Hey folks, Harry here with Horatio Incognito's take of Linklater's SCHOOL OF ROCK with Jack Black... They seem to be screening the hell out of this thing and with great responses. We've gotten a helluvalot of positive reviews, including from long time AICNers. It warms my heart to think that Linklater could very well at long last have the popular success that has, of yet, eluded him. He's been divine to critics and cinephiles... will this one earn him the triple crown? I hope so, I want to see his A SCANNER DARKLY get made!
(Hey gang! Please pardon some sentimental indulgences on my behalf.) HORATIO INCOGNITO REVIEWS LINKLATER'S 'SCHOOL OF ROCK'
Always a houseguest yet never a resident, I have many wonderful memories from my many trips to Austin over the years: hiking up and down Sixth Street in the thrall of salsa-dancing University of Texas co-eds, watching Sleater-Kinney enrapture a sold-out crowd at the now-defunct Liberty Lunch, wondering if the town itself was solely created as a vessel for the celebration of all that is wonderful ...
It probably goes without saying that the pearl of Texas has matured over the years. I marvel at my recollections of an era when street parking was largely free and available. Sadly, every time I return, I come to discover that another one of my favorite haunts has 'matured' into an Allright Parking lot. Revisiting 'Slacker' after all of these years, it now plays as a poignant recollection of a faraway place.
Among the locals, it probably also goes without saying that the film's director, Richard Linklater, remains one of the most iconoclastic personalities in modern American cinema. He has remained prolific even within an industry that never seems to know what to make of his films, crafting a diverse body of work that passionately explores his obscure fascinations.
Just as Austin often suffered its share of growing pains as it evolved into its incredible prosperity, the maestro has also struggled with some of his studio projects. The thoughtful, lackadaisical (and I would also say uniquely American) sense of storytelling that he brought to 'The Newton Boys' had few fans among critics or ticket-buyers.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, his new directorial effort 'School of Rock' is the pure model of an audience-pleasing Hollywood comedy. Hell-bent on wringing a smile out of a Saturday matinee crowd, Linklater effortlessly brings such humanism to this brand of pop moviemaking that it becomes enormously difficult to resist its silly charms.
The story is very sparsely plotted by the irrepressible Mike White, possibly speaking to his selfless deference to Jack Black's scene-gnawing approach to physical comedy.
Mr. Black stars as Dewey Finn, a guitarist who is ousted from a low-rent rock outfit by his band-mates, all of whom have grown tired of his obnoxious on-stage antics.
Mr. White occupies the role of Dewey's roommate, a substitute-teacher named Ned Sneebly. Ned is growing tired of his girlfriend's constant criticisms of Dewey's slovenly lifestyle. Because the role of Ned's girlfriend is played by Sarah Silverman, he takes her comments to heart and threatens Dewey with eviction.
Through a largely inconceivable turn of events, Dewey himself assumes a substitute-teaching position at a prestigious private elementary school to make ends meet. When he eavesdrops upon the budding musical abilities of his young students, he takes it upon himself to teach them what it means to rock.
I hasten to really provide any thorough criticism of the film, given that the print I saw this evening was a work-in-progress and certain technical issues (such as erratic color timing) are no doubt currently being addressed.
However, I would like to suggest that whatever tweaks or trims applied to 'School of Rock' during the post-production process are not likely to dilute this movie's infectiously good cheer. Even the frown-faced film critics who filled the front rows of this advance screening found themselves applauding and cheering the inevitable yet heart-warming conclusion to the narrative.
The very idea of making a studio film with this much honesty of spirit borders on subversion in an industry whose fatuous excesses fueled this summer's underwhelmingly overwhelming movie season. And this is how Linklater has matured as a filmmaker: refusing to relent to Hollywood's ill-conceived mandates yet proving to himself that entertaining a crowd is not tantamount to surrender.
Horatio Incognito
and here's another that Jack left bow-legged and in love...
Harry,
Longtime listener, first time caller as a denizen of Hollywood movies are both omni-present, but often uninspiring given the overkill in advertising and publicity we're subjected to on a daily basis.
The other night I scored a free pass to a screening of the newest Jack Black flick SCHOOL OF ROCK at The Chinese.
The Bullet: Dewey Finn (Jack Black) wants to rock, and rock hard- gets thrown out of band before big battle of the bands. roommate's girlfriend demands rent money- Dewey poses as roommate so he can substitute teach and score the cash- realizes kids are musicians and spends a few weeks making them a band- he grows up a little and the kids learn a little about life.
And you know what? It does rock.
Actually there is a LOTTA rock: the folks that put this together know their rock and for music whores like myself there was so much footage and so many amazing references they alone would have made the movie worth it: any movie where the lead proclaims Neil Peart of Rush one of the all time great drummers has my $$$.
Is this groundbreaking? In it's own subversive way- YES. Even UNDERCOVER BROTHER didn't go after 'The Man' they way Jack does here and, as someone who believes the Man/the Machine/The Matrix is having its way with us, this was a welcome bit of anarchy.
Sure the movie has its formulaic elements, but it has Jack; it has Jack railing about The Man; it has Jack testifying to the Power of Rock; and it has Jack handing out amazing albums for the kids to listen to as homework.
There aren't many other 'stars' in the flick but Joan Cusack can do no wrong and she never has. She's perfect here and there are some fantastic scenes, especially towards the end, that are so subtle, so perfect, that you HAVE to wonder why you don't see her more.
Sarah Silverman is so shrill as the roommate's harpy girlfriend that she has a huge career ahead of her as a bullying girlfriend/wife. She's perfect (that lucky Jimmy Kimmel!).
Anyways the crowd loved it. Lotsa laughs.
To recap: a little formulaic... but amazingly subversive. Love of Rock obvious. Jack is the king... I mean has there ever been anyone quite like him?
Long live the D.
You can call me- Rob Gordon
