Jack Black in "School of Rock"
courtesy of Paramount Pictures
"Rockin' Black Is On A Roll"

ATLANTA: Jack Black is a whirling dervish in his movies. He is so frenetic that he seems to be moving fast even when he is sitting still. So I was amazed when I sat down to interview him in Atlanta recently that he appeared calm and virtually serene. 

Maybe it was the early morning hour but his energy level appeared to be low at the start of our interview but it perked up as our talk progressed. He answered my questions about his career and particularly his new film "School of Rock" precisely and with a clarity I didn't suspect he had.

I first talked to him about working with children in a film. I reminded him of W. C. Fields admonition to actors to never work with children or animals. "Or Jack Black," he responded. "I think W C Fields said you should never work with children, animals or Jack Black,"

He then went on to say that the kids in the movie were all super talented and good actors. "I got along with them fine," he said. And then seeing my skepticism he added, "I really did. I cleaned up my language a little and just acted like one of them."

When I mentioned he seemed perfect for the role of Dewey Finn, he nodded his head knowingly. "It was written for me," he said, and then added, "I think Adam Sandler could have played the part."

When I replied that I couldn't see Sandler giving it what he had, he screamed out to the universe, "Hear that Adam Sandler, you couldn't have played this part!!!!"

Black said he was going to continue making music with his band Tenacious D, and that he had a couple of movies already wrapped. One is with Ben Stiller and is called "Envy" (hope it is better than "Duplex").

In the meantime he is settling into the role of being a leading man. "I guess you could call me that," he says, wiggling his eyebrows up and down. "I mean I am the leading man in this one."

Jack Black is a rock and troll kind of guy. He has his music, his movies, and his own sense of humor. He says it is all going just fine, and I believe him.

 

 

 

 

 

©2003 Jackie K. Cooper

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