My Favourite Rock Movie.

Rating: 10/10 (9 February 2015)

I like to consider myself a rock 'n' roller and metalhead. I love all rock music from Chuck Berry and Little Richard to Alter Bridge and Weezer. (Actually, not really all rock music these days, I'm very picky.) I love all metal from Black Sabbath and Motorhead to Trivium and All That Remains. Several movies look into the subject of rock and roll, but for some reason, I find this to be the best one. Not because they explore the subject of heavy metal along with rock and punk. I guess because it was the first rock movie I'd ever seen and it had a huge impact on me. Well, one reason.
In his breakout role, Jack Black plays a talented and hyper musician named Dewey Finn who aspires to be a famous rockstar. Desperate for money he owes to his more conservative roommate (White) and fired from his group due to his out of control behaviour, he lies about being his roommate who is a substitute teacher and goes to make big bucks at a prep school. When he sees how talented the kids are, he decides to make a band with them and gets them entered in the "Battle of the Bands" contest to win some money and beat his old band.
Everybody knows that Jack Black is funny and a good actor, but School of Rock shows his highly impressive talent in music and just how good of an actor he can be. Black really does know all the music knowledge he displays in the film and it really is him playing all those instruments and singing. I got some of my musical knowledge from watching this. I never knew how amazing of a singer Black is. I honestly think he could sing opera. One of the best voices I have ever heard. In his previous band, "No Vacancy," Broadway star, Adam Pascal, plays the lead singer. We get to hear some of his juicy chops too. Pascal is classically trained and was the original Roger in Rent, but I think Black is just a natural. It is tough to say who is better. It is also tough to say who is better between Black and the kids. All the kids are great musicians and great actors.
Gene Shallit panned this movie, because of Jack Black. He is worse in other films like Year One. Although not his most serious, it does justify that Black can act.
Another quality I liked about this is that is about giving the chance to open up and be themselves. In order to be a rockstar, you to have to be crazy and let loose. He subs at a super strict prep school, so the kids are more than just mechanical. He brings them out of their shells which leads to a student writing their title song. But it's not just the kids he influences: Joan Cusack plays the uptight principal who is overly stressed at her work. He even has a positive influence on her. This element is really what sets this apart from the others.
4/4