The School of Rock
Directed by:
Richard LinklaterCinematography:
Rogier StoffersCast:
Jack Black, Adam Pascal, Joan Cusack, Lucas Papaelias, Chris Stack, Sarah Silverman, Mike White, Miranda Cosgrove, Suzzanne Douglass, Nicky Katt (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
To Dewey Finn (Jack Black) music is his life and that includes playing lead guitar in a bar band, who manage to get gigs here and there and aim to win a regional battle-of-the-bands competition. The only thing standing in their way is the self-indulgent antics of their lead guitarist. Finn is ousted from the band but he badly needs to pay the rent so finds himself in front of a class of elite school students after impersonating his supply-teaching roommate, Ned Schneelby (Mike White, who also wrote the script). Going against the school's remit he is soon teaching his class all he knows about rock (Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, The Who etc); the idea being that he enters them for the competition. Meanwhile, he has to keep the Principal (Joan Cusack) from finding out what he is up to - as well as all the other teachers... and the kids' parents. (Paramount Pictures AU)
(more)Reviews (7)
Jack Black is almost annoyingly unrestrained for my taste, but under the baton Linklater, even this plot cliché with a not very likeable protagonist ends up being 100% effective. Nice, non-conflicting film.
()
A brilliant one-man show by Jack Black, whose infectiously vibrant acting captivates from the start. When he's skillfully supported by the little rascals, with an amazed expression on your face, you'll forgive the film all its flaws, including the biggest one - undoubtedly the sugary ending. Rock music rulezz!
()
An excellent Jack Black, a good idea and one great tribute to a neglected musical genre on screen. In the end, it doesn't matter that it sticks to the classic family comedy template about outsiders.
()
The best thing that could have happened to the genre of a family-oriented story about a determined school group is Jack Black. His enthusiastic performance is the main driving force, along with the excellently crafted soundtrack and Linklater's reliable direction. My favorite music genre effortlessly brought a contagiously positive film.
()
School of Rock unfolds like a standard movie about a character undergoing a positive personal transformation, this time set in an uptight elite elementary school, and in doing so, it confirms the validity of this category’s viewership, even though what makes it likable is mainly the casting and directorial approach rather than superficial emotional manipulation. Linklater understood the unrestrained force of nature that he had at hand in the form of Jack Black and he adapts the filming of the scenes in very long shots that firmly plant Black’s frantically clownish persona in an otherwise rigid environment. Though Black’s protagonist is the chaotic centrepiece of School of Rock, the film as a whole stands on the shoulders of the brilliantly and non-formulaically cast and directed child actors.
()
As expected, the absolutely flawless Jack Black and a bunch of superbly chosen kids move the evolving comedy forward without a single hesitation. It's a joy to watch, it's a joy to listen to the music, and I enjoyed it all as if I was sitting in the front row. Right now I can’t think of any film that has such excellent closing credits.
()
This time, Richard Linklater, with the most relaxed and positive attitude, serves up an extremely fresh comedy about an enthusiastic rocker-outsider who turns everyday life in a "traditional" school completely upside down. It's funny, it's got the excellent Jack Black and you're flooded with positive feelings throughout. Most of all, it works repeatedly as a nice fun movie that I just can't get enough of. One of those films I'll watch from time to time to improve my mood.
()