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matt header · Posted: 10.01.2003 3:19 am Post subject: School of Rock

I just barely caught a screening of "School of Rock" tonight. It's cut-and-dry, predictable, and quite formulaic, but damn, it's fun: energetic, likable, good-hearted, nostalgic. When Christina Aguilera and Puff Daddy (both of whom the movie gently mocks) are some of the most popular musicians in America today, "School of Rock"'s emphatic, if cliched, celebration of Led Zeppelin, The Who, the rebellion of rock 'n' roll, and wholesome anarchy is very inspiring.

the night watchman · Posted: 10.01.2003 4:12 am Post subject:

Good to hear. I'm catching this on Friday, and looking forward to it. Love Jack Black.
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Michael Scrutchin · Posted: 10.01.2003 4:35 am Post subject:

I like Jack Black. He's one of a small handful of current movie goofballs that I find genuinely funny and appealing. And I'm also a Richard Linklater fan (Dazed and Confused and Before Sunrise being my favorites from him), so I'm eager to check out School of Rock. Anyone else hear the rumors about Linklater planning a sequel to Before Sunrise? I don't know if there's any truth to those rumors, but I think that's a terrible, terrible idea.
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matt header · Posted: 10.01.2003 5:45 am Post subject:

I think comparing Black (who I also like a lot) to Seann William Scott (who I dislike a lot) says a lot about the difference between desperation and real goofball talent.

Danny Baldwin · Posted: 10.01.2003 1:29 pm Post subject:

the night watchman · Posted: 10.01.2003 5:45 pm Post subject:

I've gotten used to Scott. Like Danny pointed out, he's just really bad at picking scripts. I thought he was actually kinda amusing in The Rundown, and, so help me, the first two American Pies. (Haven't seen Wedding.) I'm certainly not going to go out of my way to see a movie just because he's in it, or sit through one, for that matter, as was the case with Dude,...?
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"If you're talking about censorship, and what things should be shown and what things shouldn't be shown, I've said that as an artist you have no social responsibility whatsoever."

-David Cronenberg

matt header · Posted: 10.01.2003 6:07 pm Post subject:

Well, I guess it's just a matter of personal taste. Scott does indeed pick up terrible scripts, but I don't think he improves upon them, either; I thought "Shallow Hall" and "Saving Silverman" were both pretty poorly written, but Black is very funny in both of them. A great many people pick up bad scripts every now and then (indeed, it's logical and rational - we all need the cash); the difference is whether or not you can improve upon the material.

the night watchman · Posted: 10.01.2003 6:32 pm Post subject:

Danny Baldwin · Posted: 10.01.2003 7:29 pm Post subject:

I liked that one. Laughing

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beltmann · Posted: 10.01.2003 8:52 pm Post subject:

I like both Black and Scott. As with the Rock, no one is going to confuse them with great actors, but also like the Rock, both have a likable screen presence. Sometimes that's enough, I think. I tend to be very forgiving of performers, though, especially when their back is against the wall of a terrible script.

In terms of preferences, I like Black more than Scott--his strutting goofball schtick seems more inspired, more spirited, more able to locate the irony in a situation; his flippancy seems driven more by joy than annoyance--yet I'm more likely to see a formulaic, juvenile comedy if either one of them is in it.

I'm dying to see School of Rock. I didn't care for Newton Boys or SubUrbia, but I really like all of Linklater's other films, especially Tape, Waking Life, Before Sunrise, and Slacker. I wouldn't put Dazed and Confused in that category, but I still like it a lot.

Eric

filmsRpriceless · Camera Operator Joined: 26 Jun 2003 Posts: 65

Despite its many holes in the screenplay, I had a helluva time watching it and Jack Black is the movie, so I kinda thought I'd get annoyed after a while, but watching him work, I was anything but annoyed. Read my review if interested.
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the night watchman · Posted: 10.04.2003 8:58 pm Post subject:

Saw it yesterday, had a ball. I liked its message of self-expression and individuality in the face of uncompromising social structure. Joan Cusack's performance was actually quite remarkable.
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"If you're talking about censorship, and what things should be shown and what things shouldn't be shown, I've said that as an artist you have no social responsibility whatsoever."

-David Cronenberg

Danny Baldwin · Posted: 11.01.2003 2:44 am Post subject:

I finally got to it on Wednesday, and felt mixed. I've finished my review, but won't post it until Sunday with the rest.
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