Taking Woodstock [Blu-ray]

I just got through watching the TAKING WOODSTOCK BLU-RAY and I must say that it looks outstanding on my Bravia TV. Maybe its because I don't have any movies on Blu-Ray that have been filmed in the past few years, they're either older or on DVD, but the picture and color is just breathtaking.The colors are vibrant and the definition is super sharp...even better than real life. I didn't see TAKING WOODSTOCK in the theater, so I don't know if the picture quality was the same, but it's really amazing on Blu-Ray. And the crowd shots are really cool, too.Anyway, the movie is based on a book  Taking Woodstock  by Elliot Tiber (then Teichberg-he changed his name) about his involvement with helping the 1969 Woodstock concert happen. Elliot's parents owned a small, rundown motel in White Lake in Bethel, NY and he also happened to have a permit to put on a music and art festival. He was also neighbors with Max Yasgur who owned the land where the concert took place. So the movie captures the chaos that happens behind the historic concert and how Elliot's life changes as a result of the "Aquarian Festival."It follows the book, which is a fun read, pretty closely but it doesn't depict the Stonewall riots, which Tiber was also involved in, only hints at it in a phone call.I enjoyed the movie and I think Ang Lee captured the spirit of those three days, perfectly. The costume designer and prop/set designer/art director should win Academy Awards because you will swear that you are watching footage taken right from 1969. There were times when I wondered if they spliced film from the original documentary  Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace & Music Director's Cut (40th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition)  into some of the scenes, Lee uses a split screens at certain moments (like in the Woodstock Doc), because they look so authentic.The actors were all great but the stand outs were Imelda Staunton (Sonia Teichberg), who plays Elliot's overbearing Jewish mother. She's hilarious and would have made "Sophia Petrillo" on TV's  The Golden Girls - The Complete First Season  proud. Demetri Martin was good too--I never heard of him-- as Elliot Teichberg and Liev Schreiber, who makes a hideous drag queen, was warm and wonderful in his role as "Vilma." Jonathan Groff who plays "Michael Lang" (one of the producers of the Woodstock festival) didn't look too much like him but gave off his characteristics. If you've seen interviews with the real Lang, you'll know what I'm talking about. Lang has this way of speaking and this angelic quality about him and Groff captures that essence to the "T." Eugene Levy did an outstanding job portraying "Max Yasgur," as well.The Blu-Ray has some extras on it:*** MY SCENES = this feature allows you to create your favorite scenes from the movie to playback when you want to see them again.*** 19:22-minute "PEACE, LOVE AND CINEMA" FEATURETTE = the real Michael Lang, Ang Lee and the stars of the movie talk about "Woodstock" and discuss the film. Great behind-the-scenes and you get to see the real Elliot Teichberg (Tiber), too.*** 3:47-minute "NO AUDIENCE REQUIRED: THE EARTHLIGHT PLAYERS" FEATURETTE = this is an interview with the actor who portrays the leader of the acting troupe in the movie.*** SIX DELETED SCENES (Play-All option) = shots that didn't make it in the film. Some of these scenes were in the book so you'll get a kick out of them if you've read it.*** FEATURE COMMENTARY = Ang Lee and screenwriter James Schamus.If you're expecting to see concert footage and etc., from the Woodstock concert this isn't the movie for you. Otherwise I highly recommend this film!

There are a few scenes in TAKING WOODSTOCK that are marvels of logistics. Director Ang Lee is a master craftsperson, and he manages to make this relatively humble film cross the line from seeming to be an ambitious "indie" right into the realm of mainstream, studio funded territory.The film tells the story of Woodstock from the point of view of Elliot Teichberg, a young man who was simply trying to breathe new life into his parents' VERY rundown hotel in the Catskills. When the event becomes considerably bigger than he ever anticipated, Elliot is swept up in the chaos. And in the midway point of the film, when Woodstock is underway (but before it has become a mud bog), Elliot hops on the motorcycle of a state trooper and is driven the several miles from his hotel to the farm where the concert is taking place. The road is clogged with hippies by the many thousands. Some are just sitting on the side of the road, apparently resigned to getting no further, but at peace with just hanging out. Others are optimistic about making it. Still more have set up little roadside stands, where they sell watermelon, or corn or whatever. We see young families. We see a surging but peaceful mass of humanity. The scene is staged to almost feel like one long take, and it is quite impressive. Technically, it is a logistical marvel. It's also a quiet but powerful scene. There is a crush of people, yet no one is upset. No yelling. No incessant honking of horns. The road to Woodstock takes on an almost church-like quality...it feels like these people are on a pilgrimage. These five minutes or so are among the best moments of pure film craftsmanship of the year.Unfortunately, TAKING WOODSTOCK gets a lot of things wrong too. Most crucially, it's all pilgrimage with no payoff. Elliot (who is a renamed real-life character) never gets close to the concert...he only sees it a couple of times from a GREAT distance. We see how peacefully eager everyone is to get there. We feel the vibe of "hey man, it's cool." We see this mass of hippies in only a good and noble light. Yet the film never comes close to helping us understand how Woodstock became a defining moment for a generation. A touchstone. A cultural happening that was greater than the sum of its parts. I may KNOW these things because I read them in the past...but the film doesn't really even seem to try. Lee is more interested in the far more personal (and frankly, somewhat mundane) journey of Elliot himself.Elliot (played a bit too woodenly by Demetri Martin) is an aspiring businessman. In his mid-20s...he wears suits or conservative clothing. He does not resemble in any way the hippie culture. He's respected by the older folks in his little town, where he is president of the tiny Chamber of Commerce. He is clearly under the thumb of his parents...especially his domineering and manipulative mother (played in a broad, stereotypical manner by Imelda Staunton). He is also, we discover, gay. And while that fact is clearly important to Elliot (as is keeping it secret)...it is not very important to us. During the chaos leading up to Woodstock, Elliot meets a handsome roadie with whom he has a bit of a fling. It's handled as though it's a trivial event...yet we know it's probably a fairly earthshaking moment for the reserved Elliot. Yet Lee doesn't make it moving for us...just a few throwaway laughs.Far more successful is the growing relationship between Elliot and his father (Henry Goodman, who also overacts a little...but has a great face and a great deal of warmth). The two had very little to say to each other as the movie begins. In fact, dad has little to say to anyone...he's so beaten down by his unsuccessful life. Yet as these hippies invade his town and his hotel...he finds himself enlivened. Not only is his business booming, but he thrives in the very open, honest, trusting way he's simply accepted into the nomadic community. And as his heart opens to these people, it opens towards Elliot as well, and the two come to some nice, comfortable understandings together. These moments were the only truly, genuinely emotionally affecting points of the film.Many things happen in the film, and the period details are great. It IS an interesting story...seeing the farmer Yasgur (a dandy Eugene Levy) negotiate the rent of his land to the promoters. Seeing Woodstock brainchild Michael Lang (a wonderful Jonathan Groff) ride around on a horse, with an open vest barely covering his bare chest, like Jesus from GODSPELL. But other moments fall flat. Emile Hirsch gives a clichéd performance as a cardboard "Vietnam vet" who has "seen terrible things, man." An extended LSD scene with Martin, Paul Dano & Kelli Garner is flat out boring (when was someone else's drug trip ever really interesting to see on film?).I had a pleasant time at the film. The good just outweighs the bad...so I would give the film 3.5 stars. If I had to put my finger on why the film didn't quite work...I would say it is the script. I don't know anything personal about James Schamus (who did GREAT work for films such as THE ICE STORM, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN & AUTO FOCUS)...but it feels as though he never really made an emotional connection to the events he was trying to depict. He crammed in a lot of STUFF...but didn't order it in such a way as to give it meaning. And Lee, perhaps understanding that the script lacked emotional heft, allows many of his actors to get away with overacting and unspecific characterizations. It's unlikely you'd regret spending a couple of hours TAKING WOODSTOCK...but it's liable to leave you still waiting for that definitive film on this landmark event.

