Latest news with #LongWayRound
Los Angeles Times
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
‘The Chosen,' a celebration of Black life and motorcycle diaries for your weekend streaming
Welcome to Screen Gab, the newsletter for everyone who needs a break from politicians' interpretations of the Bible. The fifth season of 'The Chosen,' the faith-based TV series that has found success releasing select seasons in theaters, has begun its three-week rollout on Prime Video. George Xanthis, who plays John the Apostle, stopped by Guest Spot to discuss the show. Also in this week's Screen Gab, our streaming recommendations include a documentary that delves into the origin story of New Orleans' first Black Mardi Gras krewe, and the latest installment in the travelogue adventures of actors/BFFs Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, known for their motorcycle journeys in 'Long Way Round' and 'Long Way Down.' This time, the pair is riding from McGregor's home in Scotland to Boorman's in England. Must-read stories you might have missed Is it too late to reverse Hollywood's runaway production? Writers on the 'stark' reality: Writers from six of the year's most entertaining and acclaimed TV series open up about runaway production, the binge model and tuning out (or into) social media. In 'The Waterfront,' 'Dawson's Creek' creator Kevin Williamson returns to his gritty roots: The main characters in the new Netflix series are a multigenerational cast of adults whose lives are glossier and grittier than what audiences remember from the 'Dawson's' gang. Before social media, Barbara Walters said 'Tell Me Everything.' And many did: A new documentary coming to Hulu recounts Walters' groundbreaking TV career from the early days of 'Today' to 'The View.' A dream team reunites to bring zombie horror home again in '28 Years Later': Director Danny Boyle, screenwriter Alex Garland and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle return to the terrifying world they created for 2002's '28 Days Later.' Recommendations from the film and TV experts at The Times 'A King Like Me' (Netflix) Matthew O. Henderson has made a lively, lovely documentary about the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club of New Orleans, preeminent among the krewes that parade on Mardis Gras. (You will know them by the painted coconuts they toss, their makeup and grass skirts.) It's a history, a celebration and a disquisition, whose interests range from the benevolent societies that provided a form of neighborhood insurance, to the electioneering of men hoping to become that year's king — Louis Armstrong served in 1949 — to surviving racism, Katrina and COVID (or not). The question is raised of whether the Zulus, Black men who have paraded in a sort of altered blackface and 'African' dress for more than 100 years, should give up the long-controversial makeup or preserve it as a generations-old tradition; Henderson doesn't take a side, but lets his subjects have their nuanced say. And as any film about New Orleans must, it's full of music and food, hanging out and dancing in the streets. — Robert Lloyd 'Long Way Home' (AppleTV+) When 'Outlander' debuted on Starz in August 2014, many Americans were as dazzled by Scotland, with its looming fells, pristine lakes and lyrical accents as they were by the time traveling love story. Since then, Scotland has become the new England, at least on television. Streamers are bursting with all manner of Scottish series, from the classics ('Rebus,' the 2000s original available on BritBox and the remake, on ViaPlay) to the brand new ('Dept. Q' on Netflix). In between are shows too numerous and diverse to name but given my penchant for murder mysteries, it is not surprising that my favorites include: 'Case Histories' (Acorn TV, Tubi), 'Shetland' (BritBox), 'The Loch' (BritBox), 'Karen Pirie' (BritBox) and 'Annika' (PBS) — all of which offer breathtaking scenery, ancient stone edifices and, most important, a glowering, windswept alternative to Los Angeles, particularly in summer That's exactly what I was looking for when I tuned into 'Long Way Home' on Apple TV+. The fourth installment of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman's motorcycle adventures around the world begins at McGregor's Scottish home, winds its way through Scandinavia into the Arctic, thence through the Baltic states and through continental Europe before finishing up back in Scotland. Having no European vacation plans of my own, it seemed a fine visual substitute; McGregor is always a charming screen presence, as is Boorman. It's been five years since they joined forces for 'Long Way Down,' 20 since their first trip in 'Long Way Round,' and watching two 50-somethings hitch themselves onto vintage bikes to embark on a 19,000-mile journey to the Arctic and back is pretty inspiring — even if one of them has a name and face that guarantees a certain starstruck quality from even citizens of rural Finland and both have a multiperson camera crew/backup team should anything go seriously wrong. Unlike other travelogues, this series does not linger over cuisine, haute or otherwise (there is a continual quest for coffee), aiming instead for a scattering of local crafts, traditions and events. The ever-shifting landscape is, in fact, amazingly beautiful, the people they meet along the way are often quite fascinating. The best parts, of course, are the unexpected bad weather, an unexpected road closure, an impromptu concertand mosquitoes. The bikes grumble and occasionally break down, as do the 50-somethings, which is reassuring to us ordinary folk who