Lance Bangs Movies
Filmmaker Lance Bangs has a tendency to complete projects as a simple one-man production, rather than with a large intrusive crew. This scaled-down aesthetic choice, coupled with his intimate shooting style, has earned him many recommendations. Born in California in the '70s, he started making professional music videos in the early '90s. By 1996, he had shot the tour documentary R.E.M.: Road Movie and met Brad Pitt, who was friends with R.E.M. Pitt later asked him to shoot a video of his high-profile wedding to Jennifer Aniston. The same year, Bangs married musician Corin Tucker, vocalist and guitarist for Sleater-Kinney. They have one son, Marshall Tucker Bangs.Along the way, Bangs had acquired a bunch of live footage from Sonic Youth shows, and some of it ended up in the Spike Jonze video for "The Diamond Sea." Then Jonze asked him to do the press kit and making-of documentary for Being John Malkovich. He later collaborated with Jonze as director and producer of The Making of 'Jackass: The Movie'. He continued to make music videos (Green Day, Belle & Sebastian, Preston School of Industry, the Shins) while he worked on bigger projects like the two-disc retrospective Pavement: Slow Century. In the summer of 2002, he went on tour with David Cross and Ultrababyfat to shoot the DVD David Cross: Let America Laugh. Also that year, he worked with Palm Pictures to develop The Director's Label series on DVD. Working with a lean team, he shot, produced, and directed documentaries for music video innovators Michel Gondry, Spike Jonze, and Chris Cunningham. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
- 2010
One half of the beloved Mr. Show duo, David Cross, comes to Boston where he performs a stand-up concert featuring routines that touch on religion and drugs. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- 2009
Lance Bangs and Spike Jonze direct this loving documentary about celebrated author Maurice Sendak. The filmmakers don't shy away from Sendak's occasionally prickly attitude, but they are sure to include glowing compliments from a number of luminaries including Meryl Streep, James Gandolfini, and the award-winning playwright Tony Kushner. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
For fans who thought the stakes couldn't be raised any higher and the bar couldn't be lowered any further, the original cast and crew of the stunt comedy sensation that swept the globe return for another round of jaw-dropping feats that are guaranteed to have viewers wincing through their laughter. Jeff Tremaine directs, and Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Chris Pontius, Steve-O, Ryan Dunn, and Jason "Wee Man" Acuna return to the screen to endure more pain and humiliation than ever thought possible on the big screen. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, (more)
In September 2004, comedian Dave Chappelle took a break from his immensely successful Comedy Central show to stage a free, unpublicized, all-star hip-hop concert in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. Inviting fans over the Internet, on the street, and even in his family's hometown of Yellow Springs, OH, Chappelle asked filmmaker Michel Gondry to document the event from its inception on through to the performances themselves. The result is Dave Chappelle's Block Party, a concert film that provides not only a sampling of the music on display that September, but also an intimate look at the comedian himself. Gondry's cameras tag along with Chappelle as he visits Ohio, recruits a university marching band to play at the show, and surveys the opinions of Clinton Hill on the show that's about to take place. Along the way, we're introduced to some the comedian's favorite acts, in rehearsals and on-stage: Dead Prez, Jill Scott, Mos Def, the Roots, Erykah Badu, Kanye West, and the surprise reuniting of the Fugees. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dave Chappelle, Kanye West, (more)
- 2005
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Following up the popular series of music-video collections featuring the work of Spike Jonze, Michel Gondry, and Chris Cunningham, Palm Pictures created four more compilations, including this one highlighting videos from director Anton Corbijn. Among the songs are "Heart Shaped Box" by Nirvana, "Enjoy the Silence" by Depeche Mode, and "Hero of the Day" by Metallica. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
- 2004
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Sonic Youth became one of the most respected bands in all of American independent rock music thanks to their unique sound and refusal to follow any trend but their own artistic muse. This release compiles nearly two dozen of their music videos including "Dirty Boots," "Tunic," "Disappearer," "Sugar Kane," "Bull in the Heather," "Superstar," "Little Trouble Girl," and "The Diamond Sea." Guest stars turn up to provide commentary including Todd Haynes, Kathleen Hanna, and Lance Bangs. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
OK, so Let America Laugh is not a sketch comedy performance compilation nor is it the visual version of the excellent two-disc comedy record Shut Up You Fucking Baby. If it's any thing, it could be called a tour documentary. Lovable rascal comedian David Cross asks filmmaker Lance Bangs to follow him around with a video camera during his 2002 summer tour. Traveling in a minivan with band Ultrababyfat, Cross visits the heartland of America and heads west. The documentary, such as it is, contains some stand-up comedy with a lot of backstage footage and on-the-road hijinks. It starts in the South, with Cross trying to deal with loud, obnoxious audiences. The minivan stops in various American cities (and one Canadian) to do a show and attend various parties. Cross makes enemies with a macho club owner, is persued by a duo of blonde groupies, and does an impromptu interview with a drunken promoter. After a few shows in California and a promotional appearance at a Virgin megastore with the Mr. Show cast, the tour ends in his home town of Atlanta, GA. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
- 2001
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Led by singer and main songwriter Billie Joe Armstrong, Green Day has been one of the most successful and influential American punk bands since their breakthrough album, Dookie. This video collects over a dozen of their music videos including memorable clips for "Basket Case," "Good Riddance," and "Minority." ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
Death Cab for Cutie: Direction is a companion to the band's album Plans. The program consists of short films and music videos inspired by songs on the record. This collection includes clips for the songs "Different names for the Same Things," "Crooked Teeth," and "Brothers in a Hotel Bed." ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
