DAVE CHAPPELLE'S BLOCK PARTY

(2005) Director: Michel Gondry

DVD
Netflix

SUMMARY:

Dave Chappelle presents a Brooklyn neighborhood with its very own once-in-a-lifetime free block party. In addition to Chappelle, the roster of artists includes Kanye West, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Common, Dead Prez, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, the Roots, Cody ChesnuTT, Big Daddy Kane, and - reunited for their first performance in over seven years - the Fugees. Includes private rehearsals footage and Chappelle in the small Ohio town he calls home, where he wanders through town handing out golden tickets to invite several dozen citizens to join the party, providing transportation and lodging for their visit to Brooklyn. Ohio's Central State University marching band makes the trip and kicks off the festivities at the intersection of Quincy and Downing Streets. A diverse crowd and Chappelle's freestyle wit guides them (and us) through a celebration of music and comedy, history and community. - Focus Features

VIDEO: CLIPS



More at Hulu.com

REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS, CREDITS:

• Interview with Michel Gondry about Block Party from FilmJerk.com
• Another interview from SuicideGirls.com
• MTV.com article about Block Party
  
• Roger Ebert's review
• Entertainment Weekly review
• Some of Michel Gondry's other work includes: Human Nature (2001), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), Be Kind Rewind (2008)

NOTES:

• In this IGN interview, Dave Chappelle remarks that he has "entertained the idea of doing a sequel, and like all sequels, we would just try to do it bigger and better. I have an idea but I'm scared to publicly pitch it. But I'll tell you this: it has been discussed, and I think it would be spectacular."
• Block Party's format is inspired by the documentary Wattstax.
• The concert was nine hours long.
• Dave Chappelle funded Block Party with his own money.
• Soundtrack available here or listen online
• Official site