get to see the glory of all without having to straddle a motorcycle for two months. At 10 episodes that average 40 minutes, 'Long Way Home' covers a lot of ground in a way that is both slow and speedy. My only complaint? Not nearly enough Scotland. — Mary McNamara A weekly chat with actors, writers, directors and more about what they're working on — and what they're watching Season 5 of 'The Chosen,' the TV series about the life of Jesus that became a surprise hit, already played in movie theaters earlier this year, but fans looking for ways to fill prime rest hours can now watch all eight episodes at home. Created by Dallas Jenkins, the faith-based drama has attracted a devoted audience since its premiere in 2017 with its look at Jesus' life and teachings — and has found success leaning into an unconventional distribution strategy, with theatrical releases of Seasons 3 through 5 that have made millions at the box office. The first two episodes of the fifth season, which is titled 'Last Supper' and chronicles the events of Holy Week, are available to stream on Prime Video, with the next three episodes dropping Sunday, before concluding with another three-episode release on June 29. Australian actor George Xanthis, who plays John the Apostle, stopped by Guest Spot via email to talk about the show's success and the Pixar film that's become scripture to him. — Yvonne Villarreal 'The Chosen' is striking a chord with an underserved audience often overlooked by major Hollywood studios. As an actor, did you feel any stigma about venturing into faith-based content? What has the experience of making it — and the response to it — illuminated for you? I'll start by saying that upon reading the first episode and finding out I was playing a 'fisherman' by the name of 'John,' I actually had no idea the project was faith-based! I think that tells you where this series has found success — it doesn't read or play like something that is strictly faith-based, or something that is attempting to convert you. It's a show about the real people that would have lived through first century Judea, how they battled against crippling Roman occupation and how they found refuge in a peaceful, love-preaching Rabbi. I guess I didn't have time to feel any stigma, and before I knew it, we were a megahit all around the globe! For the audience, there's often a blurring of lines between performer and role. That would seem to be an interesting dynamic when portraying a figure of faith — how do you grapple with that push and pull of serving as a conduit for someone's relationship to their faith while maintaining your grip on your function as an actor? The show's success has come from taking these 'saints' in the apostles and bringing them away from the paintings and iconography we recognize and telling an origin story that audiences can relate to. At the end of the day, I am not necessarily depicting a saint as a figure of faith, but rather, I am a fisherman from Capernaum with a hot temperament learning to control his impulses with the lessons of love and compassion his Rabbi is teaching him. It's important to respect people's identification with these figures in whatever way they want to, but for me the best feedback I've received from fans about my portrayal of John has been how they see parts of themselves in John, when he makes mistakes, when he learns from his mistakes, when he makes them AGAIN and so on. You've played real-life figures like George Stephanopoulos in 'Impeachment: American Crime Story' and John Travolta in an Olivia Newton-John TV biopic. How does your approach and your mission with those known figures compare to what you're striving to achieve with your portrayal of John the Apostle? I started out in this industry in comedy, both stand-up and sketch comedy. A large part of my comedic success has come from doing impressions and impersonating notable people. When I got the roles of John Travolta and George Stephanopoulos, my process was the same as any impression — find the voice, find the body, mold myself into the people based on what I could see of them and mimic them as well as I could. With John [the Apostle], I'm depicting a real person but I don't have the luxury of watching videos of him. So instead, the character arc helps govern my character building. An eager-to-please 'Son of Thunder' has a short temper, sometimes waning patience but at the center of him is a compassionate soul who always looks out for others he cares about. It means my palate to play with is quite broad, and John's temperament for any given moment usually exists somewhere between these extremes of 'thunder' and 'love.' What have you watched recently that you're recommending to everyone you know? The most recent series I finished was 'Peaky Blinders' (Netflix). Being an Australian and part of the Commonwealth, British-based television holds a special place in my heart, and I loved watching Birmingham come to life through the brutal eyes of Thomas Shelby. It's a bucket list item of mine to be in a British film or series watching so much of it growing up. Here's to hoping! What's your go-to comfort watch, the film or TV show you return to again and again? There are so many, but becoming a new father, I realized just how much I have watched 'Toy Story' (Disney+) and how much time I still have for that film. I'll still watch it on planes as I make the 14-hour commute between Australia and the U.S. when there's nothing else to watch. Fun fact: I can quote the movie word-for-word from beginning to end. Pick a moment, and I can carry on the movie verbatim — voices, music, sound effects and all!
