Jim Carrey (right) taking a stroll on a sunny day.

There is often a moment in an actor’s career that their place in celluloid history is stamped forever. Think of Clark Cable informing Scarlett that he frankly just couldn’t give a damn at the end of Gone with the Wind, Al Pacino vigorously inviting everyone to say hello to his little friend in Scarface, and even good old Arnold Schwarzenegger promising us that he’ll be back in The Terminator.

For Scottish actor Ewan McGregor, it’s the horrifying, yet hilarious scene in Trainspotting whereby he emerges from Scotland’s worst toilet that has stained audiences’ memory. But, have no fear, this week offers two new opportunities to surpass the mind-bending scenario of a man swimming about in a toilet accompanied by the soothing tones of Lou Reed.

First up is the latest film from Bad Santa scribes Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, whereby incarcerated family man Jim Carrey falls in love with McGregor’s inmate in the dramatic comedy I Love You Phillip Morris. With a delayed release schedule due to a heavy re-editing of the film’s homosexual content, the film has languished on the shelf, struggling to find a distributor. It remains to be seen just how successful this love story will be in warming Finnish hearts and offering a distraction from the arctic temperatures currently raging outdoors.

George Clooney with a friend.

McGregor’s second film on release this week sees him teaming up with George Clooney and Jeff Bridges as they tackle a very new age solution to war in The Men Who Stare at Goats. Based on a true story, McGregor’s journalist uncovers a crack secret unit of psychic warriors who tackle the horrors of such conflicts with the use of telepathy. Hmm. Truth is stranger than fiction.

Arriving in the shadow of the superb The Hurt Locker, its satirical stance just might provide some light relief from the tense Oscar favourite. Although advance word has been mixed, the combined weight of its stars should at the very least provide some entertaining performances – with or without a psychedelic toilet experience.

JAMES O’SULLIVAN - HT