School of Rock

School of Rock
October 3, 2003
Paramount
Comedy, Musical
DVD
B-

This movie isn't as funny as I remembered, although Jack Black (cast to type) does well in the lead role, as does Joan Cusack (cast somewhat against type) as the uptight school principal.  There are a lot of stereotypes in the roles, particularly the kids (although "Fancypants" amuses me), and I could've done without the extent to which writer Mike White plays the best friend role as a doormat.  Also, there are too many moments when Black's character cons people too easily.  That said, the movie is likable enough and the music is pretty good.

MacIntire Dixon was Cole Oyl in Popeye and a Bachelor Party Guest in In & Out, while he's the Bus Driver here.  And Kate McGregor-Stewart was Aunt Becky in In & Out and plays Mrs. Lemmons here.  Lian Moy was a Patron in The Royal Tenenbaums and is a Student here.  Mandy Siegfried was Hana the Hostess in Two Weeks Notice and is Female Employee here.  Heather Goldenhersh is Sheila here and would be Martha Pomeroy in Kinsey.  Carlos Velazquez is a Musician here and would be a Waiter in Music and Lyrics.

Any questions?

High Fidelity

High Fidelity
March 31, 2000
Touchstone
Comedy, Romance
DVD
A

As I said in my review of the book, http://rereadingeverybookiown.blogspot.com/2013/09/high-fidelity.html, this is an example of how sometimes the movie is better than the book.  I have seen this movie in a revival theater with a very appreciative crowd and I have seen it by myself, and I think I've seen it with one or two boyfriends.  It remains wise, silly, romantic, cynical, and endlessly quotable.  ("Kathleen Turner Overdrive" is funnier in itself than the average full-length comedy, and that's just one throwaway gag.)  Now that I have my own (failing) business, I can appreciate the film on yet another level.  The performances are great, not just those I tagged but just about everyone in the movie.  But, yes, John Cusack, who also co-wrote and co-produced the film, manages to be Everyman and a music geek at the same time.  His sister Joan is perfect as his sort of ex's friend Liz.  Jack Black gives a tour de force (and force of nature) performance as over-the-top Barry (one of the "musical moron twins" who work in Rob's store).  And Tim Robbins, in a ponytail, hits just the right notes as Ian/Ray.

In fact, the film is so wonderful I really don't know what to add except that I thoroughly enjoyed it.  As with the other two A's (Some Like It Hot and Groundhog Day), I don't know what would make it into an A+.  Maybe if the ending were a little tighter (or rather the lead-up to it), since it feels like the movie is going to have a neat Hollywood ending, but then it changes gears to give a more complex and happier ending.  This is a quibble though, and I could make others, but if the film teaches us anything it's that things don't have to be perfect to be wonderful.

Marilyn Dodds Frank plays Alison's Mom and would be Woman Who Bought Television in The 40-Year-Old Virgin.  Penny Marshall allegedly is one of the people at the funeral.

Note, as with my book blog, I'm using "2000s" to mean anything from Y2K onward, because I honestly haven't even seen that many new movies in the last few years, so I understandably don't own many from the current decade.

Bob Roberts

Bob Roberts
September 4, 1992
Miramax
Comedy, Drama
VHS
B-

This "documentary" about the imaginary title politician, a "rebel conservative" whose folk singing parodies Dylan, is not exactly dated, in that it's very specifically set 1990-91, so much as it's a time capsule.  It matters that it's not only set in the months leading up to that particular Gulf War, but that this is long before Sarah Palin and the Tea Party and the rest of the more laughable but scary elements of the modern Republican Party.

It stars 33-year-old Tim Robbins, who also wrote and directed it.  His political rival is perfectly cast, Gore Vidal, then 67 but looking older and more tired than that.  (The novelist and essayist was himself the grandson of a senator, and he provides an insider's viewpoint.)  More surprising casting is that of Roberts's power behind the throne, Alan Rickman, as Lukas Hart III, here sounding very American and fast-talking.

I would actually recommend this movie most for the cast.  Not that it's boring or anything, but the satire is never as sharp or as funny as it should be.  When the movie satirizes Saturday Night Live in the guise of Cutting Edge, it's a bit glass-housey, as is some of the political satire.  (The music satire is actually fairly savvy, as in the INXS-like music video.)  The movie also seems to want to be a mystery and a drama, or even a tragedy.  There is some good acting and some hmmm moments, but it's not up there with mockumentaries like Zelig or Spinal Tap.

Allan Nichols was Rough House in Popeye and plays the director of Cutting Edge here.  Brent Hinkley, who's Bif the Patriot here, was Larry in Zapped Again!  Joe Shelby, who has an uncredited role as a doctor here, would be an uncredited bus rider in Dogma.  Bob Balaban plays Michael Janes here and would be Morris Weissman in Gosford Park.  Robbins's long-time partner Susan Sarandon appears as a TV news anchor, while Helen Hunt is a reporter.  This time Peter Gallagher plays Dan Riley.

Both John Cusack (the Cutting Edge host) and Jack Black (obsessed fan Roger Davis) would of course appear in High Fidelity, which would have one of the vigilantes here, Brian Powell, as Middle Aged Customer.  And the screenplay would be by Steve Pink, who's the Penn State Professor here.