Bandslam

Just take a look at the poster for Bandslam and think about if that's a movie that I would ever want to see, let alone actually like.  Done thinking? I imagine that it didn't take very long to come to the conclusion that this isn't the movie for me. It has kind of a High School Musical sort of feel to it, even discounting the stars. Which is entirely wrong. The marketing for the movie did it a complete disservice, taking a pretty smart teen comedy and making it look like utter drivel.

Will Burton (Gaelan Connell) is not exactly your normal teenager. He's never really fit in with the rest of his school. Maybe it has something to do with him being completely obsessed with music, to the point where he writes letters to David Bowie. So, unlike most teenagers, he's overjoyed to have his mom (Lisa Kudrow) get a new job, forcing them to move far away. It's the chance for Will to start a new life.

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It Might Get Loud:

Director Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth) says that the idea for It Might Get Loud came from when a financier came to him with the money to make a film about the electric guitar.  Which is exactly what he delivered.  For the film is as much about the instrument as it is about those who play it.

The film brings together three guitarists from different generations, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), The Edge (U2), and Jack White (The White Stripes) to tell the stories of the guitars that got them started playing.  In their first electric guitars you can really catch a glimpse into their personalities.  Jimmy Page's Fender Stratocaster is hard rocking and classic.  The Edge's Gibson Explorer has a futuristic high tech look, with a great sound.  Jack White's old, beat up, Kay Hollowbody fits in perfectly with the sort of punk rock Luddite persona he's created.  You couldn't find three more different approaches to the music if you tried. 

The more the film gets into the backstories of the musicians, the more different they become.  Page is all training and professional musicianship, working for years as a studio musician, he probably has far greater ability than either of the others, but is perfectly happy to play the role of elder statesman.  Edge is technologically obsessed, constantly fiddling with effects and tuning.  He's well spoken, and obviously comfortable relating his personal narrative, as befits the lead guitarist of what's probably the biggest band in the world.  White is a mass of contradictions, seemingly against all technology, and yet modifying a guitar to include things like a built in microphone.  He only allows glimpses behind the layers of public persona.

It Might Get Loudis an interesting portrait of three generations of guitarists, and the instruments they play, but it isn't a perfect film.  Having three distinct storylines muddles the overall narrative at times.  Some scenes seem to carry on for far too long, especially when it's just someone jamming on a guitar (interesting for a little while, but noodling around gets old fast).  I enjoyed the experience, but it wasn't exactly groundbreaking. 

Grade: B-

High Fidelity:

Or, How I Lost My Girl, Lost My Mind, and Found Them Both Again

I was nervous about this film going in.  Adapting anything is tricky, but adapting my favorite book is even worse.  I'll have to say that I was pleasantly surprised.  The film manages to capture both the tone and style of the book, without just being a direct copy.  What changes were made, (like changing the setting to Chicago instead of London and the location of a few scenes) didn't have any negative impact on the story.  Rob Gordon (instead of Fleming) is just as desperate, and messed up, while still being likable as he is in the book.  He constantly speaks directly to the camera, often lifting entire sections of dialogue from the book.  It really gives you an insight into his character.  It isn't a perfect film, but it's highly enjoyable.

The scoring:

Writing:

The dialogue is quite good.  It has a great sense of humor, while still being dramatic.  The plot is simple, but effective.  The characters aren't especially complex, other than Rob, but it's his story so that isn't a huge problem.  0.9/1

Directing:

The pacing is great, moving things along at the perfect pace.  The visuals aren't exactly boring, but nothing special.  I would say that it's a very solid, professional job that lets the material and actors take center stage.  Nothing wrong with that.  0.8/1

Acting:

