Schlock of Ages.

Rating: 3/10 (15 September 2015)

Rock Star (2001): Dir: Stephen Herek / Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Jennifer Aniston, Dominic West, Jason Bonham, Timothy Olyphant: Rock mock documentary about how far we will go to become more than we are. It stars Mark Wahlberg who dreams of being just like the lead singer of Steel Dragon. After his band disowns him Mark Wahlberg is excited when Steel Dragon contacts him. The rest is a life of massive concerts, drunken orgies, and corruption by management. Directed by Stephen Herek who also made Mr. Holland's Opus, also about a music career but the difference is in position. Mr. Holland teaches music while Wahlberg performs it. Between the two Mr. Holland seems to have a better screenwriter telling his story. Wahlberg holds his own portraying a character who cannot identify with himself and seeks someone else's life. We know where this is headed but since Wahlberg had a real life music career, he seems fitting for the material. Jennifer Aniston as his girlfriend is flat. She is basically there to bitch about him not being around and then pout and leave. Dominic West and Jason Bonham play fellow musicians with no personalities given. Other roles are drab stereotypes that accompany a screenplay so heavily burdened with clichés that it is difficult to focus on a message. Lots of loud music and energy burnt on absolutely nothing. On the positive side, Almost Famous is more compelling. Score: 3 ½ / 10