MovieChat Forums > Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage (2023) Discussion > SMACK JACK BLACK!

SMACK JACK BLACK!

posted 14 years ago by Karunesh
29 replies | jump to latest

Was anyone else highly annoyed by Jack Black's commentary in this film? While he claims to be a Rush fan he seems to be mocking the band at the same time - like it's some sort of "ironic" or "kitsch" thing for someone as cool as he to be into a "uncool" band like Rush. Case in point - when he's reading the lyrics to "Spirit of Radio" (with lines quoted out of order) he's making goofy wide-eyed faces and talking in an overly mock-dramatic tone. It almost seemd like he was actually doing his "character" from "King Kong" ("Twas beauty that killed the beast")He then makes some comment about Rush lyrics sounding so "sincere" while sounding very insincere in his own "love" for the band. Did anyone else notice this?

K

[–] soozm32 14 years ago

And he can't pronounce Neil's last name correctly!

[–] goodbyeenemyairship 14 years ago

I think he was just really high when they did that interview. That's how he acts when he is baked. He's a major fan. And his segments were hilarious. He and Sebastian Bach stole it (I believe that Bach was a bit drunk himself, maybe there is a pattern...).

[–] bfk_94 14 years ago

Bach's little bit about how Rush is the only band that got him into literature was hilarious!!!

[–] miked272001 14 years ago

Sebastian was cool. As a side point, my brother was backstage at a Rush show & was hanging out with Sebastian's son. Pretty cool. Jack Black was just annoying though. I don't think he's funny at all. And he did try to make it about himself instead of Rush.

Get busy livin..... or die tryin - Morgan Freeman, "The Shawshank Redemption"

[–] sjankis630 13 years ago

I loved that part. I liked when he said,(paraphrased)
"Rush got me into learning French! I can't even understand what he is saying in English!"
too funny.

[–] Mosepipe 14 years ago

I down right hated them in this.

He tried to make it about himself, and it just wasn't funny.

[–] hanfuzzy 14 years ago

I loved Jack's stuff. It gave variety, so the interviews weren't all from straight musicians or industry folk. (That's why Matt Stone was another good inclusion). Black is both musician and comedian and does musical comedy, so he can relate well.

His style is to pay tribute to the sincerity of hard rock and metal, but to mock its often over-the-top or pretentious (to the point of presposterous) nature at the same time. He knows that it's all about entertainment, assuming a role and putting on a show, and that taking it TOO seriously is the real danger. So when he says something in fan/critic mode that could be read as pretentious, he goes into trailer-voice to show that he is aware that his own statements could be taken as exaggerated. (Peart himself is creeped out by over-sincere fandom).

But it all comes from a love of the subject. He wouldn't be able to quote songs note-for-note or write & perform such bang-on parody if he didn't have a strong connection to the source material.

Going into ultra-serious (silly) voice is how he shows affection. If anything, he's mocking those who are ironic or "kitsch" fans rather than sincere fans.

[–] keith66-1 14 years ago

That's just how Jack is. He acts like that pretty much all of the time. He's not trying to be a douche, just himself, which maybe some people would liken to a douche.

[–] MarshallStax 11 years ago

by - hanfuzzy on Wed Jun 30 2010 21:16:32
I loved Jack's stuff. It gave variety, so the interviews weren't all from straight musicians or industry folk. (That's why Matt Stone was another good inclusion). Black is both musician and comedian and does musical comedy, so he can relate well...

...Going into ultra-serious (silly) voice is how he shows affection. If anything, he's mocking those who are ironic or "kitsch" fans rather than sincere fans.

Thank you. There is a lot of hate for Jables, and I think he is close to wearing out his welcome even with those of us who like him, but it's very telling that a person's tolerance for him seems to go hand-in-hand with getting the meta-act he puts on. See anything Tenacious D has done for a clearer understanding of this concept.

All Art is pretense.

[–] shaun3701-1 14 years ago

He actually made an appearance on stage at one of their concerts in 2004 on the R30 tour. I was there in Irvine, CA... he ran out on stage during 2112 and stripped to his underwear, striking the "starman" pose. It was pretty awesome.

[–] tatomberlin 14 years ago

I dug Jack in the film. In a way, he's like many of my fellow Rush fans. Stoned, intelligent, funny...and a musician. I like Sebastian Bach a lot...but every time I see him on a screen, I worry about him!

[–] wagnbrner 13 years ago

I saw this same concert, and up until this point I thought he was completely lame and talentless. I still think he's pretty lame and talentless, but it's cool that he was able to get onstage with Rush :)
But yeah, he was so out of place in this documentary. I mean, really, who cares what Jack Black thinks? What makes him qualified to be in this, much less singing Spirit of the Radio? He was annoying.

[–] MarshallStax 11 years ago

by wagnbrner (Mon Feb 14 2011 22:48:33)

...I mean, really, who cares what Jack Black thinks? What makes him qualified to be in this, much less singing Spirit of the Radio?...

Your argument is invalid since you have gotten the name of a Rush song wrong on a message board about a Rush movie, frequented by Rush fans. Oh, dear...

All Art is pretense.

[–] Bored_Identity 14 years ago

I don't think there's any doubt he's a Rush fan. And there's not doubt in my mind that he was totally sincere in his love for the band. He's worked Rush references into at least two of his films, that I know of, School of Rock, and Hi Fidelity (when he enters the store, he's singing the guitar part to Jacob's Ladder) I thought his commentary on the band was hilarious and totally sincere. And I agree with him... their bottle of Rocket Sauce has been flowing for years with no stop in sight. That is a huge compliment from someone who is so into rock music.

[–] tsrts 14 years ago

No sir, Jack Black's segments were high-larious

[–] pkhall1 14 years ago

Jack is awesome. He is funny and cool and has great musical taste.

[–] Quanfa 14 years ago

Jack Black, Billy Corgan and Trent Reznor's comments gave some massive credibility to an otherwise fantastic documentary. Jack Black was being Jack Black. What did you expect him to do - sound like a college professor giving a lecture? He's a goofy guy - but he's also really funny. It shows the diversity of the Rush fan.

[–] 14 years ago

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