Rock School

Plot synopsis:
The film opens with the a title card and the sound of Carlos Santana's guitar solo from the song "Black Magic Woman". Paul Green, the primary subject of the film introduces the evening's concert. The camera pans to reveals that the guitarist is twelve-year-old C.J. Tywoniak. The School is then introduced, with Green re-enacting a scene from the film The Silence of the Lambs as Jame Gumb for a group of students. This is followed by the first of a number of interview segments with Green throughout the film. He explains why he started a performance-based program. 9 year old twin boys Asa and Tucker Collins are interviewed, followed by an interview with Tywoniak and his parents about his future in music, teenage girl Madi Diaz-Svalgard, a Quaker singer/songwriter who frequently clashes with Green and finally Will O'Conner a less-successful student who credits the School with saving his life. These students are followed closely through the rest of the film.
Green talks about various students and then introduces the All-Star program, which is concentrating on the music of Frank Zappa, and including concert footage of the students playing a Zappa song. He then leads the camera on a tour of the School, dropping in on various classroom lessons including Asa trying to learn Black Sabbath's "The Wizard". The film moves to the Collins' home and introduces the twins' mother Andrea Collins, followed by O'Conner at home with his mother Lisa.
There is a montage of scenes of the students rehearsing for a beginner's Black Sabbath show, and an 80's show by the intermediate students, and interviews with other students including Eric and Julie Slick, and keyboard teacher Eric Svalgard, father of Madi Diaz. Green confesses that, if the school is successful, the students will become better musicians than himself, followed by his personal history and introduces his wife Lisa.
A clip of Zappa musician Napoleon Murphy Brock is played for the students, and Green talks about getting the students to play Zappa's notoriously difficult music. The All-Stars have been invited to play the annual Zappa music festival Zappanale. Green and various students are interviewed about the upcoming event.
Diaz is interviewed about a side project with her Quaker friends, the Friendly Gangstaz who rap traditional Quaker hymns, which Green mocks. Tywoniak's parents discuss their son's focus and drive. Andrea applies make-up to her son Tucker and dresses Asa's hair into the Mohawk hairstyle seen on the film poster in preparation for the twins' Black Sabbath show while singing the song "Sweet Leaf". Several Black Sabbath songs are performed at the concert including "Sweet Leaf", "Paranoid" and "Iron Man". Green delivers a ranting, profanity-laden halftime speech during the intermission of the show. On the commentary track, the directors reveal that the MPAA informed them that the film was rated R, and had 38 usages of the word "fuck". The location switches to Green's home and a scene with his infant son, who dances enthusiastically to a Zappa song.
A title card reveals that Tywoniak had to undergo emergency orthopedic surgery two days before a concert. Green introduces him at the concert, revealing that Tywoniak would not undergo the operation unless he could play the concert. Back at the school, Green tells the students that Melissa Dribben, a reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper, is to do a feature story on the school. The article is critical of Green and his methods and O'Conner says that it "was written with the composition of a fourth grader". Dribben had called O'Conner "the sad Eeyore of Rock School", and revealed a Green joke about the "Will O'Conner Award for the Student Most Likely To Kill Himself". This caused considerable friction at O'Conner's home, resulting in him leaving the school.
There is another montage of rehearsals for the 80s tribute show which was not going well, a situation exacerbated by a broken air conditioner on a very hot day. Diaz and Green are interviewed about their relationship, Green stating that he believes she is "an extraordinary talent". Green is interviewed in his car in a calmer, more reflective mood, revealing that he created Rock School so that he "had something that he could be the best at".
Tywoniak is shown at the Guitar Gods show playing Eddie Van Halen's cover of the Kinks song "You Really Got Me", followed by more interview footage of Green in the backyard of his home and O'Conner after he had left the school. Another montage of the fraught 80s show rehearsals with Green ranting and slamming doors, screaming "Don't fucking make mistakes! Not on 'Rebel Yell'!" Green is interviewed about his relationship with the students, and motivation. O'Conner is interviewed at an art space screen-printing T-shirts, reflecting on his time at the school.
The All-Stars are shown rehearsing Zappa songs for their trip to Germany and the Zappanale festival, aboard the flight, arriving at the Berlin airport and traveling to Bad Doberan. Green gives a long pep talk about the upcoming concert at the youth hostel at which the kids are staying, followed by a trip to the festival. The next day, Green wakes the kids, followed by interviews with each of the All-Stars about the upcoming show, performing technically difficult music before an audience very familiar with that music.
