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Rock School (2005)
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Movie Review by Corey 
June 3rd, 2005
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For as long as there have been riotous rock gods, there have been candy sweet pop stars; a Rebel Yell yin to a Material Girl yang that forms the balance of much of modern American popular music. Within the continuum of the past fifty or so years, the two sides have traded the top-slot of the "at that moment" musical Zeitgeist. Perhaps then, it is a commentary of the current state of this battle for our hearts, minds and dollars that we need a school to actually teach kids how to rock and a man like Paul Green (no relation) to be its teacher.
Green is the founder, overseer, and self-appointed almighty of the Rock School in Philadelphia where he preaches the gospel of Hendrix, Zeppelin and The Who. All are the subjects of Don Argott's documentary titled, appropriately enough, ROCK SCHOOL. Argott's jittery hand-held cameras and strangely constant use of the "fish-eye" lens not only follow Green, but the talented and non-talented tykes, pre-teens and teens that make up the swelling student body. If pop music is about pretty voices, faces and mid-riff, then rock is for the outcast in the rest of us and the students profiled herein fit that mold. The most compelling of which may be Will, a previously suicidal teen whose lack of musical aptitude is far out-matched by his intelligence. Or perhaps CJ, who at twelve can already rip a "face-melting" guitar solo with a virtuosity and feeling way beyond his years.
I suspect that many modern parents who see Green's teaching methods on display might be a bit shocked. By turns, Green will yell, curse and throw things if his students do not play to his liking. But he is also supportive, funny, and overall treats the kids like they are adults. Is this wrong? Is Green just mugging for the camera? Perhaps. Yet this is rock-n-roll, not ballet or gymnastics. It may just take a taskmaster - most successful rock bands would tell you they had one - to get results; and it is tough to argue with his success. Green's most talented kids fly - as a band - to Germany to play Zappanale, a huge Frank Zappa festival. Zappa's music is notoriously complex and the kids nail it, with the added bonus of playing with some of Zappa's band members onstage.
This all may sound familiar to you, especially if you have seen Richard Linklater's SCHOOL OF ROCK starring Jack Black. Indeed, ROCK SCHOOL makes no mention of that film as it went into production before the latter. Meanwhile, SCHOOL OF ROCK pays no debt to Green and his kids. While whether or not Linklater and screenwriter Mike White knew about Green's school remains in doubt, this does not: Rock School and its leader fight the good fight against every navel shake of an oversexed teen pop idol. ROCK SCHOOL, the movie, is a good little documentary with a cool soundtrack that will keep you head-banging throughout.
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