School of Rock

The School of Rock (2003) is a comedy film starring Jack Black. The film was written specifically for Black by Mike White, and directed by Richard Linklater. more...

Tagline: He just landed the gig of his life: 5th grade.

Plot

Black plays Dewey Finn, a talented 30-year-old heavy metal/hard rock singer and guitarist with a reputation for being difficult to work with. His antics on-stage get him kicked out of his band, and his roommate, a substitute teacher (played by White) threatens eviction unless he gets a real job and pays his share of the rent. A call from a principal (played by Joan Cusack) asking for his roommate's services lead him to impersonate his roommate and get a job as a fifth-grade teacher at a prestigious prep school. He takes the job to make a little money with as little effort as possible. When he discovers that some of the kids in the class have musical talent, he decides to turn his temporary job into what he tells them is a special school project but is actually a personal one: turn a classroom full of kids into a band and crew, complete with a ten-year-old manager (played by Miranda Cosgrove), which can back him at lead vocals and help him win a local "Battle of the Bands" contest.

Supporting actors in the film include Joan Cusack, Sarah Silverman, Adam Pascal, and an (uncredited) Frank Whaley Kevin Clark

Awards and nominations

The film has been nominated for several awards, including a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor - Comedy or Musical, and won Black an MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance.

Controversy concerning origins

A School of Rock was founded in Philadelphia in 1998 by musician Paul Green and was the subject of a recent award-winning documentary. Green's program, personality, and life story may have influenced many of the aspects of the film. However, no credit was given to the program for inspiration. The school now has locations in Philadelphia, New York City, Downingtown, Cherry Hill, Somers Point, Bergen County, Bucks County, Salt Lake City, and San Fransisco.

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