The All-Stars rehearse "Inca Roads" with Napoleon Murphy Brock, who is interviewed about his experience, recalling being incredulous when first informed of the school and the material the students were playing. Green gives a last-minute set of performance notes before they take the stage. They perform Zappa's "Zomby Woof", followed by an original solo by Tywoniak, intercut with shots of audience members with incredulous looks on their faces. Brock then takes the stage, dropping to his knees, genuflecting to Tywoniak before going to the front of the stage and leading the audience in a mass genuflection before leading the band on "Inca Roads".
As the All-Stars leave the stage, they are greeted by a collection of other festival performers including Jimmy Carl Black of the Mothers of Invention who thanks Green for his work and describes the All-Stars as "phenomenal". The All-Stars are jamming with other festival performers in final concert scene, and Green hugs his performers.
The end of the film features interviews with O'Conner, Tywoniak, Diaz, Green and the Tucker twins trying to sum up their Rock School experience. The credit sequence features the students playing "School's Out" with Alice Cooper at the film's premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, intercut with additional scenes of Green and the students of the school.

Tags: entertaining

Review:
As an old rock&roll road dog who played for years and later went into production and management of younger rock bands, I think this movie has a lot to say on many levels.
I'm not going to comment on a review as such BUT the internet TV view listing I saw when I went to see if it was going to play again said that these kids had gotten good "dispite" the way the teacher had gone about doing it...To me it's funny how a little rough language towards the kids says somehow the teaching method was a failure.Without giving away anything about the movie I will say this: I remember going to a school as a young child where I was in a talent show.
I rehearsed for weeks and won!...After it was over I realized that EVERYONE had won something.....all 50 kids!I was placated into thinking that was how life worked, then wham, the reality of musical life hit me when I went on the road in the real world.Let's face it, people as a rule (and young people in particular) are basic under-achievers.
Music itself is a passion, not a method, and rock music even more so than most.As a parent myself I would suggest this movie to anyone who has a musically inclined child not matter what genre' they wish to pursue.Competition is within ones self, not against everyone else.
You could see the counter balance to the rants, in the end sequences there was much affection expressed all around.But, lets focus on the film here; it is funny, moving and shows what kids can do when expectations are high.
Go and see this film, if you like to see kids amaze you, and surpass their teacher.Rock school is not for all kids, it has been a source of great growth - both musical and personal for one of my kids, but I know that it would not be the right fit for his sibling.
So for those of you who are stuck on why any parent would pay to submit their child to this "abuse", I would say that in reality many different wonderful teachers ( including Paul) are involved with this school and just as this movie will enhance an evening, this school is enhancing many lives..
This is an excellent, throughly entertaining documentary that lets you make your own mind up about a very interesting individual's teaching methods, and the results he gets.I guess a lot of people just didn't approve of Paul and, as such, have given low ratings to register their disapproval.
I wish there had been something like this when I was younger rather than my 70 year old music teacher who had no idea what was going on in the music I was listening to at the time other than the certainty that "that's not music that's just loud banging and screaming!" It's one thing to understand notes and technical aspects of being a musician but an understanding of attitude, performance, vibe, etc is a necessary trait that most music instructors lack.
Teaching kids to rock is a noble calling indeed :) Can't wait to see it again when it comes out proper..
I actually am a student at the school of rock, the movie should be released in theaters sometime in march.
Paul can be a dick sometimes, but he isn't as bad as the film portrays him to be, i think he kind of over reacted when the camera was around just for show.
it's gonna be really cool to see how people react to the film, or if it even gets out of select theaters, students got to record a soundtrack with actual artist like the last living ramone, and Ozzy Osbourne.
Don Argot's documentary, Rock School, did that for me today.
I watched a gifted Paul Green take a group of 9 to 17 year olds in his Paul Green School for Rock Music in Philadelphia and make them into a band playing Black Sabbath, Santana, and a Zappa that an audience bowed to at a German Zappanele concert.I learned that you can abuse learners with profanity dominated by variations of "f---" ("Don't f---ing make mistakes!") and reality about their inadequacies ("You mess up once and I'll f---ing punch your face out.") and keep your job while your students achieve undreamed of results.Green's cherubic visage, sincere love of the young, and obsession with making the right music are all ingredients of his success, which is crystallized in the memorable performances of his charges: CJ can play almost perfect guitar even sitting down with a bone malfunction, Madi sheds her dorky Sheryl Crowe bit to sing with original style, and young twins Asa and Tucker can do spot on Ozzy Osborne imitations.Unlike old fictional chestnuts such as To Sir with Love, Mr. Holland's Opus, and Dead Poets SOciety, which purport to show the gifted teacher at work, this documentary honestly shows the flaws and virtues of a dedicated facilitator living only to see his pupils excel.Rock School may have too much music and not enough insightful conversation and narration, but at least I could witness the artistic process at work.
Teeners tend to exaggerate, but in this case it's certain he'd be spiritually lost without this unreal world of eccentric achievement, an after school activity like no other.Rock on..
