igofast
02-27-2006, 07:24 PM
By CHRISTY LEMIRE, AP Movie Critic 45 minutes ago
Its star-studded lineup poses the possibility of divalike demands, beefs breaking out and entourages elbowing each other out of the way. But "Dave Chappelle's Block Party" is as friendly and down-home as the title suggests.
There's a wonderfully kinetic energy about the documentary, which is part concert film, part impromptu comedy show. The highlights are the thunderous performances from acts like Dead Prez, the Roots and Kanye West, but in between there's Chappelle being Chappelle, joking with folks on the street in his neighborhood outside Cincinnati, riffing while trying on second-hand suits at the Salvation Army, spouting off into a bullhorn to anyone lucky enough to be within earshot.
"Bring yo' self," he beckons cheerily from the car window as he rides around organizing the party, inviting anyone and everyone to come on down to the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, where he's set up a stage in front of an old church and invited some friends to sing a few songs.
It's all very Judy-Garland-and-Mickey-Rooney, let's-put-on-a-show in its innocent enthusiasm. And yet many of the artists share a propensity for making strong statements about politics and race relations.
"Block Party" isn't for the uninitiated, though. If you don't know your Talib Kweli from your Mos Def, or why it matters that the Fugees are on stage together for the first time in eight years (with Lauryn Hill singing a chill-inducing version of "Killing Me Softly"), the film isn't about to go out of its way to tell you.
more (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060227/ap_en_mo/film_review_dave_chappelle_s_block_party;_ylt=Arhb rGn4oBpRjycs21vCFYxxFb8C;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNl YwN5bmNhdA--)
Its star-studded lineup poses the possibility of divalike demands, beefs breaking out and entourages elbowing each other out of the way. But "Dave Chappelle's Block Party" is as friendly and down-home as the title suggests.
There's a wonderfully kinetic energy about the documentary, which is part concert film, part impromptu comedy show. The highlights are the thunderous performances from acts like Dead Prez, the Roots and Kanye West, but in between there's Chappelle being Chappelle, joking with folks on the street in his neighborhood outside Cincinnati, riffing while trying on second-hand suits at the Salvation Army, spouting off into a bullhorn to anyone lucky enough to be within earshot.
"Bring yo' self," he beckons cheerily from the car window as he rides around organizing the party, inviting anyone and everyone to come on down to the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, where he's set up a stage in front of an old church and invited some friends to sing a few songs.
It's all very Judy-Garland-and-Mickey-Rooney, let's-put-on-a-show in its innocent enthusiasm. And yet many of the artists share a propensity for making strong statements about politics and race relations.
"Block Party" isn't for the uninitiated, though. If you don't know your Talib Kweli from your Mos Def, or why it matters that the Fugees are on stage together for the first time in eight years (with Lauryn Hill singing a chill-inducing version of "Killing Me Softly"), the film isn't about to go out of its way to tell you.
more (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060227/ap_en_mo/film_review_dave_chappelle_s_block_party;_ylt=Arhb rGn4oBpRjycs21vCFYxxFb8C;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNl YwN5bmNhdA--)