Gigantic (A Tale of Two Johns)

Everybody dies frustrated and sad and that is beautiful.

Welcome to the surreal and poetic planet of They Might Be Giants, the Brooklyn-based musical duo of John Flansburgh and John Linnell, who have spent the past twenty years crafting their singular alt-pop style — cerebral, dark and humorous. Embracing the Do-It-Yourself ethos of true independent artists, They Might Be Giants has followed a unconventional path to cult stardom — from John and John’s first meeting in a Lincoln, Massachusetts grade school through the East Village performance art scene of the early ’80s to their 2002 Grammy Award — aided by stunning, low-budget music videos, trailblazing use of the internet and a truly groundbreaking utilization of the telephone answering machine.

GIGANTIC (A TALE OF TWO JOHNS) is a comprehensive chronicle of the band’s 20-year history, told through performance, animation, videos and hilarious commentaries from friends and fans. Reflecting They Might Be Giants’ unusual and unique place in the pop music universe, the film features appearances and contributions from a wide range of fans and collaborators: Musicians Frank Black, Mark Hoppus and Syd Straw; This American Life’s Ira Glass and Sarah Vowell; Authors Michael Azerrad and Dave Eggers; Journalists Gina Arnold and Robert Krulwich. In addition, director AJ Schnack called upon actors Janeane Garofalo, Michael McKean, Andy Richter and Harry Shearer to recite the band’s lyrics. The film also features appearances by Conan O’Brien, Jon Stewart, Joe Franklin and actor/director Josh Kornbluth. —Plexifilm