2005, USA
Comedy, Documentary, Music
What to do when a celebrity finds himself awash in money and the power to influence others? Throw a great party, of course. How to do it Dave Chappelle style? Bring the party to the people...the people of Ohio.
With all the hubbub surrounding his contract with Comedy Central's "Chappelle's Show" and his publicized issues with a newfound out-of-hand lifestyle, Chappelle creates his own ideal environment by bringing his sleepy little Ohio hometown to the heart of New York's Bed-Stuy neighborhood for what's to be one of the greatest recorded hip-hop and R&B concerts. What may initially sound like an odd combination (and Chappelle does revel in the idea of bringing small-town shopkeepers and parole officers to a rap concert) actually results in a very welcoming, laidback audience. Bussed in from Ohio and around the city, these folks couldn’t be happier to be jumping in the rain for their favorite performers.
And what performers. Ahmir-Khalib "?uestlove" Thompson of The Roots helped create the lineup, and led the backup band to ensure a great meld when various artists performed together. Kanye West, Mos Def, Common, The Roots, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu...the list goes on and continues to be impressive, culminating in The Fugees reuniting onstage for the first time in years.
Chappelle takes pride in presenting groups such as the Dead Prez whom he points out gets infinitesimal radio play due to their controversial lyrics. And not the sort of controversy arising merely from language or suggestive topics, but rather from questions of society and the government that dig deep into troubling issues. Each one of these artists is thoughtful in their lyrical messages -- they are intelligent musicians who further their popularity by creating discussion rather chaos. Wyclef Jean pulls aside marching band members from Ohio's Central State University and asks them what they would change if they were president. The replies aren't trivial: end to the war, create more jobs, provide more scholarships. He proceeds to tell them to never blame anyone for their hardships, but to continue to educate themselves and ensure that education is available for their neighborhood. With conversations such as these, a circular relationship is reinforced between the successful musicians and the unknown townspeople. They are not so distant as to forget their roots and the opportunities created that helped them move forward.
Director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) returns to his music video roots by truly capturing the cozy feel of this concert. Not merely focusing on the star power, he also delves into the stories behind the attendees. Living on the block of this all-day party are the owners of the Broken Angel home, a (good) witch and an artist. They have lived in their dilapidated warehouse for many decades and have built its exterior into the sky with angled windows and odd corners. Much of the building still remains in ruins, and yet the couple feels it is a castle in the making. Just across the street is a nursery school that once housed the late rapper Biggie Smalls, and continues to be a nurturing environment for the neighborhood's children. Everyone interviewed is warm and welcoming to the idea of Chappelle's party, even if the music is new to them. Though the Broken Angel witch initially professes that she doesn't care for rap music due to its foul language, later in the film she is shown swaying on her balcony during the concert.
This is not just a concert film, this is a block party about the people, for the people. The performers don't battle for stage time, but rather they casually flow in and out of each other's sets to create newly arranged works around the vibe of the moment. Chappelle wanders backstage at one point asking "Who's ready to go on?," to which Badu offers her skills and saunters towards the stage. There are no thoughtless rhythms, but rather the audience has clearly processed the messages and reply forcefully to the questions. Music has power and education is contagious, and the great equalizer is the ability to utilize both.
DVD extras include soundtrack information and a making-of featurette, which provides great background on Gondry's interest in the project, expands upon thoughts from the musicians, and views the crew's battle with an impending hurricane. Another featurette focuses on the townsfolk from Ohio, expanding on their life about town and their travels to the show. Also included is an extended version of the film with longer scenes of the musical performances.