Cool News
Capone rocks out with Linklater's SCHOOL OF ROCK plus here's the trailer!
Hey folks, Harry here... I really can't say just how happy I am to hear that this film is cool. It had all the earmarks of possibly being a lame movie with great talent. First off, it had the near death sentence of a rated R comedian teamed up with children... elementary school age children. Usually this means painfully dull entertainment. BUT it had Linklater in charge of Jack Black, and I just refused to believe that Rick would allow this film to venture into suckage at all. Hell, I even like the trailer... it actually feels cool. Here's Capone to give you a peek...
Hey, Harry. Capone in Chicago here. Gosh darn, how I love Jack Black. I remember back in 1999 stumbling across the first “Tenacious D” episode to air on HBO. I can’t remember a time before or since when I hooked into a phenomenon so completely after watching something that lasted only a half hour. The second and third episode ran and my mind spun out of control as I tried to find out as much about Black and his blood brother Kyle Gass as I could. It wasn’t long after “Tenacious D” premiere that Black was in Chicago filming HIGH FIDELITY, and naturally you couldn’t put Black in such a musical town filming such a musical movie without he and Gass playing at least one “D” show, which they did at the House of Blues. That show may go down as the single funniest event I’ve ever laid witness to. I was in so much pain at times from laughing so hard, I literally had to look away and plug my ears at points to simply not hear or see anymore.
Since HIGH FIDELITY, Jack’s been prominently featured in several films varying in quality: SAVING SILVERMAN (shit); SHALLOW HAL (pretty good); ORANGE COUNTY (so-so). And he even got to host an MTV Movie Awards and be a part of some hysterical film parodies. Black has two films coming out in the near future that I’ve been looking forward to: ENVY, co-starring and directed by Ben Stiller (Black’s director in the “Heat Vision and Jack” pilot), the release of which has been pushed back again, this time into 2004 and possibly even straight to video; and THE SCHOOL OF ROCK, which opens October 3. I’ve seen the trailer for ENVY, and I think it has possibilities. But SCHOOL OF ROCK is pure Jack Black. For Tenacious D fans, the film will mark the closest Black has come to his JB persona (albeit in a PG-13 context) on film. Black plays Dewey Finn, a heavy metal guitar player who is booted from his band when the other members decide they want to “get serious.” In his place, they hire a muscle-bound pretty boy and wear trendier clothes. Finn is appalled by the band’s lack of commitment to “the music” and vows to form his own band to kick their asses at an upcoming battle of the bands.
Dewey sleeps on the floor in an apartment shared with his long-time buddy Ned (the film’s writer Mike White, who also wrote ORANGE COUNTY, THE GOOD GIRL, and CHUCK & BUCK) and his girlfriend Patty (Sarah Silverman, a funny and talented stand-up whose gifts are a bit wasted in this film, but still it’s good to see her in films). Ned is a substitute teacher, who receives a call from the finest prep schools in the state (which state, I’m not sure) to come teach for an extended period. Unfortunately, Dewey intercepts the call and pretend he’s Ned because he needs the money. Just the idea of placing Jack Black in charge of 20 or so preteens in school uniforms is one of those movie pitches that sounds like it would be funny as a short skit but could never work as a full-length feature. But even a reeled-in Jack Black is funnier than 95 percent of the comedies I’ve seen so far this year. SCHOOL OF ROCK is Jack Black’s finest work, which is not the same thing as saying it’s his finest film he’d been in (that honor still belongs to HIGH FIDELITY). But Black has never had the chance to just cut loose like he does here.
Upon convincing the principal, Ms. Mullins (the also-back-in-top-form Joan Cusack) that he is a teacher, Dewey enters a class full of prim and proper kids eager to learn and quickly realizes that most of these kids are probably smarter than him. Unlike a lot of other films with child actors acted far wiser than their years. These kids actually act like kids, who just happen to be more intelligent and privileged than some. I was particularly impressed with the performances of two of the young actors: Kevin Alexander Clark as Freddy, who takes Dewey’s life lessons a little too much to heart; and Miranda Cosgrove as Summer. This girl is going to floor you. Clearly someone who will grow up to break many a heart, she’s also surprisingly confident next to Black’s insanity in her first major role. Not having any clue what to teach these kids at first, Dewey simply allows them to slack off while he dozes at his desk. But when he finds out that the kids’ mandatory music classes have made them especially good players, he hatches a scheme to turn them into his new band to win a Battle of the Band contest for $20,000. The scenes of Dewey schooling these kids are priceless. He not only teaches them their parts of the songs they learn (which are a combination of Tenacious D-style rants minus the satanic elements, and Meat Loaf-style rock opera) but he infuses in them rock history and what it is to think and act like a rock god. He gives his band members classic CDs to absorb (for example, a Yes CD to his keyboard player; Hendrix to his guitarist; Buddy Rich to the drummer), and gives those who are less musical key jobs as roadies, lighting designers, security (to keep an eye out for the principal, of course), and the all-important groupies. Summer, not wanting to lower herself being a groupie, gets to be band manager.
