ThiefHott Too much of everything

Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

AshUnow This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

D_Burke Dave Chappelle is a comedy genius. There is no doubt about that. He went from being just another comic in the 90's to creating "Chappelle Show" (2002-2005), one of the best comedy shows of the last decade. It's common knowledge that Chappelle himself pulled the plug on his show for reasons that are still not well known, and may not be for years. However, it only elevated his status as a legend, and probably did not hurt the popularity of this movie."Block Party" (also known as "Dave Chappelle's Block Party") is a really good documentary detailing Chappelle putting together . . . well . . . a block party in the Bed Stuy section of Brooklyn. This isn't just any block party, though. It is a concert featuring the best hip-hop and R&B acts, many of whom were featured previously on "Chappelle Show".Because the concert took place on September 18, 2004, there are a handful of stars that were not as famous during filming, but whose fame greatly increased by the time of this film's release. For instance, Kayne West was the opening act (today, he would be the headliner), and John Legend and Keyshia Cole were background singers.What's even more amazing though is that all the performers (presumably hand-picked by Chappelle himself) were not just the most popular artists of the time. Chappelle could have gotten more mainstream rap and hip-hop artists such as Snoop Dogg, Eminem, or Lil Wayne at the drop of a hat. Instead, he assembled The Roots, Mos Def, Talib Queli, Dead Prez, Jill Scott, and Erykah Badu. These artists' songs are not necessarily better than the aforementioned more popular artists, but they are (in my opinion) less dated. It's noteworthy that all the artists have real musicians backing them up. There is also a DJ, but the music that corresponds with the rap lyrics (and singing in Scott's and Badu's cases) is not all prerecorded and re-sampled. There's nothing wrong with using samples, but live instruments make for a more intimate setting, and makes the overall music feel more real. People watching this film 20 years from now will probably agree.So suffice it to say that the music is great, and the concert footage is well-shot. The film cuts back and forth between concert footage, Chappelle himself giving free tickets away to residents in Ohio, and Chappelle interviewing everyone from bystanders to the artists. For a guy who the tabloids suspected canceled his own show because he went crazy, he seems very at ease with anyone and everyone he interviews. He is also very funny in these situations, and anyone who doesn't like rap music will still laugh at Chappelle's antics.Michael Gondry, who directed many music videos and is best known for "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" (2004) and "The Science of Sleep" (2006), directed this picture. He is a filmmaker who is best known for dazzling visual effects, and disappointingly, the only visual effects he has here are the creative letters that come out of Chappelle's bullhorn in the very beginning of the film. I was a little let down when Gondry limited his visual effects to that scene, but then again, this movie does well without bells and whistles.Also, great documentaries tell a story, and this one didn't really seem to. Even "Woodstock" and "Gimme Shelter" (both 1970) told stories. This film just jumps back and forth between interview and concert footage without any real rhyme or reason. In fact, the scene where the woman who owns the Bed Stuy building where the concert will be played in front of reveals her opinion about rap music is repeated once, presumably by accident.The motive for putting on such an epic concert would have aided the story greatly. If Chappelle gave any reason for holding this free concert, he didn't extrapolate on it well enough in the film. If he just felt like bringing some hip-hop acts together, that's okay. He just had to say that. The fact that the reunited Fugees served as the secret headliner may have influenced his decision to hold the concert, but again, he just had to give a reason. The fact that he did not specify a motive didn't ruin my enjoyment of the film, but it still would have been nice to know.Otherwise, though, true fans of hip-hop will love this movie. Dave Chappelle fans will find this movie funny too. Moviegoers who are not fans of either may find themselves converted by the time the credits roll, provided they don't expect Rick James to make a cameo.

katie-kotler I was thrilled to learn that Gondry put out a book with Picturebox Inc., called, "You'll Like This Film Because You're In It: The Be Kind Rewind Protocol." The book talks about the experience of filming Block Party, how weird it was for him as a French man from Versailles filming some for Dave Chappelle and his friends. Gondry then goes onto to describe his project to create a film Utopia: different communities film themselves and then play it in theaters.Amidst his French jokes, "my ego was eaten up with every sauce", Gondry's goal is to "prove that people can enjoy their time without being part of the commercial system and serving it...Ultimately I am hoping to create a network of creativity and communication that is guaranteed to be free and independent from any commercial institution." This book is intended for admirers and independent filmmakers and can even be used as an educational tool.It's great, Gondry's anecdotes are great he is a special weird man. Highly recommended.