The Herald Scotland
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Has Ewan McGregor mellowed or is he still a Mr Grumpy Chops?
Back in 2004 they were just two skinny drifters on motorbikes, off to see the world, and what a lot of it there was to see in Long Way Round (London to New York), Down (John O'Groats to Capetown); and Up (Ushuaia in Argentina to LA. Now the pair are back with Long Way Home (Apple TV+). The route will take them from Scotland to England via 17 European countries. Like their chosen bikes, both men are now of a certain vintage, MAMILS in leather rather than Lycra, and in the case of Boorman with a long and painful history of repairs. For all those reasons and more - that title for a kick off - Long Way Home felt like a farewell. As McGregor said in the first episode, film companies don't like you heading off on motorbikes. Think of the insurance for a start. But here they were, Charley and Ewan, or Ewan and Charley if you prefer. It always seemed like McGregor was the alpha of the pair, the more charismatic but grumpier one. Now in his fifties, had time mellowed him? As the halfway point approached, the pair were in Norway, having been through Germany, Denmark, and Sweden. So far there had been no outbreak of the Victor Meldrews on McGregor's part, though he looked narked when a kid in Sweden pumped up the volume in his Volvo sound system. McGregor issued a word to the wise about hearing damage, but that was it. With megabucks Apple TV+ now running the show there had been an upgrade in everything. The stop-offs were more interesting, and the back-up consisted of a third-person motorcycle escort plus a small crew in two electric trucks. Apart from that, the pair are all alone out there (eye roll number two). Read more I shouldn't mock because the back-up was needed when someone took a slight spill which could have been much worse. 'It's a pleasure riding with you Ewan,' said Boorman. 'It's been a pleasure riding with you too Charley, as always,' came the reply. If this is the last hurrah they are going out in style and, in McGregor's case, in a most unspanner-like way. Safe home, boys. Scotland's Home of the Year (BBC1, Monday) has a reputation as a no-snark zone. So when a whiff of trouble enters paradise, as it did this week, it stands out like a broken window in a Bearsden cul-de-sac. The first contender for the Highlands and Islands top spot was Tiny Skye Cabin, a small but perfectly formed structure down a dirt path. The interior was a study in minimalism. On the floor was a brown, indeterminate animal skin. It could have come from a sheep or a small bear. At least it cosied the place up a little, unlike the 'sofa', which was a wooden bench. 'This is SO comfortable,' said Danny in what must surely be the first sarky remark in the show's history. Overall the extreme Ikea vibe was not cutting it with the judges. Oh, they praised aspects here and there, and judge Banjo caused giggles in the wet room when he 'accidentally' turned the shower on, but there was no getting away from it. The homeowners had committed the ultimate SHOTY crime of offences against soft furnishings - mainly by not having them. 'I feel like we're in Marie Kondo's house,' said judge Banjo, referencing the Netflix organising queen. 'She says throw it out if it doesn't spark joy. These guys have thrown a lot of stuff out.' Much more the judges' cuppa was An Cala Cottage on Skye. The traditional bungalow, home to Caroline, Lee, and their collie Nuala, had been transformed using colour, charity shop finds and a custom-made bookcase. 'It's simple and unapologetic, and maybe a bit scruffy. I quite like it,' said Danny. An Cala took first place. It was a cosy spot, but the score was the same as last week's modernist masterpiece in Central and Tayside. Do the two really compare? That's a battle for the final. Rose Ayling-Ellis is having a moment. Make that more than a moment. Since winning Strictly she hasn't put a foot wrong, and this week she took on her first lead role in the crime drama Code of Silence (STV, Sunday-Monday). It was an above-par piece by writer Catherine Moulton (Baptiste, Hijack), but by far the best thing about it was Ayling-Ellis. She played Alison Brooks, a young deaf woman washing pots in a local branch of His Majesty's constabulary in Canterbury, Kent. Called upstairs to CID one day, she was told 'all our lip readers are busy on other jobs' and would she mind helping out? There was no time to stop and ponder whether that would happen because too much else was going on. Like Alison, the viewer was dropped into the middle of a fast-moving investigation and had to crack on regardless. In another life, this clever young woman might be rising through the CID ranks herself instead of being paid minimum wage to help them out now and then. Not that Moulton, herself hearing-impaired, would be so crass as to point this out. Instead, the look on Alison's face said it all. Used to feeling invisible and excluded by her disability, she was now 'seen' and accepted. She could get used to this. 'I don't want to be hearing,' she said. 'I just want them to be a bit deaf.' The same lightness of touch was seen in the way Code of Silence handled lip-reading. As Alison watched, words and parts of words floated onto the screen before swimming into focus. Clarkson's Farm (Amazon Prime Video) returned for a fourth series. Confession time: I've never watched it. As a bunny-hugging veggie feminist Scot, I just assumed there was nothing in it I would enjoy and a lot that would irritate. But as a TV critic that lily-livered attitude will not do. The show is a global hit, with fans trekking from all over the world to Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm in Chipping Norton to worship their beer-bellied God. Must be something in it, right? Which was how I came to spend an evening watching a young farmer lead a packed theatre in a singalong of The Combine Harvester (Brand New Key) and thinking the English were a weird lot. On stage was Kaleb Cooper, Clarkson's farm manager. In the new series, Kaleb has run off to join the showbiz circus, leaving Jezza on his tod. He was not happy. 