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Horatio Incognito & Rob Gordon sing in perfect harmony about SCHOOL OF ROCK!
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 Incognitoand 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
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+ Expand All
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Oh yeah!
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with karate i'll kick your ass
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Aug 21, 2003 5:40:05 AM CDT
hell yeah motherfucker, I'm gonna kick your fucking derriereyeah
by angrynortherner
You broke the rules, now i'll pull out all your pubic haaaaaaaaaiiiirrrr. ya motherfuckeeeerrrrr.
Just wanted to do that. So desperate to see this movie. Just out of interest - I'm guessing not, since no-one's mentioned it, but do we get a cameo for KG? It would be a wasted opportunity... -
Jack Black is very over-rated. While I do find him funny (in High Fidelity especially), he's the same character in whatever he appears in. Even his small role in Cable Guy was a slight variation on everyone he's played before and since. I'll be interested to see how he performs in this as, now he's moving into leading man territory, I think a little more will be expected of him or people could get bored very quickly.
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In Jack's smaller character roles, you kind of forget that he was actually there, because he wasn't acting like a nut: Enemy of the State, Mars Attacks (wasn't he the army kid?), The Jackal. As "Shallow Hal" he wasn't entirely freakish, but he was definitely annoying at times. He does seem to be the same guy every time out now that his name is on the marquee, but that has worked well for more than one person, i.e. "and starring John Wayne as John Wayne".
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Is there really any connection between the success of SCHOOL OF ROCK and A SCANNER DARKLY? Even if SOR makes tons of cash that will only mean that the suits demand a sequel or at best something similar. The last thing they'll want Linklater to do is weird, druggy, Philip K. Dick film. After failed attempts by Terry Gilliam, Charlie Kaufmann and Chris Cunningham i sure would love to see that film finally get made, be it animated or live-action. As long as they don't go the usual route of Dick adaptions and turn it into an action flick (MINORITY REPORT, PAYCHECK). Which brings me to the next point: A SCANNER DARKLY doesn't need to be a 60$ film. It could be done cheap if they forget about all that 3-D animation CGI stuff I've been hearing. Philip K. Dick has always been about mindblowing ideas and not about blowing shit up good. I wish Linklater the best of luck and hope SOR becomes a huge succes for him. But it won't affect A SCANNER DARKKLY, for better or worse.
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I saw 2 movies around the same time that blew my mind - Slacker and Talk Radio with Bogosian. Can't wait for the return of Wonderboy!
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It would be extra cool if KG was in the movie. Some Hitchcock type cameo.
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Once again, I'll have to ask, do you think some people...some people are actually robots...living among us?
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I hope you are reading this you no talent, cocksucking, one dimentional fat fuck. Fuck you and fuck who ever gave you a contract. You are the only fat guy that's not funny no matter how hard you try. You are a worthless shit stain at best beaatch.
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Dat Phan is even less annoying than you. Go away you piece of shit. Fuck you and fuck the ground you walk on beeeatch!
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Fuck Mike Piazza, fuck Lennox lewis and fuck that attention whore from Eagle CO.
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