John Cusack is perfect for this part.  He has the same sort of likable, yet kind of a jerk quality that Rob has in the book.  I couldn't have cast it better if I tried.  His performance is spot on.  The casting of Iben Hjejle as Laura never seemed quite right.  She's perfectly fine, but it didn't ever click with me.  Todd Louiso (Dick) and Jack Black (Barry) are perfect in their small supporting roles.  They just fit.  The rest of the cast (Lisa Bonet, Joan Cusack, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Tim Robbins) have small, but important parts that are played to their fullest.  It's a deep cast led by a great leading man.  0.85/1

Technical:

The design is great.  Everything has that perfect lived in, used look that it should.  The Chicago locations are different and fun.  Certainly better than if it had been set in New York.  Nothing special, but fine work all the same.  0.7/1

History:

Hasn't ever been a huge massive film.  Didn't have a big impact historically.  A cult favorite, that's well remembered all around.   0.45/1

Entertainment:

I was highly, highly entertained.  It has massive amounts of rewatchabilty for me.  The characters never fail to suck me in.  Maybe I've just read the book too many times, but watching the film is like a trip down memory lane for me.  But I think you'll enjoy it too.  0.9/1

Misc.:

0.2 for the soundtrack.  It's freaking amazing.  I'm playing it right this minute, and it's been in the rotation ever since the first time I heard it.  0.1 for Bruce Springsteen.  Not in the book, but it fits just perfectly.  0.1 for Jack Black going all in for "Let's Get it On."  I love the song, and the performance is great.  0.1 for the different scenarios for when Ray comes into the shop.  Hilarious.

Overall: 5.1/6.8

I highly enjoy it, and I think you will too.  Go out and see it.

School of Rock:

Or, How I Learned to Stick it to the Man, Whoever (S)he Is

Dewey Finn is the part that Jack Black was born to play.  It plays to all his strengths; manic energy, kind of a slacker, some musical talent and relates well with kids.  Which makes School of Rocksort of a love it or hate it endeavor.  If you like Jack Black, which I generally do, you'll really like this.  If you don't like him, then you'll probably hate it.  I find it to a be a likeable, fun flick with a great cast of kid actors and a pretty dang good soundtrack.  It may be completely ridiculous, and not particularly smart but I always find myself enjoying it.  Maybe because deep down inside (or not so deep down) I want to be sticking it to the man.

The scoring:

Writing:

I'm a fan of Mike White, back from his days on Freaks and Geeks all the way through Orange Countyand up to this film.  This has his usual flair for funny, off the wall characters and dialogue.  There isn't really a lot of depth to the characters, or the plot, but it's fairly solid.  0.8/1

Directing:

This kind of slacker/burn out character driven film is right in Richard Linklater's wheelhouse.  He's a capable director that has an unspectacular, but good visual style and a good sense of comedic pacing.  Good work.  0.75/1

Acting:

Jack Black is very good in a role that really doesn't have much degree of difficulty for him.  But he plays well off the child actors, most of which have no other experience.  It's never easy to work with a cast of complete neophytes, so big props on that.  Mike White and Sarah Silverman do stand up jobs as basically Black's straight men.  Joan Cusack is her normal neurotic self.  0.8/1

Technical:

The production design is very good, in both the prep school and the rock worlds.  Things felt at least somewhat authentic.  Which is a big plus.  Otherwise, just a solid family comedy.  0.65/1

History:

Was a big hit, and has developed something of a following.  But it isn't exactly a classic.  0.4/1

Entertainment:

I find it to be highly entertaining.  Light, fun and energetic with a decent cast, good dialogue and good soundtrack.  Nothing to complain about there.  Not something that will really stick with you though.  Pretty much, you enjoy while you watch, but forget about it soon afterward.  0.85/1

Misc.:

0.2 for the music.  Both the originals and the pre-recorded stuff.  Very entertaining, one of the best parts of the film.  0.1 for the rock flow chart on the board.  Fun and educational.  0.1 for "the Man" speech.  Classic.  0.1 for the handshake.  Overcomplicated that.

Overall: 4.75/6.8

Lots of fun, I always enjoy it and recommend it with no reservations.