School of Rock Blu-ray delivers great video and audio in this excellent Blu-ray release
Down and out rock star Dewey Finn gets fired from his band, and he faces a mountain of debts and depression. He takes a job as a 4th grade substitute teacher at an uptight private school where his attitude and hijinx have a powerful effect on his students. He also meets Zack, a 10-year-old guitar prodigy, who could help Dewey win a "battle of the bands" competition, which would solve his financial problems and put him back in the spotlight.
The movies are fun again. And they rock. School of Rock charms from beginning to end with its energy, sincerity,
and heart. It's
Fantasy, Comedy, and Drama all rolled into one. It's pure escapism, a movie comprised of childhood dreams fulfilled, seen
through the eyes of children
and the child in everyone in a movie in which school does what it should: bring out the best in everyone, unearth hidden
talents, develop skills, and
open
doorways for people to find their purposes in life, to discover who they are inside and encourage a flourish of personal
success. It's a universal tale of
acceptance, of finding
one's own inner beat and the rhythm to which they move in life, of discovering the real talent and the real person behind
stringent rules, stuffy
decorum, and antiquated ways of doing things. And isn't that what Rock 'N' Roll really is, about not only bucking the
establishment and
"sticking it to the man" but discovering
one's own self through music, through friendship, through living. School or Rock is a modern classic that
lights up the screen (and, of
course, sound systems) and shows that in the movies or in the grind of life, a little music and a whole lot of heart can go a
long way in proving to the
world that, sometimes, it's good to have a little bit of rebel and Rock 'N' Roll in one's life.
Bwwwaaaaaa!
Dewey Finn (Jack Black, Bernie) is a midlevel local musician who's good
on the guitar but not
all that great with the band. He's a one-man show in a multi-man outfit, and his show is flopping. Badly. He loves music and
lives for Rock 'N' Roll.
He drives the
quintessential Rock van, a beater with shag carpet on the ceiling, covered in Rock band bumper stickers inside and out, and it
spits out enough
fumes to choke to death anyone within thirty feet. So when his band, called "No Vacancy," votes him off the proverbial
island, he's understandably
crushed. He's also bummed, literally, because if he cannot come up with the cash to pay several month's worth of back rent,
he's going to be out on
his bum and living like a bum out of the back of his van. He's shacking up with one-time rocker, longtime friend, and now
substitute teacher Ned
Schneebly (Mike White) who is pressured by his girlfriend Patty Di Marco (Sarah Silverman) to force Dewey into paying his
share of the rent or face
the consequences. Dewey can't take two boots so closely together. When he answers a phone call meant for Ned, he takes
the opportunity to cash
in and take a job meant for his good buddy instead.
Of course, Dewey doesn't know the first thing about substituting (let alone teaching), which could be a problem at any school.
It's a greater problem
when he pulls into the prestigious Horace Green Elementary, a $15,000-per-year preparatory school where the students are
expected to excel in
every classical subject. The school is headed by the uptight and stringent Rosalie Mullins (Joan Cusack, Working Girl) who suspects that the
highly-touted "Mr. Schneebly"
isn't really all he's cracked up to be in the substitute world when he appears more concerned with lunch and the hour school
lets out than molding
the young minds of tomorrow. Yet she takes him on for an extended gig, anyway. Dewey's clearly lost in the classroom. He
knows nothing but
music and his passion burns hotly for his classic Gibson electric guitar. When the students are dismissed to music practice,
Dewey sneaks a peak
and sees that the entire class shows some promise on their instruments. He brings in another guitar, a bass, a keyboard, and
a drum set. He picks
out a few students and forms a classroom band and involves all the other students in one way or another: costume design,
lighting, backup vocals,
security, and
even management. Suddenly, Dewey's in his comfort zone and he quickly learns that the kids have real musical
talent. As he teaches
them the art of Rock 'N' Roll and prepares them to participate in the local "Battle of the Bands," they must keep their
activities hidden from Miss
Millins or risk losing everything they've come to love and the teacher who's opened them up to a brand new world of musical
possibilities.
School of Rock is all Jack Black. This is the actor at his comic best in a career-defining performance that sees him
extend his range to its
fullest but also remain grounded in who he is, enjoying a comfort level that allows for a more energized, honest, seamless
effort as he
dominates the part simply by having fun with it, getting in tune with his inner-rocker, and going to town with all the
exaggerated moves, looks, and
dialogue that shape the character but seem 100% Jack. In School of Rock, Black absolutely inhabits the "goofball
smart-alec with a big
heart
and a penchant for
wiggling into and out of sticky situations" character and falls so completely into that character that he masks a whole
lot of other less-polished performances from his peers. Most of the children are fine in the parts that call for mostly shy or
slightly frightened
students to gradually discover their inner rock star (or supportive part of the rock star life). Black is fantastic as he slowly but
surely unearths and
molds each talent and brings the group into unison, harmonically and cohesively alike. Black's ability to instruct and befriend
the students and enjoy
the music is
easily the movie's brightest and best asset. This is a rare performance that completely defines a movie from beginning to
end; School of
Rock wouldn't be the same, or even much of anything, without the energy, charisma, and naturalism Black brings to the
part in every scene.