One of my favorite movies of all time, and the favorite of my late big brother. This September marks a year since he left me, and I'll be celebrating his life with this film. That aside, no film has ever captured the time and place of this historic event like this one ( not even the documentary).

I felt like I was almost there, lol! Just a fun movie. Very little swearing & a tad of nudity. Great movie to pass a boring day with.

A review of the Blu-rayI'm not sure why this movie got such a bum rap from critics and punters alike. From what I can gather they couldn't comprehend a movie about the legendary 1969 Woodstock music festival that did not feature any of the actual artists' performances that appeared on the famed stage. Which means they are missing the point of this film. It's not about "Woodstock", it's about how it happened. Love it or not I think it's another fine movie from Ang Lee. If you're a fan of this film I strongly suggest an upgrade to Blu-ray. To put it simply it looks stunning and unlike the DVD release its also has a number of bonus features about the making of the film. If you want the music there is already a 1970 documentary (now available in a director's cut edition) that gives you a pretty thorough feel of the festival itself including a large chunk of the music. For me, Taking Woodstock is a nice little trip back to 1969 for those of us that were not there either because we were too young or got stuck in the traffic jam. Cool, nice one Elliot!

Even though this was recently made it captures the time period very well indeed.I was not at Woodstock,because I was in the UK at the time,but it was similar Hippy scene over here too,all innocent,exciting time when music, art,fashion and most important,a raising of human consciousness was happening very quickly.The late sixties were a very important to the planet,the youngters broke away from the old order,and Woodstock helped to do that, ending the Vietnam war, on a personal note... bringing Santana to the world,without Bill Graham, who took an active part in the Woodsock event,they would have never been the international success they still are today.Thanks Bill,RIP.I have watched this 3 times so far,its very funny,lighthearted and educational there is no music on the Woodstock stage,but plays in the background at times.The acting is brilliant,and shows very well how it really was at that time in the States and eventually throughout the whole world.Highly recommended especially for people who are old enough to be in the Hippy movement at that time,if you weren't then perhaps it wont mean so much,but is still a good movie to see.There are some good bonus scenes too.

Perhaps that's the point. That there was something synthetic about that Summer of Love. There's much that feels synthetic here: not least the caricature Jewish family at the heart of the drama, Imelda Staunton playing an actress playing a Jewish mother not very well. And the cliche which is the half crazed Vietnam veteran. Without the sweep and pulse of the memorable music, what we experience is something touchingly false: a lot of deluded rather wretched people in a muddy field, drugged into believing something wonderful is happening outside their heads. It's Woodstock Reconsidered, seen from the perspective of all that followed, when the bubble of euphoria burst. Maybe it partly explains the generation that now thinks Trump is some kind of Saviour...

A pleasent movie about some very ordinary people creating a piece of History.I originally saw a trailer for this on another dvd, i also like the work of the director Ang Lee i dont think this movie went public at the cinema as his other projects have, but as always with Ang the movie is about relationships and people. If you enjoy woodstock music and the original musical movie give this a try you just may enjoy watching this, showing how a piece of history happened.

This film was wonderful. I had seen some bad reviews of it, but I think that must be to do with the slow pace and style of the movie just not suiting those particular viewers. As somebody who relishes scenery and a wonderful setting backed up by characters who you get to gently observe through the length of the film, I absolutely loved it and will be watching it again soon.