The Long Way Round.

So, anyone who knows me well knows of my obsession with Ewan McGregor, which started six or seven years ago. After seeing him in an episode of "ER" and having him on my radar for a while, I decided, "Hmm, he's a pretty good actor. Let's see what else he has to offer." I delved into his body of work, and thus, my adoration began.

Yes, a lot of my attraction is rooted in the fact that he's damned hot--he pushes all of the Alexandra turn-on buttons: Celtic, boyish but masculine, funny, sexy and impish--but my appreciation goes deeper than that. I've always found him to be head and shoulders in talent above nearly every actor of my generation (and particularly over those who are younger). He has always put me in mind of the older greats--like the late Richard Burton, Albert Finney (and I noticed way before he played the younger version of Finney in Big Fish the striking resemblance...). As an actor, I've always appreciated his willingness to take risky roles (The Pillow Book, Velvet Goldmine), and dig himself feet-first into them, with unblinking commitment. His intuitiveness (at least as it appears on this side of the camera) as an actor is enviable.

Anyway, I've been meaning to watch his motorcycle documentary, The Long Way Round, since it came out, but it always seemed to get pushed back by other things. I picked it up the other day and consumed the whole thing in two days. For those not in the know, The Long Way Round features McGregor's bike journey with friend Charley Boorman from London, across Europe and Asia to New York. Literally. On motorcycles. Across 15 countries, and specifically through areas of Siberia and Russia that no one has dared to tread in decades--chock full of unnavigable dirt roads, washed out bridges, bears and lots and lots of mosquitoes.

The show was wrenching, funny and riveting. The insane journey, originally brainstormed by McGregor, took months to launch (people doubted they could do the trip, gee, wonder why?), and when finally mounted, presented challenges that even the über-prepared McGregor and Boorman (and stalwart support team) couldn't have envisioned. I found myself completely caught up in their trials, their triumphs, their emotional ups-and-downs.

The beautiful thing about this series was its examination of human endeavor and spirit. It was also an interesting look into the male psyche. Typically, when a man feels the need to conquer, he looks to bed as many women as possible to make himself feel more like a man. But after he becomes a committed husband and family man, what's left to conquer? The open road, of course! McGregor and Boorman's adventure was the contemporary equivalent of New World explorers launching out to sea. Watching the process of these two men becoming more of themselves the further they traveled was intoxicating. As Charley grew thinner and thinner and Ewan's beard grew to mountain-man proportions, their emotional layers continued to peel off with each successive video diary.

I can't recommend it enough. It was inspiring and incredibly uplifting. When I was preparing this blog, I looked up their website and discovered not only is there an extended 10-episode version of the series (it's on my public Amazon wishlist, *hint*), but they are currently on another journey together, this time traveling from Scotland to South Africa. I can't wait to see the next chapter in their travels. Safe journeys, good men--I wish I were with you. I may not be a man, and I may not ride a motorbike (although, now I'd really like to!), but the aching desire to be free, to explore and to evolve runs deep in me, too.

The Long Way Round