Austin Movie Show review of Rock School.
The hard part about writing this review is separating my feelings about this man (Paul Green), his school (The School of Rock in Philadelphia), and the documentary about both (Rock School).
Paul is an arrogant, selfish, and demeaning man, but his school produces some incredible talent, and the movie that director Don Argott made is clever, witty, and downright funny.Paul Green's "School of Rock" has 120 students, ages 9 through 17, who learn to play everything from Black Sabbath to Frank Zappa, and most importantly, Paul gets his students on stage and teaches them how to perform like a rock star.
He does everything that any other teacher today would instantly get sued for  he curses at them, yells at them, makes them cry, hits them, tells them that they "suck," and asks them if they love Satan (he does that to pump them up for the Black Sabbath concert they're about to put on).It's endlessly amusing to watch 9 year-olds wear all black, smear eyeliner all over their eyes, draw crosses on their foreheads, and write "OZZY" on their knuckles.
The coolest moment of Rock School, however, is when the very top students are flown to Germany to play at "Zappanele", the largest Frank Zappa Festival in the world, and they perform with an original member of Zappa's band.
Not every music student gets an experience like that.Argot does a great job at showing us all sides of Paul Green's personality.
If Rock School does anything, it will make you want to get off your butt and start practicingwhat ever it is that you love.
Paul Green teaches his students with a great deal of passion and more importantly has the respect for both their ability AND their potential ability.
Some people seem put off by the "tough love" thing that is part of the instruction but it seemed to me that the only time he got impatient was when it was obvious that certain kids weren't trying their hardest.
If you watch the movie, with your eyes open, you can see that everybody is laughing through most of Paul's more volatile moments.
But without the school, that allows him to play with equally talented people, he may be just like so many of the best guitar players that I have known....
This was the story of a young man (he acts like a big kid) who teaches kids (ages 5-17) how to be rock and roll musicians.
Many of the kids are misfits who find their place at the Rock School.
As a musician, I have dealt with people having similar personalities, and even though the teacher in this film insists that he inspires the kids with the temper tantrums, I have found that I generally do NOT play better when someone is screaming at me.
This is the only DVD I have had so far that I have not managed to watch all of (and I've had Alone in the Dark!).After an hour of this American fool yacking on about how great he is and how well he can teach these children (apparently by shouting at them, humiliating them and being generally abusive)I couldn't take any more.It is simply one guy on an ego trip, he even states that he hates it if any of his pupils get better than him.A complete waste of time, would not have been made if it wasn't for the success of School of Rock, and shouldn't have been anyway..
No one at Sundance had the temerity to ask director Don Argott if he began his documentary of the real-life School of Rock before or after Jason Black's eponymous comedy became a smash hit.
In any event, it is fascinating to meet Paul Green, the school's founder, up close and personal.
So he lives his life vicariously through the kids, teaching them, getting them gigs and trying to mold his place as the greatest developer of young rock 'n roll talent in the world.
(It's a nice moniker, but probably doesn't impress the chicks nearly as much as "Rock Star.") Imagine if you will parents paying good money for an after-school program where their children learn the music,history and culture significance of bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Metallica.
Watch Mom join in the fun by dressing up her nine-year-old boy like Ozzy Osbourne, with a fake cross tattoo on his forehead?
The kids seemed to like and respect Green, and I think he genuinely cares for them.
And I couldn't help but have a sick feeling hearing Mr. Green launch into profanity-filled tirades, or hearing some of the kids return fire.I'm sure that some good comes out of the experience.
Here we are taken inside Paul Green's School of Rock.
The man himself is an obnoxious, immature wannabe who stopped trying to be and who know finances his life on the money paid by parents who want their kids to be rock stars or to find a new outlet or learning environment.
Frank Zappa may have been revolutionary to some but his music is mostly aimless for me, rather like this film.
The subject matter was interesting - with lotsa' "colorful" characters - However - it was really really sad to hear all these kids talk about being a "Rock Star"...as if that's what Rock music has come down to.
All the kids are pretty rotten musicians - they seem more interested in being famous rather than writing good songs...and the Teach doesn't help either - he's more interested in being a "famous" teacher than actually inspiring the kids to follow their own muse and create their own thing.
With a lot of practice these kids will grow up to be good Wedding Band/Bar Band Musicians - but that's about it.
I guess kids who are truly interested in making music wouldn't join a school for it anyhow - so no harm done ...
and it is pretty funny watching the kids butcher and mimic classic rock.
You can't teach passion, and you can't learn creativity - but it can be encouraged - and it doesn't seem like this Rock School is a good place for that.
As a die-hard classic rock fan, I absolutely love this movie!
