Taking Woodstock (2009)

Many of my friends think I went to Woodstock 40 years ago. Even my daughter thought so. But my mother wouldn't let me! I had graduated from high school two months before and she said no. My older brother, 21, went, and when we looked at the news on TV she said triumphantly, "See?!? It's raining!" Oh well. I saw a lot of rock & roll in the years that followed and sacrificed the upper edges of my hearing to that hobby. You won't see any of the Woodstock musicians in this movie either. For that, watch the 1970 documentary, Woodstock, which I believe has been re-mastered for the anniversary. 

This new one, based on a memoir by Elliot Tiber (né Teichberg) borrows from the documentary some split screen action, but its focus is entirely away from the stage (yes, children, there was only one stage at Woodstock, not 5 or 10 like the festivals of today). Tiber states in his book (and the movie) that he helped the Woodstock promoter, Michael Lang, to connect with Max Yasgur after their original location was shut down, although Lang and Yasgur's son disagree with that part. 

 In any case, Jack & I liked the movie. It's supposed to be a comedy, but director Ang Lee (all of these are worth seeing: Eat Drink Man Woman (1994); Sense and Sensibility (1995), which won an Oscar for writer Emma Thompson; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), which changed the look of martial arts movies and won 4 Oscars, including Best Foreign Film, and a pile of prizes from others; Brokeback Mountain (2005), which won 3 Oscars including Best Director and Adapted Screenplay, and more awards; and The Ice Storm (1997), to which Taking Woodstock is supposed to be a kind of companion piece*) hasn't had much experience with making people laugh. Writer James Schamus worked with Lee on all of the above, and admits in this letter that comedy is a new direction for them. *This article discusses how the two movies are connected and an amusing bit about hair. 

Demetri Martin was unknown to me before I saw the trailer for this, and then he had a cameo as himself in Paper Heart. He's a comedian and was on the writing staff of Late Night with Conan O'Brian for 136 episodes (2003-04). He's more of a straight man in this movie, and after seeing his wry stand-up, you won't be surprised. British actress Imelda Staunton, whose character as Elliot's Russian Jewish mother is described as "a battalion," is impressive, as always (deservedly nominated for an Oscar as Vera Drake (2004), she last worked with Lee in Sense and Sensibility). Henry Goodman, as Elliot's father, is new to me; he's English as well, and has plenty of movie credits, but has been recognized for his work in English theatre. He brought a lot to the Jewish husband (yes, it was a speaking part). 6'3" Liev Schreiber (who was in the wonderful A Walk on the Moon (1999), which had a sequence set at Woodstock, as well as The Painted Veil (2006), Defiance, and dozens more) looked great in a dress and long blond hair. 

With Jonathan Groff (Tony winner for the Broadway musical Spring Awakening) as Michael Lang, the fine actor Emile Hirsch (The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys (2002), Alpha Dog (2006), Into the Wild (2007), Milk) as a burned-out Vietnam vet, Kelli Garner (do see Lars and the Real Girl (2007)) and Paul Dano (so good in There Will Be Blood (2007), as well as the wonderful Little Miss Sunshine (2006), the powerful The King (2005) and The Ballad of Jack and Rose the same year) as the hippie couple featured in many of the photos, and Eugene Levy (writer and actor in Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006)) as Max Yasgur, who says "They're charging a dollar! For water! Can you believe it?" This may not be a comedy, but it's sweet and mellow, dude. Tune in.