I saw The Rocker on Friday night. I love Rainn Wilson on The Office, he plays a character named Dwight Shrute who somehow manages to steal the show. (In my opinion.) I wasn’t sure what to expect out of his feature debut as the lead character, though I had appreciated his cameo in Juno, and his roles in My Super Ex-Girlfriend and The Last Mimzy. This was really HIS film. He carried it off admirably. Rainn Wilson has such an unusual charisma about him, both dorky and charming, likable and vaguely off putting at the same time that he is a real magnet for the eye on screen. You are literally waiting to see what he will do next, his face can make the strangest gross out contortions and then moments later look bereft and all little boy lost. In this film he plays a man stuck in a moment that happened 20 years ago when he was booted from a band that went on to great fame. He has burned with rage ever since and when his Emo nephew asks Fish (Rainn) to sit in as the drummer for the Prom gig his band ADD has managed to scare up, all hell breaks loose. While the plot can be a bit predictable, what’s fresh are the supporting actors who play ADD, the nephew’s band. A couple of faces will be familiar from SuperBad. The performances all around add depth and development to the relationships in the film which relieve it of the one note gimmick it could have been in the wrong hands. Poignant and sweet with a clear message. I.E. hope and optimism and the values of friendship versus the values of shallow, self serving, self promoting pursuit of fame and wealth. Overall a nice little pic. A perfect Friday night flick. Also the added benefit of seeing it at the Grandin.
On Saturday a good friend from Greensboro came up to visit and we had lunch at Metro to try their new Emma pies, kind of like a little popover invented by the owner’s 5 year old daughter. It was ham and Gruyere cheese rolled into fresh baked yeast rolls. In theory it sounded wonderful and for only $6, with hand cut fries, quite a deal. Only, it came to the table cold which was a real disappointment. I enjoyed the fries and had a nice cup of very fragrant Revolution Teas Earl Grey. They have a semi decent selection of teas there, though I have to mention they do not carry my two favorites, staples in my estimation: Rooibos and English Breakfast. Since I ate there for dinner on Friday at Sushi Happy Hour as well, I feel like I should get frequent flier miles or something. I did get OpenTable points. 🙂 After lunch we went to see Tropic Thunder. Again for me, which was twice as good as the first time. No, wait, just as funny the second time around. I also read about a new film with RDJ coming out soon called The Soloist, perhaps then I can slake my thirst with a bit more screen time for him. After that I had to rush home to get attired for work. I served at an 80th birthday party for a judge. He and his wife were wonderfully sweet and charming and I enjoyed working with them and my team mates to ensure the party met their expectations. One funny thing happened, the wife wanted to add confetti streamers to the tables and had brought them, but couldn’t figure out how to unfurl them. I say funny because every child in Mobile, Alabama has thrown reams of those streamers at Mardi Gras, so it was interesting to use a childhood skill in this capacity. She was happy I was able to take care of it for her because she was really having the dickens of a time with it. We served the wine and cheese, and several vodka tonics along with it. Grey Goose was the most popular brand with this crowd. Then they had shrimp cocktail, salad and a plated dinner before we led them in the singing of the traditional birthday anthem for the guest of honor. A lovely party all in all. It did run late which was a shame.
I had to dash home, jump in the shower and get all dressed to go out with my friend for a drink. We went back to Metro, which turns into a nightclub after 10 and had a Stoli Cosmo and danced to a great mix starting with Viva La Vida by Coldplay all spun by a visiting DJ. We then headed over to 202 for a little Latin salsa to close out the evening. With all of that I slept in this morning, only dragging myself out of the house in time to meet for a late breakfast at noon at Ye Olde Cracker Barrel. Comfort Food. Just a scrambled egg and biscuit, and a nice cuppa tea and then we went off to the mall to window shop for a while. We talked and browsed the book store before I got dropped off at church for the 5pm service where I was reading the Prayers of the People and my friend headed back to Greensboro to tutor a student.
I’m in a real Amy Winehouse mood for some reason. A couple of her songs have been with me for the last 2 days so those will be my songs of the moment. One is a little melancholy and is about waking up alone and missing someone you care about. It’s very atmospheric, moody and filled with a mixture of longing and fear. Interesting song. It’s called Wake Up Alone. 
The other Winehouse song that has been playing the back of my head is You Know I’m No Good. I pretty much like this one because of the very creative and tangible writing style she uses, the language is fantastic, one line is “…and sniff me out like I was Tanqueray”. This song kind of lingers with you. As much as I dislike her lifestyle and choices, she certainly spins dross into gold. What a talent. But to finish on a high note, this last song has to be my happy summer song, Mr. Jason Mraz has delivered the goods before with Wordplay, and I’m Yours is even better because he’s not bragging about his Mad Skillz, but instead singing about unexpectedly falling for someone. Take a listen.
Here are the Lyrics to I’m Yours for those of you who can’t bear to click links. All my links do open New Windows or Apps (Like iTunes) though, as that is a pet peeve of mine. I hate being made to leave the page I am on.
I’m Yours: By Jason Mraz
Well you done done me and you bet I felt it
I tried to be chill but you’re so hot that I melted
I fell right through the cracks
and now I’m trying to get back
Before the cool done run out
I’ll be giving it my bestest
And nothing’s going to stop me
but divine intervention
I reckon it’s again my turn
to win some or learn some
But I won’t hesitate
no more
no more
It cannot wait
I’m yours
Well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you’re free
I look into your heart and you’ll find love love love love
Listen to the music of the moment, people dance and sing
We’re just one big family
And it’s our God-forsaken right to be loved loved loved loved loved
So I won’t hesitate no more, no more It cannot wait,
I’m sure There’s no need to complicate,
our time is short
This is our fate,
I’m yours
Do-da-do do dooj, do dooja, d-d-do, do you want to come?
Scooch on over closer dear,
and I will nibble your ear
Oh yes love, love love love love love
Love you love, love you love
I’ve been spending way too long
checking my tongue in the mirror
And bending over backwards just to try to see it clearer
But my breath fogged up the glass
And so I drew a new face and I laughed
I guess what I be saying is there ain’t no better reason
To rid yourself of vanities and just go with the seasons
It’s what we aim to do, our name is our virtue
But I won’t hesitate
no more, no more
It cannot wait,
I’m yours
Come on and open up your mind and see like me
(I won’t hesitate)
Open up your plans and damn you’re free
(No more, no more)
I look into your heart and you’ll find that the sky is yours
(It cannot wait, I’m sure)
So please don’t, please don’t, there’s no need
(There’s no need to complicate) There’s no need to complicate
(Our time is short) ‘Cause our time is short
(This is our fate) This is, this is, this is our fate
I’m yours, I’m sayin’
I’m yours
The Gospel According to St.Jon 