certainly is responsible for a good chunk of my pop culture joy.
Take, for example, the lovely and talented James McAvoy. Let's run down his case:
1. He was in the great little movie Starter for 10, which Mr. CR and I watched this weekend and thoroughly enjoyed.* Man, the Brits know how to make a good, bittersweet, romantic comedy, and they can do it in 90 minutes (unlike most recent American rom coms, which have been clocking in at 100+ lately). Set in 1980s England, McAvoy plays a nerdy university student who actually wants to know things, and tries out for his university's quiz team (to try and get on the quiz program "University Challenge"); along the way, of course, he finds himself torn between two very different girls. In the beginning of the movie he attends the British version of a college house party--and bless him for actually looking as awkward as I always felt at those things.
2. He married a woman several years his senior, and when an idiot radio interviewer asked him if he was sorry he got married in his late twenties, when he could have been using his fame to hook up with lots of women, he nicely pointed out that he was already hooking up with the one woman he really wanted to hook up with.
3. He's 5' 7", and I love short men. Also: Scottish accent. And: asking talk show hosts for permission to say certain words:
When I get more time, I'm going to go on a mini-McAvoy bender, including the miniseries State of Play and the movie The Last King of Scotland.
Number two in the triumvirate: Martin Millar. I've talked about him before, but I have a new book of his waiting for me at the library (Yay!) and Mr. CR is reading his SF novel Thraxas right now. Mr. Millar also struggles with agoraphobia (I relate; I can go outside but I can't say I typically enjoy it) and writes an amusing blog (recent headline: "Modern world continues to disappoint").
And then, of course, let's not forget glorious number three: Ewan McGregor. Although I am smitten with McAvoy right now, McGregor will always have a place in my heart, not only for his acting in such fabo flicks as Shallow Grave and Brassed Off (another great British bittersweet chick flick), but also for his beautiful uncontrolled laugh and interview style. Although I had pledged in the mid-1990s to never again watch a Tom Hanks movie (I hate him) or support Dan Brown (I hate him more) in any way, I may actually have to break down and see Angels and Demons because McGregor is in it.
So, thank you, Scotland. If I didn't already love you for containing Edinburgh, I'd certainly love you for the three reasons above.
*You know it's a watchable chick flick when I can get Mr. CR to sit through it.
Hate to break it to ya, Mrs. CR, but I don't think The Last King of Scotland is really about Scotland. :-P I think it's about a psychotic African dictator. Enjoy it!
Posted by: Brandon | 06 April 2009 at 11:52 AM
Brandon:
That's MS. CR to you. Let's keep this all nice and feminist.
I love how you crush all my dreams before I have a chance to do it myself.
:)
Yes, I am aware, although I thank you for pointing it out in case I hadn't been. But, it IS one of the few movies in which McAvoy gets to use his native accent, as he actually does play a Scotsman. Take that!
Have you seen it, BTW? Is it good, even though, you know, probably depressing as hell?
Posted by: Citizen Reader | 06 April 2009 at 12:03 PM
p.s. Brandon, have YOU read any Martin Millar? I know he's lighter than your typical fare but I'd be interested to hear what you think of him. Come on: "Modern world continues to disappoint"? That sounds like a writer you'd enjoy.
Posted by: Citizen Reader | 06 April 2009 at 12:04 PM
Great post! I'll definitely check out Millar! And, I hate Tom Hanks too - thanks for saying that!
Posted by: Laura | 06 April 2009 at 10:45 PM
Laura,
I would love to hear what you think about Millar. If you're not into the fantasy stuff as much, do try "Suzy, Led Zeppelin, and Me." I really, really liked it.
And--full disclosure--I should admit that Tom Hanks was a producer of "Starter for 10," but I watched and enjoyed it anyway. I'm still sticking to my "not watching movies he's in" credo though. Glad to find another non-fan out there--people always look at me like I'm a monster when I say I don't like Hanks!
Posted by: Citizen Reader | 07 April 2009 at 09:03 AM
No, I've never seen The Last King of Scotland, though I've always wanted to.
I've never read Millar, either. It's interesting that you point out how heavy my reading fare usually is. A friend and I have been discussing the kind of literature I read, and even she gets depressed just looking at my bookcases. So much so, in fact, she picked up The Joy Luck Club for me. I've been telling her how much 2666 has taken out of me, and she keeps saying, "You need a break, something lighter." I just find it a little amusing that I seem to have garnered a reputation for reading bleak, heavy stuff.
But I did get her to read The Road. Yee-haw!
Posted by: Brandon | 07 April 2009 at 02:11 PM
Okay, Brandon, we're just going to have to see who sees "The Last King of Scotland" first.
I only notice your reading is "heavy" because I'm so, so impressed when anyone actually takes on a big novel like "2666," which I think you've been enjoying. Didn't you do Don Quixote at one point too? Sheesh. I would never make it through either of those, probably. I just don't have the required attention span.
Do try Martin Millar if you get a chance. And congrats on getting others to read "The Road." Now THERE is a downer book.
Posted by: Citizen Reader | 08 April 2009 at 10:50 PM
But you haven't mentioned Sean Connery who just gets better.
Another FABULOUS scottish author - Andrew Greig.
Posted by: Heidi | 08 April 2009 at 11:50 PM
Heidi,
I have always liked Sean Connery, although I've never seen him as Bond. I will have to correct that.
Scotland forever!
And thank you for the scottish author tip--I'm off to check out Greig now.
Posted by: Citizen Reader | 09 April 2009 at 03:33 PM