School of Rock (2003)

One of the best movies to depict probably one of the worst acts to be done is School of Rock, released in 2003. Directed by Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused, A Scanner Darkly), written by Mike White (Nacho Libre), and starring the always entertaining and very likeable Jack Black, it makes the idea of passing yourself off as a substitute teacher in order to use a bunch of elementary school kids as your rock band and then, at least legally, actually kidnapping them in order to take them to an audition so as to win a rock band competition!

So, having gotten that out of my system, this is one of the coolest, funniest, most bad-ass rock movies to have been made in Hollywood. The perfect combination of great music (songs you can hear come from bands such as Led Zeppelin - Immigrant Song - and AC/DC - It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock'n'Roll)), great acting, a really original script and, of course, the POWER OF ROCK.

Jack Black's depiction of an ageing, wannabe rock star is marevelously funny and best of all, very accurate! Without getting into the whole this-is-what-the-movie-is-all-about thing, I just want to say that it's very funny the way Black shows his character to the audience, but it's also very realistic. And while some people might find pathetic the way Jack Black's character, Dewey Finn (what a rock god name, huh?), tries at all costs to win the competition, there is also a lot to be admired from his portrayal of Finn in this movie.

Dewey Finn is the type of guy that most people love to feel pity for, but he's also the type of person that most people secretly admire: the one who never quits and will do anything to make his dreams come true.

Sure, there is a lot to be said for this movie. Besides being funny and having a very original script, it has a soundtrack most movies would kill for, solid acting (the gang of rocking kids is very well played), and a great production value in that it really knows what the hell it's talking about when it comes down to giving us some rock. The DVD includes many interesting extras, but there is one that definitely takes the cake. Being well known for not lending their music to many movies, Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song was still an integral part of a scene in the movie and they had to be able to secure it for the production. Jack Black took things into his own hands by, during the shooting of a concert scene, pleading in front of the cameras to Robert Plant and Jimmy Page in order to get their divine permission. Needless to say, they got it.

You want to have a really good time? You want to listen to some great music? You want to check out a character that maybe all of us could learn a little from? You want to check out probably one of the best end-credits scenes ever shot? You need your School of Rock fix.