In nearly all of his films, director Richard Linklater has explored youth culture across the decades. SLACKER, DAZED AND CONFUSED (my personal favorite), BEFORE SUNRISE, SUBURBIA, and the magnificent WAKING LIFE all feature young people trying to figure out their place in the world. In a strange way, SCHOOL OF ROCK is about the same thing. These smart kids often see themselves as outcasts, and teacher Dewey identifies with them and actually seems to care about what their interests are when their other teachers and their parents don’t. Dewey never talks down to them, but he doesn’t simply treat them like adults either. Black’s ability to find that place between infantile monkey and fun older brother is remarkable. And I haven’t even mentioned Dewey’s seduction of Principal Mullins using a little alcohol and a whole lot of Stevie Nicks music. Classic stuff.
I don’t want to ruin the few non-surprises this film possesses, but as expected Dewey gets busted for impersonating a teacher, thus compromising his chances of participating in the Battle of the Bands against his former bandmates. But SCHOOL OF ROCK is definitely aiming for mass appeal, so let’s just say there’s no way in hell it’s going to end on a down note. I truly loved this movie. The laughs are constant, the performances are splendid, even the music is pretty good. I pray to the heavens above that this film helps get a Tenacious D movie in the can a whole lot faster and easier. Making Jack Black a bankable star would make many of us feel a whole lot better about the world, and SCHOOL OF ROCK is poised to do just that.
Capone
Send MP3's of your own Garage Rock here!
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+ Expand All
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FRISTED YOU ALL
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keep your frist away from me, dude. I don't know where it's been.
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Or is it as good as Airborne? Basically Black Jack plays the same characters in these two movies, the 27 year old high school bully. I reccomend watching these movies on a lot of drugs.
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imdb retracted that comment. they did however do heavy reshoots on it (which are done), and i believe it has a march 2004 release now.
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Is this the best film in the world?
Look into my eyes its easy to see,
one and one make two,
two and one make three!
It should be called School of Black. -
Genius.
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and counting
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it's a stoner movie for stoner retards. it got picked by my graduating class in high school as "their movie". fucking christ i hate that movie. and the trailer for this movie doesn't look too mindblowing, and given jack's track record, i'm a little iffy. whatever trevor.
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I stopped the tape I rented 35 minutes in and brought it back to the rental place.
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Hey, I feel like Harry! There goes the pants...
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Hey talkbackers, do you think that some people...some people are actually robots? Living among us?
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No..SQM, no, they don't have the technology yet..but check it out..I thought of this fuckin' cool song..check it out.
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Aug 06, 2003 10:34:32 PM CDT
fan boys who don't like Dazed and Confused can go suck big green
by lance rock
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Aug 06, 2003 10:36:21 PM CDT
No King Conan, no T-4, no Doc savage--but maybe, one day, PRESID
by noriko takaya
Oh, the GOP will take care of that pesky "native born" Constitutional thingie, don't you worry none. I pity Al Queda if they're still around then. I surely do. "PRESIDENT SCHWARZENEGGAR." I like the sound of that. SCHWARZENEGGAR 2012!Toppu o Nerae!
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...I do what I want!
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... But, Envy is not directed by Ben Stiller. It's a Barry Levinson film.
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Aug 07, 2003 12:34:18 AM CDT
Harry, let's have a Talkback on this Gov'nor Arnold thing, shall
by sith lord sauron
Imagine what the Talkback would have been like when Reagan first announced he was running for office. This *is* cool news, you know, even if you don't agree with his politics.
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My subject is from the post above. Whatever. Anycrap, I challenge all you Jack Black-haters to come up with someone who could play the characters that Jack Black plays better than Jack Black. Confused? Maybe. But shit...find someone that can be the lovable idiot better than JB (excluding Will Ferrell, of course) and I'll find you a toilet made outta solid gold. OH, AND WHOEVER SAID THAT "ENVY" LOOKS REALLY "SHITTY"...please oh please tell me that pun was intended. Otherwise...I just don't know...
