Afternoon Greg: Postcard from Palm Springs

Having a great time in the desert with one of my BFF’s who is in from out of town for a few weeks.

Spent the morning by the pool then had lunch at El Mirasol restaurant which has the best food, best margaritas and best ambience in town. Then we escaped the afternoon heat by taking in a movie at the Regal Cinema downtown. We saw State of Play starring Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck. Rachel McAdams and Helen Mirren. Before I share a few thoughts on the movie itself, gotta tell you about the theater which is one of those state-of-the-art places with roomy black leather seats, leg room galore, and so much space between you and the person next to you that it is impossible to whisper any kind of remark to your companion.

We had to endure not one, not two, but three commercials about turning off your cell phone. The third one got stuck so it remained on the screen for about 10 minutes at least, delaying the start of the movie. The woman sitting behind us took a call during the delay which we found funny then, just as the movie finally began, the cell phone of the man in front of us rang. He answered it.

So much for effective commercials.

Anyway, the movie was a pretty good political-journalism thriller with Crowe as the star reporter for a Washington daily newspaper, McAdams as a young online columnist, Mirren as the editor and Affleck as the US congressman. Robin Wright Penn has a small role as Affleck’s wife. The film had its flaws and was not entirely realistic (imagine that!) but I enjoyed it. Brad Pitt was supposed to play the Crowe role but dropped out at the last minute because he dod not like the script. I really can’t imagine anyone but Crowe in this part – he’s just terrific.

As someone who worked for newspapers for more than 20 years and does not anymore, the movie made me a bit nostalgic for the days when newspapers were not in such trouble and for when I was running around filled with ambition and energy covering crime, courts and politics.

I wouldn’t want to do it now but I’m so glad I did it then.