Rock School

Add this energetic but ragged overview of the Paul Green School of Rock Music in Philadelphia to the burgeoning list of documentaries about the tribulations and triumphs of youngsters and the teachers who inspire them. Of the many students who fill the charmingly ramshackle joint where kids are taught to play classic rock rather than contemporary favorites, two are especially memorable: C.J. Tywoniak, an incredibly talented 12-year-old guitarist, and Will O'Connor, a gawky brooding teen who credits the school with saving him from suicide. But Rock School's focus is not so much on the kids as it is on teacher Paul Green, a voluble, ranting fellow who's presented here as a heroic savior not only of his students but of rock itself. In fact, the film mirrors Green's personality with its almost chaotic, stream-of-conscious style, ultimately culminating in the school band's performance at the Zappanale in Germany, where legions of Frank Zappa fans assemble each year. Unfortunately, Green remains a somewhat disquieting figure throughout, employing teaching methods so extreme—combining explosive insults with obscenity-laden outbursts—that it's questionable whether the students are being encouraged or abused. Optional. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary (by filmmaker Don Argott, producer Sheena Joyce, and editor Demian Fenton), 20 deleted scenes (25 min. total), and trailers. Bottom line: a fine extras package for an uneven doc.] (F. Swietek)