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Aug 07, 2003 3:11:59 AM CDT
WHO CARES??? Officially confirmed: Cameron is directing a film a
by lord_soth
My entire day is ruined now!
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Aug 07, 2003 5:56:35 AM CDT
Dazed & Confused, people sitting around talking about shit, hhhh
by dirkd13"
man.
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Jack Black does indeed play basically one character in movies, back in the day Jim Carrey was the accused of the same artistic crime. Jack does play that role very well, and I hope one day he breaks though to some movie success. I think that Envy looks stupid, mostly because I can not stand Ben Stiller. He plays a single character in his movies, only he isnt funny in any of them. I think he may be a better director than actor. I still think The Cable Guy was funny. Oh well I am looking forward to this one, but wonder would people be psyched about this movie if it was Jack Black? I would bet people would be blasting this film if it was Eddie Murphy starring.
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Vote for me, and i'll give Jesse Ventura the smack down, Brother!
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All we're asking you to do. . . . . . . Is Drop trou . . . . . . and squeeze out . . . . . a cleveland steamer on my chest, ohhhhhhh. Jack Black is one of the funniest people on the planet and this movie will ROCK (in more ways than one). He has been great in every movie I have ever seen him in (I loved him in Saving Silverman even though everything else sucked) and his music is just as funny. I'm really looking forward to Envy because Christopher Walken is probably the actor who makes me laugh the most. No matter what he's talking about his delivery makes it hilarious. Add Will Farrell to that movie and its the perfect comic trio. Nobody expects JB to win an oscar but he is still a great actor. He's taken the goofy stoner role and adapted it to different characters to give em all that JB flavor. If you haven't seen it I reccomend Bongwater. Jack Black plays a leader of a group of hippies who live in the woods of Washington, his part is small but its still great. LONG LIVE THE D!
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is as Georgie in Jesus' Son. Best role, not best film. Come on, who is WITH me on this? "'Fuck-Head' is gonna ride you to your grave." Put your Jim Jarmusch pacing caps on and pop this puppy in the old DVD player. You know, fuck all that, I LIKE this film. Crudup and Black are funny together and the pacing suits the subject matter.
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I'd have to agree with you that Black's best role was his role in Jesus' Son with his role in High Fidelity coming in at second. Georgie in Jesus' Son was so incredibly well played by Black... the tiny tie, pulling the knife from a man's eye, the c-section on the rabbit... all great, and Black played it all so perfectly. Everyone should see it.
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...I like him in the Jackal with Bruce Willis. I like when Black runs like a spaz when he figures out that he is going to be ripped a new asshole with this huge fucking remote control gun. Okay, it's a really shitty throw away part but I laught like hell every time I see it on cable.
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Aug 07, 2003 12:32:41 PM CDT
Yeah, Jack Black was amazing as that white rasta. Why, I do beli
by jimbolo
Burp!
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Aug 07, 2003 12:34:42 PM CDT
Aw, shit! Meant to say "... that white rasta in I still know wha
by jimbolo
Sob!
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Aug 07, 2003 12:36:28 PM CDT
HOLY SHIT!! GARY "WHATCHOOTALKINBOUT?" COLEMAN IS RUNNING TOO!!
by 007-11
On a side note, this movie will kick all kinds of ass.
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Ben Stiller did not direct "Envy." Barry Levinson did, thus negating any respect Capone hoped to earn by knowledge of "Heat Vision and Jack." And there is no way they are going to send the movie straight to video with all three of these heavy-weights attached. Wise-up, rumor- monger!!!
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Okay, that was weak. My fault.
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The President of the United States has to be born a U.S. citizen.
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Coming soon - to the most populous state in the union: Governor: The Series. A new reality program where 14 candidates will be locked in the gubernatorial mansion, and each week they will have to eat gross foods and compete in stupid contests. America will vote the weakest link out. The last one standing will be Governor of California. You know this is going to happen sooner or later, so what better place to try it with than California ?!? If Hollywood is going to force these god damned reality-tv losers down our throats ad nauseum, they ought to live in a state run by one of them.
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Arnold, Gary Coleman, Gallegher? Man, Gray Davis must be a seriously fucked up Gov. if he can lose to these donkeys.
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What song is that guitar chord from heard at the beginning of the trailer, the one Jack reacts to in the van?
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I hope you are reading this Jack... FUCK YOU, you untalented wasted cum shot. You are one of the few fat guys that's not funny beeeatch.
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