Dave Chappelle's Block Party (2005)
- Directed by
- Michel Gondry
- Genre
- documentary film, comedy film, musical film
- Country
- United States
- Runtime
- 1h 43m
- Rated
- 15
- Rating
- 6.8 of 10 from 129 voters
- Elsewhere
- IMDb
The catalogue in 3D
The film shelves have a room of their own that you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real films from the same catalogue when you tell them what you feel like watching. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this film is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.
How it feels
Dave Chappelle throws a free block party concert in Brooklyn with a lineup of major hip-hop and R&B artists. The film captures the performances and the crowd's experience amid rainy weather.
celebratoryenergeticupbeatlivereunitingimprovisedcommunity-driven
What happens
Dave Chappelle's Block Party (also known as Block Party) is a 2005 American documentary-concert film starring comedian Dave Chappelle at the height of his early mainstream success and cultural influence. Directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michel Gondry, the film captures Chappelle organizing a free block party concert in Brooklyn on September 18, 2004, inspired by the 1973 concert documentary Wattstax. Despite intermittent rain, the concert continued uninterrupted, featuring performances from a lineup of hip-hop and R&B artists, including The Fugees in their first reunion since their 1997 breakup, Kanye West, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, The Roots, Common, John Legend, Kool G Rap, and Dead Prez. The film premiered at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival before its wide release on March 3, 2006. It was dedicated to the memory of music producer J Dilla, who died from lupus one month before the film's release. Block Party received widespread critical acclaim, praised for its vibrant atmosphere, historic musical moments, and Chappelle's ability to merge comedy with hip-hop culture. The film holds a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has been recognized by publications such as Rolling Stone, The A.V. Club, and IndieWire as one of the greatest concert films ever made. It is widely recognized for facilitating one of the last major Fugees reunions, often cited as one of hip-hop’s most significant reunions. Artists such as J. Cole have described attending the event as a defining experience. Filmed at a pivotal moment in Chappelle's career, Block Party was released after he made the decision to leave Chappelle's Show and withdraw from the public eye. The film was a box office success, debuting at #6 in its opening weekend, grossing $6 million from 1,200 theaters, and ultimately earning $12.1 million worldwide against a $3 million budget. Its DVD release sold over 1.24 million copies, generating $18.8 million in revenue. The documentary also earned several accolades, including a Black Reel Award for Outstanding Original Soundtrack. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)
More like this
Dave Chappelle: Live in Real Life (2021)
Dave Chappelle: Killin' Them Softly (2000)
The Closer (2021)
As Smart As They Are: The Author Project (2005)
Chappelle's Show (2003)
The Last Dispatch (2005)
The Central Park Concert (2003)
Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That! (2006)- More like this film, on a shelf you can walk up to.It's the lit case on the top shelf.