Hey folks, Harry here... This is the film that Linklater is banking on being a mainstream success - that film that gets him to a level where he can begin having films with significant budgets again. Not sure how I feel about that. Personally, I love Rick's made on a song flicks and feel that his double grand slam of WAKING LIFE and TAPE was one of the more significant artistic double-headers in recent film history. However, knowing that Rick wants to delve into films like Phillip K Dick's A SCANNER DARKLY - and knowing full well that that isn't a shoestring project, I'm rooting for this one greatly. For one... Jack Black does indeed rule! Second, the screenwriter - Mike White's previous two scripts... CHUCK & BUCK and ORANGE COUNTY were both films that I enjoyed a great deal. Released the same day as Tarantino's KILL BILL VOLUME ONE, Van Sant's ELEPHANT, the Coen Brothers' INTOLERABLE CRUELTY and Eastwood's MYSTIC RIVER... it's hitting on probably the biggest 'quality' weekend of film date this year. I wish them all the best!
I don't want to gush, but SCHOOL OF ROCK really rocks! Jack Black has (arguably) never been better, but the real story is the awesome child musicians.
For those who haven't heard of it yet, SCHOOL OF ROCK is the latest offering from RICHARD LINKLATER and JACK BLACK, written by Orange County and Chuck & Buck scribe Mike White (who also stars as Black's best best friend - Ned). The film is being released by Paramount sometime in October - look for a fall film festival appearance. (Toronto? Venice?)
Black stars as overweight garage band musician Dewey Finn. He loves to play guitar and is really quite good, but doesn't fit the image his band wants in order to win the local "Battle of the Bands" competition. They fire him, he moves on - well sort of. He's short on cash and his roommate / best friend / former goth band partner (Ned) is looking for some past rent. OK, it's actually his bitchy girlfriend who has whipped him into thinking he wants the money. Ned's pussied and seems to like his new life of being a "temp" - a substitute teacher. He's moved past his garage band days and his girlfriend is happy for it. (We all know that inside Ned wants to break out from under her spell and play in a band again - the musician isnÃt gone, just buried).
Back to the story. Dewey is sitting around the house, trying to enroll other members for a new band but they all think he's crap. He's got no street cred. He tries to sell some guitars for the cash, but no takers. The phone rings - it's a private school looking for Ned to substitute. And they pay! Hmm - I can teach, says Dewey. And so begins the fraud. Dewey joins the ranks of those who can't do, teach.
Dewey arrives at the school, believing that all he has to do is baby-sit and have recess all day long. No go. These kids want to learn, because their parents are paying $15,000 to be there! Whatever. Go have music class. It's here Dewey has his epiphany. He hears the kids play - and they can play! Amongst the group - a classically trained guitarist, a keyboard prodigy, a percussion fool, a cello turned bass guitarist and a group of great singers. Dewey sees the dollar signs and transforms the class into a group perfectly fit for the "Battle of the Bands". Not to mention a fey male fashion stylist, security detail, groupies and a band manager.
The outcome? I'll leave that to the film.
There are three things really outstanding about the film.
1) Jack Black. I can't verify at this point, but I am sure that the majority of this film is improvised. With his musical aptitude, Black can pick up a guitar and start singing any tune on the spot. Coupled with his comical timing, he's a machine! Forget Sandler and his SNL days, this is true musical genius. With a hard rock beat. He's also one of those actors that doesn't have to be "pretty". This role was made for him.
2) Richard Linklater. Perfectly shot in performance mode. There are so many long one takes that Altman should be ashamed. One memorable sequence sees Dewey sing his new song creation to the class - all 5+ minutes of it. No edit. No cut-away. Pure performance - one shot. Genius. Others - the end credit sequence will leave everyone in their seats until the last piece of popcorn is swept from the theatre.
3) The kids. Can't verify but it seems that the kids in this film really can play (and sing). Either amazing filmwork, or there is no lip-synching going on (I suspect the latter). These kids will amaze, delight, entertain and provide hope to 5th grade students everywhere.
Linklater really knows how to get the most out of his performers. Joan Cusack turns in one of her all-time best as the prickly, stiff Principal. It's fun watching her transform for tighty-whitey to loosey-goosey under Dewey's spell. Sarah Silverman (writer SNL, Greg the Bunny, Evolution) is great as Ned's girlfriend Patty. You can hear all the men in the audience snicker at what they see is their worst girlfriend nightmares, and all the women sneer and say "I'm not like that am I?" And Mike White as Ned. Fabulous. He pulls off the "guy-who-never-lived-his-dream-because-someone-told-him-to-grow-up" perfectly. All provide the perfect catharsis for Dewey.
Overall - great. This is the anti-"Music of the Heart". No swearing for kids, no violence, great hard rock music from the 70s and 80s. This is a sure-fire hit for the studio. Marketing should be an easy one - focus on Black and the music. Fans of Almost Famous, Grosse Pointe Blank, Footloose and even Kindergarten Cop will lover this film.
For those about to rock - we salute you!
(Screening of workprint somewhere in North America - and no, I'm not a Paramount hack).
