Taking Woodstock (2009)
The story of Elliot Tiber and his family, who inadvertently played a pivotal role in making the famed Woodstock Music and Arts Festival into the happening that it was. When Elliot hears that a neighboring town has pulled the permit on a hippie music festival, he calls the producers thinking he could drum up some much-needed business for his parents' run-down motel. Three weeks later, half a million people are on their way to his neighbor’s farm in White Lake, New York, and Elliot finds himself swept up in a generation-defining experience that would change his life–and American culture–forever.
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As I had just turned 10 the summer of Woodstock and lived on the West Coast, I was not able to go.... but have a fascination with the festival even now. I love the documentary "Woodstock", made in 1970, which is full of musical performances, interviews with attendees and with organizers. Some reviews of this movie complain that "Taking Woodstock" does not include enough music, however if the music is what you yearn to see/hear, do enjoy the documentary. Of the 30 or so bands who performed at Woodstock, fifteen or so are included in the documentary. If you want to learn the history of the event, this movie is ideal. I especially enjoyed seeing the clever ideas and ability to create a phenomenon. To think they were not sure if many wold attend... had some horrid weather... financial difficulties (these are alluded to in the documentary as well)... experienced nay- sayers and bad press... and yet, it truly ended as three days of Peace, Love, and Music.
It's 1969. Elliot Teichberg (Demetri Martin) struggles to keep the family motel in the Catskills open. His father Jake (Henry Goodman) is quiet and mother Sonia (Imelda Staunton) is bombastic. They barely have enough to keep the motel open for the summer. When a music festival in a neighboring town gets canceled due to the mayor, Elliot has the idea to expand their tiny music festival. Farmer Max Yasgur (Eugene Levy) is trying squeeze the promoter. Michael Lang is the hip concert organizer. Local Dan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) leads the locals opposing the hippie invasion. Dan's brother Billy (Emile Hirsch) is a recently returned Vietnam vet. Vetty von Vilma (Liev Schreiber) is a transvestite who does security.Director Ang Lee is not digging deep enough. He also keeps the movie very small in comparison to the vast cultural event. Demetri Martin doesn't have the star power to lead so many characters in such a big story. There is no tension to speak of. There is a lot of fun little touches but none of it really grabs me. I also expect more music from a movie about Woodstock. This has its moments but it's a bit too light-weight.
more music since it's about Woodstock. But there's hardly any music and the plot was boring. The movie is about how Woodstock came to be in a small New York community, but I'm sure this is not a true story. There probably isn't any truth to it at all.Elliot is trying to help his parents whom run a small hotel in New York. They are behind in payments and have the summer to pay off the bank. Elliot gets a permit to have a festival. Woodstock was planned in another town, but it fell through, so they come to Elliot. He already has the permit and they find the farmland, so decided to have Woodstock there. A lot of the film is how he and his parents make a lot of money by renting out the hotel and other stuff.FINAL VERDICT: I don't recommend it.
vIdea: a movie about Woodstock not about the music of the Festival & but instead concentrates on one guy who held the musical festival & fair permit to allow Woodstock to happen in small town in upstate NY. In 1969 a music festival named Woodstock has its roots in the entrepreneurship of Eliot Tiber (Demetri Martin); He is a interior decorator from Greenwich Village. His parents Sonia Teichberg (Imedla Staunton) & Jake Teichberg (Henry Goodman) own a cheesy motel in the Catskills that is about to go out of business when Eliot steps in with his inspiration. He calls in the promoter of the concert Michael Lang (Jonathan Groff) & introduces him to Max Yasgur (Eugene Levy) whose large pastoral farmlands could be a perfect location for the music festival. In the meantime Eliot keeps his personal life private, but yearns to join the music festival crowd to unleash his true self. In the meantime, the festival turns into a happening when several hundred thousand budding hippies show up. There are several plots here all interesting & funny. Martin is in what should be his breakout role to fame. (He is already a good comedian.) This movie does not focus at all on any of the music or performers. In fact it is almost a comedic assault on a lot of people the local town people & the people who show up for Woodstock including freaks transsexuals cross dressers Jews performance artists & actors. It is very charming & hysterically funny! The parents are both especially funny. In 1968 being out & gay was a very big deal-that does not play like that here. Film is a sweet comedy of transformation in which the changes in Elliot mirror a cultural revolution. (Did Woodstock Change the World??) Too bad they could not have included the actual Woodstock footage. I guess copyright holders would not allow it. I have liked most of Ang Lees movies-he is a truly great film makers. (Lust & Caution was a bore to me) I like this movie a lot it is a fascinating & very funny fictional account of the behind the scenes of what became Woodstock. Ang Lee is not afraid of fresh challenges!!! This film is not as great as some of his other movies but it really is a good movie. 4 Stars!!