Taking Woodstock
Taking Woodstock directed by Ang lee is based on Taking Woodstock: A True Story of a Riot, Concert, and a Life, which is written by Elliot Tiber and Tom Monte. The script of the film is penned by James Schamus who describes the film as ‘an exploration of the historical moment when liberation and freedom was in the air’.
The academy award winner Lee whose works include Hulk, Brokeback Mountain, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and Sense and Sensibility has made a yet another character-centric film. The film offers a sneak-peek into the behind the scenes of the 1969 music fest. In his new film Lee has made conscious efforts not to focus the actual performances of Woodstock. Instead Lee has given more importance to the people behind the concert and specially focuses on Elliot Teichberg whose role is played by comedian Demetri Martin and the overall impact of the concert on the people.
Taking Woodstock is very similar to most of Lee’s earlier works; it is rather slow and he concentrates more on the character’s interaction, which is one of features of his films. Elliot Teichberg is an interior designer in New York and spends weekends with his parents helping them to run their motel. But the small-town motel is debt-struck and is on the verge of being repossessed by the bank for non-payment of the mortgages.
Jake and Sonia are Elliot’s parents played by Henry Goodman and Imelda Staunton respectively. Jake is in a financial mess for a long time and Elliot takes up the task of rescuing his parent’s motel and at the right time come to know about a Hippie Musical festival, which was not permitted to perform in the close-by town and Elliot takes this opportunity and invites them to perform in his parent’s motel.
Paul Dano, Kelli Garner, Demetri Martin
Elliot has the permission for organising a music festival in the motel every year and he wants the Woodstock team to use the same to perform, which he thinks will boom the motel’s business. But all is not that rosy because the locals are against the idea of their town being crowded by hippies and are not in favour of the musical concert and before they take any action the concert kicks off.
Demetri is adorable and Liev Schreiber role as ex-marine transvestite has done a commendable job. Ang Lee has illusively used the footage of the 1970’s film Woodstock, which looks so genuine and believable. Lee has focussed more on the impact of the concert on the people and has not greatly touched upon the concert itself; the local and police support for the concert is highlighted rather the concert itself.
The movie is slow and you need to pay attention and sit through the film to actually enjoy it. The movie is funny and it does not serve people who are looking for some action or adventure. Taking Woodstock can be described as comedy drama and does not fall into the category of the usual Hollywood flick. The film is worth watching.
| Film | Taking Woodstock |
|---|---|
| Cast | Henry Goodman as Jake Teichberg Edward Hibbert as British Gentleman Imelda Staunton as Sonia Teichberg Demetri Martin as Elliot Tiber Emile Hirsch as Billy Paul Dano as VW Guy Kelli Garner as VW Girl Clark Middleton as Frank Bette Henritze as Annie Sondra James as Margaret Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Dan Christina Kirk as Carol |
| Director | Ang Lee |
| Screen Writers | James Schamus, Elliot Tiber, Tom Monte |
| Producers | Ang Lee, James Schamus, |
| Runtime | 1 Hour and 50 Minutes |
| Rating | 3/5 |
Posted on Saturday, September 5th, 2009 at 2:52 pm