'I'm thrilled to bits for Kaleb,' he said, fighting his way through the mud and rain to feed the pigs. 'I'm not a socialist. I want him to do well. I want him to make money. I want him one day to be able to buy his own farm. But he has left me a little bit in the lurch.' Scene after scene followed of Clarkson stuffing things up. When not out in the fields he was at his desk, filling in forms to get government money. He was like The Archers' Brian Aldridge, but useless. Help arrived in the form of Harriet, a young agency farmer. She was a tea person, Clarkson was coffee, but somehow they got along. Was there any chance they wouldn't? That said, the whole enterprise stands or falls on its central character. If you don't care for him, his earthy humour, his general jeans-wearing old fogey schtick, there was unlikely to be anything to detain you here. Tiny Skye Cabin was a masterclass in minimalism (Image: PHOTOGRAPHER:IWC Media) Long stretches of not very much happening followed. He ordered eight tractors to test-drive and they all turned up at once. I think it was supposed to be hilarious. I could have also done without the pigs going off to slaughter. But there were moments when he put all that 'stuff and nonsense' bluster to one side and came across as a decent sort, as when he and Harriet chat about farming's toll on mental health, particularly among young men. As for how much time I'd like to spend with him in future, not sure. If he gave up the meat and became more of a Paul and Linda McCartney, Mull of Kintyre-type farmer, maybe. But you can bet whatever farm you like - that's never going to happen.
Scotsman
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Long Way Chat Ticket Presale and Prices: Here's how to see Ewan McGregor live on stage talking epic motorbike journeys
One of Scotland's biggest ever movie stars will be appearing at a one-off live event talking about his travels with his best friend. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Best known for a string of roles in blockbuster films, Scottish actor Ewan McGregor has a sideline in organising epic motorcycle adventures. David Alexanian, Charley Boorman, Ewan McGregor and Russ Malkin are putting on a special one-off live show. | Contributed It was back in 2004 when he filmed Long Way Round for Sky One, setting off on a journey from London to New York with pal Charley Boorman - travelling through Europe, Asia, and Alaska. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Long Way Down followed in 2007 on BBC Two, which saw the duo ride from John o' Groats in Scotland, through 18 countries, to Cape Town in South Africa. It took another 13 years for the next adventure to be organised and filmed for AppleTV - Long Way Up documented a journey from Ushuaia in Argentina, through South and Central America, to Los Angeles in the United States. And this year the fourth in the series arrived, with Long Way Home a circular journey through 17 European countries, starting from Ewan McGregor's home in Scotland and Charley Boorman's house in England. To mark the most recent series - and 20 years of motorcycle adventures - the pair will be appearing at a special live event, entitled Long Way Chat. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tickets are likely to be fairly popular - so here's everything you need to know to bag a couple. When is Long Way Chat taking place? The one-off event will be taking place on Saturday, August 30. Where is Long Way Chat taking place? The Long Way Chat will take place at Nottingham's Motopoint Arena. It's a five hour drive from the Central Belt of Scotland - or around six hours by train - so it's a fair trek from Scottish fans. At least it's on a Saturday though, so you can make a weekend of it. When do tickets for Long Way Chat go on sale? Tickets go on public sale at 10am on Friday, May 23, here. Is there a presale for Long Way Chat? Sign up here to be sent a presale code to access ticket for Long Way Chat early, from 10am on Thursday, May 22. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad How much are tickets for Long Way Chat? The cheapeast tickets are priced at £47.59, with other price bandings at £58.89, £76.40, and £110.30. What will happen at Long Way Chat? Here's what the advance publicity for the show promises: 'Experience the thrill of adventure with Long Way Chat, an exclusive live event inspired by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman's iconic motorcycle journeys: Long Way Round, Long Way Down, Long Way Up and their most recent series Long Way Home (all streaming on Apple TV+). This immersive show brings fans face-to-face with the stories behind the cameras, offering a dynamic blend of storytelling, film footage, and behind-the-scenes insights from the road. 'Hosted in an intimate setting, Ewan and Charley, along with their long-time collaborators, David Alexanian and Russ Malkin, take the stage to relive the highs and lows of their global expeditions—battling harsh climates, embracing local cultures, and forging unforgettable bonds. The event includes some unseen footage and personal anecdotes that highlight the duo's friendship and resilience. 'Long Way Chat captures the spirit of adventure and the emotional depth of their journeys. Audience members will also have the opportunity to engage with the stars of the series. Audience members will be asked to send in questions before the event and, if chosen, will get a chance to participate in a Q&A, making it a chance to connect with two of the most iconic travel companions in modern documentary history. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Long Way Chat is more than a show—it's a celebration of discovery, endurance, and the open road.'