jaredmobarak It is very refreshing to see a Michel Gondry film with hardly any descriptive marks to tell you he made it. Besides the opening titles being drawn in bright colors on the fence behind Dave Chappelle and the one instance where we hear Gondry's French accent ask Jill Scott a question, this could be any old concert film. Well, I shouldn't say that…Block Party is definitely a one of a kind, behind the scenes look at a bunch of people giving back to the community and having a real good time doing so. Chappelle says it best early on when discussing why he was putting together this free show in Brooklyn: he was a fan of each artist before he ever met them and this is the concert he'd like to see. I must say, not being the biggest rap/hip-hop fan out there, it is quite the show.Even a total dork rock fan as myself gets goosebumps and understands the amount of talent on stage here. When you have The Roots going with Scott and Eryakah Badu singing backup, it's something special. Not to mention Common and Mos Def rapping with everyone, Dead Prez singing with Chappelle's commentary, Kanye West coming out with the Ohio State University marching band playing Jesus Walks behind him, and the reuniting of The Fugees, the music is top-notch. However, the concert aspect isn't the best part. No, Gondry has spliced in some wonderful nuggets of candid looks, comedic moments, and historical tidbits to enhance the background soundtrack. Being the music video maestro he is, I couldn't think of someone better to portray the true meaning of the show with the event itself, infusing each moment with the heart that went in, cross-cutting stories of the attendees with practice sessions and live performances on the stage without one false move.Chappelle's rapport with everyone is something to see a well. He is self-deprecating and compassionate to all those that cross his path, culling a diverse group of people from his Ohio hometown to join the other fans coming into Brooklyn to watch the stage in front of Broken Angel, the derelict building being restored into something better than it ever was, and Dave's scouting location for any Hollywood film in need of a crack house. That house, however, not only gives us an intriguing venue coupled with the day care center next-door who's manager allowed them to use its roof as a box seat, but also two of the eccentric characters that shape the movie. The elderly couple living in that house is so out-there, yet so real, that you are able to see past the getups and crazed stereotypes you may be thinking of. This is a couple married for 46 years, with quite the story on how they decided to join lives, who don't enjoy rap because of all the swearing and language inappropriate for adults let alone children. Even so, they stick around and partake in the event—while also offering a place for Dave to rest his loins whenever he'd like—as the many others do, including his elderly white shop workers from Ohio and that "one Mexican" who can't be found.The anecdotes and confessionals really shine as they are peppered through the musical acts. The OSU marching band story is great, especially if his accidentally finding them is true, because they are a perfect example for what Chappelle is trying to do. Words from the one musician about how young people must seize their opportunities and how all these famous people are just like him, enjoying the skill and playing of everyone else, really hit home. Also, the band's presence allows for a wonderful coda from Wyclef Jean after a nice solo at the piano. Strong words about how these young kids can't use excuses and blame "the man" for all their troubles hold some meaning in the venue he speaks them in. He says that he came to America not knowing English and he found a way to become a success. If they want to follow they must show the initiative and not hide behind excuses and laziness. You want to learn something and better yourself, go to the library, education is there for the taking if you want it.Besides the message and morals being thrown around, I really just enjoyed the inside look. Hearing what someone like Jill Scott has to say about Badu's effect on her, or Lauryn Hill explaining how The Fugees formed and Pras talking about the differences he and Jean had breaking the group apart, or even the bureaucracy surrounding the reason why the group reformed for the show to begin with—Columbia not giving clearance for Hill to sing her own songs on the film. A lot went into the creation of this historic event and the filmmakers do justice to the end result. You know it's been a success when you can go through the whole review without really touching on the star's comic routine. Chappelle is definitely funny at every turn, cracking some spot on jokes, challenging a fan to a rap dual on stage, and just having a blast as the number one fan out of the whole crowd. Block Party is definitely something to experience.

dilbertsuperman Wretched, Unfunny, Unentertaining, Self indulgent wandering crap. Chapelle must feel guilty about his mainly white audience because he worked hard on making this presentation relatively inaccessible to them. THere is a lot of wandering dull dialog about nothing with various non-interesting rap people. A joke might happen once every 20 min and I don't think there's a single entire song on the whole damn thing. This is unfocused and self indulgent and not even the slightest bit interesting, funny or entertaining or watchable. BTW- I LOVE CHAPELLE SHOW- BUT THIS IS TOTAL JUNK.IF this video made Dave quit after he watched it- THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE. He has now joined OJ Simpson scouring the golf courses of America to search for the real killer.