Of course, there's much more to School of Rock than just Jack Black, even as he effortlessly carries the movie on his
shoulders. Though the
movie is structurally level and dramatically linear, the lack of surprise, mystery, or anything else is more than made up for by
raw charm and
toe-tapping fun. It's a blast to simply sit back and vicariously live the dream, not just enjoying the easy life at school through
the students but
becoming inspired to reach, to do more than a curriculum demands or a parent wishes. It's the themes that sparkle,
and when a movie
accomplishes so much on theme, it can get away with an absence of drama and an abundance of transparency when the
enjoyment comes from
the fulfillment of the dream, not the opening of the mystery door at the end. There's a lot to be learned in the movie, and not
just about rock
bands. This is a movie about life, about what it means to be alive, the importance of discovering talents and taking full
advantage of God-given
talents. It's also equally about encouraging rather discouraging gifts and talents and wants, about breaking away from the
standard, if that is what
one is meant to do, and chase dreams fully and without remorse. Sometimes life breaks guitar strings, sometimes nobody's
there to catch the
diving rock star, but School of Rock encourages people to restring or get up and go for it again, to maintain focus and
strive to live the
dream no matter
what anyone else says or wants.
School of Rock enrolls onto Blu-ray with a steady and sturdy 1080p transfer. This is a fine image, a strongly filmic one
that captures good
details
and offers solid colors at every turn. The image hardly dazzles with extraordinarily complex textures and brilliant shades, but
it's an eye-opener for just
how finely nuanced and natural it appears. Though it can be a hair dim on the whole, colors usually appear accurate and
pleasing throughout. Whether
blue and gray school uniform colors, the warm wood as seen on the Gibson guitar, flashes of multicolored album covers, or
other assorted objects, the
film's many hues refuse to blind but do impress with a good foundation and natural reproduction. Details excel. The image is
naturally sharp and quite
clear, with no real bouts of softness. Facial textures are sufficiently complex, brick walls and surfaces around the school
impress, and close-ups of clothes
reveal subtle little touches that would be lost on lesser transfers. Black levels impress, and flesh tones are true across the
entire human spectrum.
There's no egregious banding, blocking, edge enhancement, or other unwanted elements. Print wear is practically nonexistent.
This is a solid, pleasing
all-around image that replicates a natural cinematic texture and appearance with ease.
School of Rock rolls onto Blu-ray with a steady and oftentimes immersive DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. From
the first beats forward,
listeners will appreciate the consistent clarity and natural presentation of the many classic tunes that play throughout the
movie. There's nothing too
loud, no thrashing, ear-splitting guitar riffs or bass, but the music is treated honestly and plays crisply and with much energy,
satisfying front-end
spacing, and some surround support. There's positive, deep bass lines and electric guitar notes throughout, whether in the
classroom, up on the stage,
or simply as part of the soundtrack. The end "Battle of the Bands" segment in particular impresses with its wide soundstage
and complete, all-immersive
sort of presentation that truly makes the listener feel like a part of the crowd and not a detached observer from afar. Here,
there's a good sense of
ambient immersion as well. Crowd chants and applause gently envelop the listening audience. Likewise, some of the cafeteria
scenes offer much of the
same with a lighter but no less critical environment-defining background din. Dialogue is even and plays steadily through the
center channel. This is a
good all-around track that handles every sonic element with ease and well-above-average clarity, definition, and placement.
School of Rock contains the following supplements:
Audio Commentary: Actor Jack Black and Director Richard Linklater offer a light and fun but detailed and
informative track. They cover
the opening titles, the film's official title (School of Rock versus The School of Rock), their initial attachment to
the project, the script's
evolution, casting the children and the resultant performances, the details of the plot, education in life and as its depicted in
the film, anecdotes from
the set,
and plenty more. This track is nearly as much fun as the movie. A must-listen.
Kids' Kommentary: Joey Gaydos, Kevin Clark, Maryam Hassan, Rebecca Brown, Miranda Cosgrove, Caitlin Hale,
and Robert Tsai hold
their own, enjoying the process and recounting their experiences in the film. Most of the comments are off-the-cuff and
anecdotal, but there are
some quality insights that shed more light on the film from a child's perspective, which is critical to understanding School of
Rock more fully.
Lessons Learned on School of Rock (480p, 24:50): A recounting of the story's origins, casting the parts,
making the music,
stories from the set, the shooting process, making the end concert, and more.
Jack Black's Pitch to Led Zeppelin (480p, 3:35): The actor begs the famed Rock group to allow their music in the
film.
School of Rock Music Video (480p, 3:38).
Kids' Video Diary: Toronto Film Festival (480p, 8:13): A piece that follows the children in the lead up to the
Toronto Film Festival.
MTV's Diary of Jack Black (480p, 16:32): This humorous extra follows Black along for a day in the life of a movie
star. From August 16,
2003.
Dewey Finn's History of Rock (1080p): An interactive chalkboard with several clickable areas that reveal a
genre's top stars and bands
and brief text
biographies for each.
School of Rock is a classic movie about dreaming big, encouragement, and discovering and achieving potential. It's
also a heartfelt Drama
and an always-on Comedy that offers good, balanced, wholesome Rock- and school-inspired humor amidst its genuine
messages. It's also a movie
dominated by its star. Jack Black inhabits the character with an uncanny natural rhythm. He has every subtle move and
gesture down pat. Every line
of dialogue is delivered perfectly, and best of all he seems to simply have fun with the part while not even really acting but
merely playing himself and
wearing his love for music on his sleeve. This is pretty much cinema perfection, an adorable little movie with tons of replay
value and a reminder about
what's really
important in life, with music as a metaphor for grasping onto dreams, developing natural talents, and doing what feels right in
the heart. Paramount's
Blu-ray release of School of Rock features excellent video and audio. A healthy assortment of extras are included.
Very highly recommended.
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