Manny The Movie Guy /

I've adored Ewan McGregor since his career-making turn in 1996's "Trainspotting." Since then, the actor has jumped from making big blockbusters like the "Star Wars" movies (Episodes I to III) to making small, independent films like his current Focus Features release, "Beginners."

He plays Oliver in the film, an ebullient but depressed artist who never really becomes close to his father, Hal (the wonderful Christopher Plummer), until the latter comes out of the closet at 75. Five years later, he dies.

"Beginners" is a quasi-tragicomic film that is emotionally rich and undeniably human. It's writer/director Mike Mills' homage to his real father who also came out at 75. The film speaks volumes about finding oneself amidst adversities. In this interview, we talked about:

• How writer/director Mike Mills' letter convinced the actor to play the part
• Working with Mills
• How he bonded with Plummer
• His rollercoaster relationship with Melanie Laurent ("Inglourious Basterds") -- how Six Flags Magic Mountain helped!
• Working with his canine co-star, Cosmo, and his new dog!
• Finding our own history of sadness

Here's more info on "Beginners" from Yahoo:

Oliver meets the irreverent and unpredictable Anna only months after his father Hal has passed away. This new love floods Oliver with memories of his father who -- following 44 years of marriage -- came out of the closet at age 75 to live a full, energized, and wonderfully tumultuous gay life. The upheavals of Hal's new honesty, by turns funny and moving, brought father and son closer than they'd ever been able to be. Now Oliver endeavors to love Anna with all the bravery, humor, and hope that his father taught him.

• Genres: Drama
• Release Date: June 3rd, 2011 (limited)
• MPAA Rating: R for language and some sexual content.
• Distributors: Focus Features
• Cast and Credits
• Starring: Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, Mélanie Laurent
• Directed by: Mike Mills