Gigantic (A Tale of Two Johns) (2002)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

AJ Schnack

Genre:

Documentary | Music

Plot:

Documentary about the music group They Might Be Giants.

Plot Keywords:

Interview | Band | Music Video | Rock Band | Concert Footage

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

John Flansburgh	...	Himself
John Linnell	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gina Arnold	...	Herself
Michael Azerrad	...	Himself
Adam Bernstein	...	Himself
David Bither	...	Himself
Frank Black	...	Himself
Linwood Boomer	...	Himself
Brian Cohen	...	Himself
Patrick Dillett	...	Himself (as Pat Dillett)
Sue Drew	...	Herself
Dave Eggers	...	Himself
Jake Fogelnest	...	Himself
Joe Franklin	...	Himself
Janeane Garofalo	...	Herself
Ira Glass	...	Himself
Jonathan Gregg	...	Himself
Dan Hickey	...	Himself (Drums)
Kurt Hoffman	...	Himself
Mark Hoppus	...	Himself
Al Houghton	...	Himself
John Houlihan	...	Himself
William Ingoglia
Mike Kelly	...	Himself
Jamie Lincoln Kitman	...	Himself (as Jamie Kitman)
Josh Kornbluth	...	Himself
Bill Krauss	...	Himself
Robert Krulwich	...	Himself
Michael McKean	...	Himself
Dan Miller	...	Himself (Guitar)
Glenn Morrow	...	Himself
Alex Noyes	...	Himself
Conan O'Brien	...	Himself
Annette O'Toole	...	Herself (voice)
Gary Ray	...	Himself
Andy Richter	...	Himself
Raoul Rosenberg	...	Himself
Harry Shearer	...	Himself
Paul Simon	...	Himself
Michael Small	...	Himself
Jim Stabile	...	Himself
Jon Stewart	...	Himself
Syd Straw	...	Herself
They Might Be Giants	...	Themselves
Sarah Vowell	...	Herself
Danny Weinkauf	...	Himself (Bass)
Ben Hauck	...	Himself (uncredited)
Matt Hyland	...	Himself (uncredited)

Directed by
AJ Schnack

Produced by
John McGinnis	....	associate producer
Shirley Moyers	....	producer

Original Music by
John Flansburgh
John Linnell

Cinematography by
Jon B. Thomas		(as Yon Thomas)

Film Editing by
Jason Kool
Alisa Lipsitt

Sound Department
Mat Dennis	....	sound recordist
Patrick Dillett	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Pat Dillett)
Guillermo Escalona	....	sound mixer
Bill Jenkins	....	post-production sound mixer
Evan Meszaros	....	sound recordist
Antonio Pedroso	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Tony Millionaire	....	designer (cartoon "Drinky Crow")
Brian O'Connell	....	animation production director (cartoon "Dial-A-Song") (cartoon "Drinky Crow")
Richard O'Connor	....	animation production director (cartoon "Dial-A-Song") (cartoon "Drinky Crow")

Visual Effects by
David Tarleton	....	After Effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Owen Foye	....	key grip: additional unit
William Ingoglia	....	lighting designer: concert lighting
Evan Meszaros	....	camera operator

Animation Department
Tony Eastman	....	animator
Mary Varn	....	animator

Editorial Department
Jonathan Slater	....	editor: titles
Jonathan Slater	....	on-line editor

Music Department
Linda Cohen	....	music supervisor
Patrick Dillett	....	concert music engineer/mixer (as Pat Dillett)

Other crew
Terry L. James	....	digital film transfer
Stephanie Meurer	....	staff: Bonfire Films

Thanks
Nathan Adams	....	special thanks (2002)

Production Companies

• Bonfire Films of America

Distributors

• Plexifilm (2003) (DVD)
• Cowboy Pictures (2003) (USA)

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

Bonfire Films of America

Trivia:

Annette O'Toole narrates a letter in the film during one of the film's "history" sequences, and did the research herself. She had been out of town filming "Smallville" (2001) when the director came to film her husband, Michael McKean.

Quotes:

John Linnell: [about "Flood"] A lot of albums these days have ten or less songs on them, and that pisses us off. This new album of ours has nineteen songs. That's why ours is better.

Movie Connections:

Features Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)

Soundtrack:

Particle Man

Likable Documentary About Two Likable Guys

Nicely paced movie about two likable and talented friends whose band is the ultimate partnership. There's a reason the subtitle is "A Tale of Two Johns," as Linnell and Flansburgh are interlocking essential pieces of this quirky, inventive group. Director Schnack does an outstanding job capturing their relationship, their integrity, and their love for what they do.

I would like to have seen a little more Janeane Garafalo and a little less Sarah Vowell, but that's quibbling. The interviews with friends, fans, and fellow musicians were insightful and complimentary. I'm trying to think of good word for Syd Straw, though, and I keep coming back to "a little flaky."