So I went with my dad and brother to see the movie 21 this past weekend.  I really dug the flick and was surprised to later learn that it was based on actual events, though the movie seemed to have taken a few knocks for the Hollywood treament it received.  Regardless, it was an engaging and entertaining ride and would definitely recommend. The weird thing for me, however, was the realization about a third of the way through the movie that I was actually in Las Vegas around the same time certain parts were being filmed, which was late April/early May of last year. 

One night, a couple of coworkers and I were stumbling out of the Mandalay Bay after spending a late evening at the Foundation Room.  Too tired to make the hike back to the Paris, we grabbed a cab.  About three blocks shy of the hotel, we stop at an intersection and two motorcycle cops roll in and block off traffic.  Two minutes later, a production van pulls onto the strip followed by a stretch limo and then a camera truck, effectively shutting down traffic to set up shop and start filming. 

Knowing that we weren’t going to be moving any time soon, we paid the cabbie and decide to hoof it the rest of the way and get a closer look at what’s going on.  As we stroll past, we can see into the limo.  The young actor staring out was doing that “holy crap, this is Vegas?” look that everyone does the first time they drive down the strip, but my buddies and I didn’t recognize him.  Not thinking too much of it, we continued on to our hotel and the sweet relief of sleep.

Turns out, that young actor was Jim Sturgess and they were filming the scenes of his character’s first trip to Sin City for the movie.  Crazy coincidence, no?