"Rock School" is a movie that every future rock star should see.The person I was most amazed at, was 12-year-old CJ.
When he was at the Zappalan festival, everybody was bowing to him at the end of his performance.Will, Asa, and Tucker also had potential in music.Paul Green is a really good teacher when you think about it.
I like people that know what real music is.In other words, everybody go see that documentary.
Should Paul Green be allowed to teach?.
He was obviously only teaching the school to sate his gargantuan ego, to feel superior to 9-year-olds about musical talent, and to dump on kids who deserve better.
This guy needs to be banned from teaching ANYONE, if he insists on screaming abuse at kids who want to learn to play an instrument.
I actually liked watching this film, despite being appalled at the big baby teacher who felt so important that he put down depressive teenagers to elevate himself above them.
Although, I must admit that Jack Black as Paul Green was perfect casting.If you have any recollection of 80s hard rock, I think you'd like this.
These kids do a great job with Billy Idol, Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath and Zappa.I am a fan of documentaries and enjoyed Rock School.
Rock school (more like a platform for a frank Zappa fan).
I saw the film over a month ago so I don't recall the teachers name, however I think he is a idiot, i have to give him credit for being different...and sharing his love of music with kids but its outbursts seamed like a mimic of the classic "rock" artist.
rebel, outcast, temper...the guys not on the road with frank Zappa, hes teaching music to kids.
I have been playing guitar for thirteen years, and as a guitar player I am sensitive, had a teacher treated me like that I would have whacked him upside the head with my guitar.
what grounds then does he have for yelling at the kids, when his own playing fails to impress..The one kid I hope keeps rocking is the 12 year old who at the end plays a amazing solo, kids got it....(teacher don't) thats all oh yeah, most adults who act like the butt monkey teacher end up profiled as weird........aside from the yelling I act the same way its fine, however I play a meaner blues and I am not as much of a honker as said butt monkey....Ps I know my grammar sucks, then again this is not about me........Peace movie fans M.Run. I have to go practice and tell them they suck..
Rock School is just great, both as entertainment and certainly succeeds as a documentary.
I would like to address the heavy handedness that others reviewing this film seem to take at the Zappa-heavy content or the tearing apart of Paul Green, the namesake of the Paul Green School of Rock.
You meet the kids, the instructor, and some parents and are constantly and linearly drawn to what feels like a very organic conclusion.
Paul Green is completely right in his teaching technique.
Paul Green is completely wrong in his teaching technique.
Rock School is extremely entertaining and very interesting and compelling because of one thing Paul says early in the film...
The best part of the documentary is the way there is the prodigy juxtaposed with the sad emo kid, who was my favorite character...
This could have been very interesting but the film maker wanted to talk about "the characters" in the school and the school director (who comes off as a 40 y.o. peter pan with ADD and a foul temper) rather than the obviously hard working and gifted musicians that make up the "star group" of the school.
That is a pity because they could have had for once a documentary about kids finding their way rather than losing themselves but the filmmaker went rather with the caricatural: -the genius overachiever (the good) -there's the tortured teenager (the bad) -the 9 year old twins who would not know what a beat (or singing in tune) is if it came up and hit them in the head (the comic relief) -the school director who spends his time screaming and berating these kids like it's boot camp time in full metal jacket (bare in mind these kids are between the ages of 9 and 17)- (the ugly) - Even after their triumph at the Zappa fest you don't see him once high five a kid or give him or her a compliment.
I like rock music.
I love seeing teenagers fulfill their dreams.I could not stomach watching this horrible teacher, Paul Green, crush kids spirits, cursing them, ripping instruments out of their hands, throwing them out of the room, making fun of students who obviously have depression issues, ridiculing them both in front of them and behind their backs.
And the ridiculousness of it all is that he says he's not qualified to teach, but he's just a "really good teacher".
And as for the statement he makes, "You know, I mean, it wasn't just like, 'Well, since my band didn't make it, I'll teach guitar and be all bitter.'" Um...
There were a lot of very talented kids, and there seemed to be plenty of qualified music instructors in this show.
The problem with this movie for me, watching it with my 6-year-old daughter, was that this absolute jerk running the show clearly has no idea about what rock and roll is as I know it.
I would say if you liked The School of Rock, this is its bastard cousin, filled with profanity and a guy who starts screaming and then says he needs more coffee.
Paul Green, while some of his antics aren't typical of music teachers, really gets through to the kids.
The culmination of the film (seeing how the film doesn't thrive on a what could happen type ending, I don't think this is a spoiler, if anything I would think it would make people want to see the movie), a performance of the most talented students at a Frank Zappa tribute festival.
Overall I would say this movie really made me want to dive back into music.
With talent like this, they really make you believe that Rock and Roll will live forever.