Almost Famous

Tonight I went to the movies by myself. I saw Almost Famous, which won the Oscar last night for Best Original Screenplay. I saw it at the AMC 24, just off Times Square, right near the huge Loews multiplex, right near Madame Tussaud’s, down the street from The Lion King, across from the American Airlines Theater and the Ford Center for the Performing Arts. There’s always something exciting about being in the Times Square area, breeding ground of American (and world) popular culture. I feel like I’m in the center of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, while all the teenagers out in Peoria stuff their faces, hoping desperately to find a golden ticket. Before the movie began, some soundtrack chosen by a corporate behemoth spewed out the latest pop tunes performed by people I’ll hear about next week.

There’s something satisfyingly cozy about going to see a good movie by yourself, especially on a weeknight. Nobody gives you weird looks, nobody cares, and you’re not the only person there alone. You can just sit there in the dark, forget about your daily life, and absorb yourself in the story on the screen.

Ahhh.

Tomorrow I have to go to Trenton to review a casefile for a memo I have to write, so I won’t be blogging until later in the afternoon… but I’ll get to ride for free on the comfortable New Jersey Transit commuter train, on which I’ll either sleep or read The Object of My Affection. I’m really enjoying it.