Car and Driver
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman Hit the Road on Vintage Motorcycles in 'Long Way Home'
Good buddies going on a road-trip adventure is such a regular television offering that it can be hard to remember that there was a time when a reality-TV travel show was rare new ground. Sure, there was On the Road with Charles Kuralt, and Huell Howser's California's Gold, but for the most part, the actual journey in those shows was edited out. It was the destination that got the air time. Then, in 2004, actors Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman showed viewers that the way one traveled could be as entertaining as where one ended up. In Long Way Round, McGregor and Boorman rode BMW motorcycles across 12 countries, from England through Asia to end in America. The footage seems quaint now, some of it fuzzy and low-res by today's standards, but it brought the idea of dual sport and adventure bikes to a more mainstream audience. It feels sort of silly to say LWR popularized road trips, when stories of on-the-road adventures go back to Homer's Odyssey, but McGregor and Boorman's obvious enjoyment of their time on the road inspired viewers to take their own trips—and certainly led to many more reality travel shows. AppleTv+ AppleTv+ 1974 Moto Guzzi El Dorado. AppleTv+ 1973 BMW R75/5. AppleTv+ AppleTv+ AppleTv+ AppleTv+ Elana Scherr Senior Editor, Features Like a sleeper agent activated late in the game, Elana Scherr didn't know her calling at a young age. Like many girls, she planned to be a vet-astronaut-artist, and came closest to that last one by attending UCLA art school. She painted images of cars, but did not own one. Elana reluctantly got a driver's license at age 21 and discovered that she not only loved cars and wanted to drive them, but that other people loved cars and wanted to read about them, which meant somebody had to write about them. Since receiving activation codes, Elana has written for numerous car magazines and websites, covering classics, car culture, technology, motorsports, and new-car reviews. In 2020, she received a Best Feature award from the Motor Press Guild for the C/D story "A Drive through Classic Americana in a Polestar 2." In 2023, her Car and Driver feature story "In Washington, D.C.'s Secret Carpool Cabal, It's a Daily Slug Fest" was awarded 1st place in the 16th Annual National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards by the Los Angeles Press Club. Read full bio
The Courier
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
Ewan McGregor reunites with Crieff pipe band at £2m Glencarse home in Apple TV series
Ewan McGregor can be seen playing a tune with his former pipe band in his new Apple TV series. McGregor is joined by the Morrison's Academy Pipe Band at his £2 million Glencarse mansion in Long Way Home. The show sees the actor join Charley Boorman as they embark on a motorcycle journey to England, via Scandinavia. The duo have reunited to celebrate 20 years of the first series, Long Way Round. Before they leave his Glencarse home for Newcastle, Ewan informs the crew that the pipe band will perform for them. He said: 'I used to be a side drummer in this band. 'My dad, before me, and my uncle. I come from a long line of drummers.' Joined by his dad James as the band arrive, Ewan is taking aback by how many pupils appeared at his house. He said: 'Massive band, isn't it? It was, like, nine of us in the band I was in. 'Wait until they crack off, it gets the hairs on the back of your neck.' The band then play a rendition of The Green Hills of Tyrol, with McGregor joining them on the drums. Ewan's mum, Carol, calls the performance 'far too emotional'. After an emotional goodbye with his wife, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and son Laurie, Ewan and Charley begin their journey. They were led by the private school's band. In December, the 54-year-old's application to refurbish the windows of the B-listed gate lodge and install new double-glazing units was approved by the council. The show is available to watch on Apple TV+.
