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Rock
the Bells,
2006, 103 minutes, Not Rated
By Ramona Prioleau
When
there were still ten members, the Wu-Tang Clan was known for
thrilling fans with its lyrical genius. At the same time, fans
looking for attendance of all of the members at a Clan gathering
were apt to be sorely disappointed. MORE >>>
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One
such fan - Chang Weisberg (who saw The Roots open for Rage Against
the Machine instead of the previously advertised Wu) - risked
professional and financial ruin in an attempt to achieve what many
before him had failed to do. The feat: get all ten members on stage
to perform live. Chang's dogged determination to defy the odds and
make his vision of a complete Wu onstage reunion a reality are
excellently documented in the film Rock the Bells.
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More documentary than concert film, Rock the Bells
goes backstage, provides a peek into musicians’ quirky
pre-performance rituals and a glimpse at the shoot-from-the-hip
savvy necessary to bring live music to the public. The film borrows
its title from the hip hop musical festival promoted by Weisberg's
Guerilla Union. In the day-long event that featured b-boys and
taggers, a boldface name and cutting edge musicians were the
highlights. Snippets of performances from the likes of MC
Supernatural, Sage Francis and Redman are interspersed throughout
the film’s chronicle of the festival planning, promotion and
production. What makes the film and the event so compelling, though,
is the build up to the appearance – or not – of the entire Wu-Tang
Clan.
Brief introductions of each Clan member acquaint the
unfamiliar with the group’s founding, its atypical structure, its
rise up the charts and its ability to capture the hearts and ears of
true hip hop heads worldwide. But the spotlight on the Wu settles
the longest on its most mercurial member – ODB aka Ol’ Dirty Bastard
aka Dirt McGirt aka Osiris, nee Russell Jones. Doing so gives the
film a dose of melodrama that’s equaled by the action that results
from Guerilla Union’s oversold and thinly secured venue.
M
July 2007
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Genre(s) |
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Documentary, Music
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Director |
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Denis Hennelly and Casey Suchan
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Kurt Dalton |
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Producer |
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Dan Farah |
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Executive Producer |
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Denis Hennelly |
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Producer |
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Henry Lowenfels |
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Producer |
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John Lyons Murphy |
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Executive Producer |
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Barry Poltermann |
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Executive Producer |
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Casey Suchan |
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Producer |
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Chang Weisberg |
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Executive Producer |
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D.J. Abilities |
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Himself |
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Ol' Dirty Bastard
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Himself |
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Cappadonna |
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Himself |
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Chuck D. |
... |
Himself |
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Davey D |
... |
Himself |
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Inspectah Deck |
... |
Himself |
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Dilated Peoples
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Themselves |
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Eyedea |
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Himself |
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Sage Francis |
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Himself |
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Carla Garcia |
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Herself |
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The Gza |
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Himself |
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Haj |
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Himself |
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Cherry Jones |
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Herself |
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Ghostface Killah
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Himself |
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Masta Killa |
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Himself |
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Method Man |
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Himself |
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Mook |
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Himself |
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DJ NuMark |
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Himself |
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Raekwon |
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Himself |
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Redman |
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Himself |
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DJ Rhettmatic |
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Himself |
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RZA |
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Himself |
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Chali 2na |
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Himself |
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M.C. Supernatural
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Himself |
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Sway |
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Himself |
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U-God |
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Himself |
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Brian Valdez |
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Himself |
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Chang Weisberg |
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Himself |
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Jarred Weisfeld |
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Himself
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Jeff Bollman and Leif Johnson |
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Cinematographer |
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Denis Hennelly and Casey Suchan |
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Editor(s) |
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J-Force |
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Music |
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Distributor |
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Warner
Home Video (DVD)
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Filming
Location(s) |
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New York City, New
York, USA
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San Bernardino,
California, USA
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