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Taking Woodstock – DVD Review

By Original Sharp on | From filmshaft.com

taking-woodstock-poster I do love festival season. There is something magical about listening to great music in a muddy field for 3 days before coming home smelling of cow shit. I’ve spent many happy times at Glastonbury and I will never forget listening to Metallica play their seminal album Master Of Puppets in its entirety at Download festival 2006.

Unfortunately, I am too young to have lived through the 60s & 70s. These were the decades when music and cinema actually mattered. Names such as Hendrix, Joplin and Bowie ruled the world. Directors such as Scorsese, Coppola and Friedkin had the world at their feet. Nowadays we have to be contented with the load, brash stylings of Michael Bay and boring Leona Lewis who churns out pop garbage bad enough to commit suicide to.

Enough ranting. Yes, it is true that film and music aren’t what they used to be but all is not lost. There are still good filmmakers out there and one of them happens to called Ang Lee.

His films may not always be perfect but at least he tries to be original and creative. Of course when Ang Lee gets it right he really nails it. The Ice Storm, Crouching Tiger, Brokeback Mountain and Lust, Caution being prime examples.

Taking Woodstock is his latest film. Like much of his previous work, the film focuses on a character and his personal story rather than the bigger picture. In this case we are told the story of a young man called Elliot who helped define an era when he played an important role in the making of Woodstock, the most famous music and arts festival in the world.

It’s 1969 and the world is changing fast. Man is soon to conquer the moon but in sleepy upstate New York time seems to have stopped. Elliot Tiber (Demetri Martin) is broke. He spends all his money desperately trying to keep his parents (Imelda Staunton & Henry Goodman) dilapidated hotel afloat. It’s obvious that the money just isn’t there and the bank is about to foreclose. When the neighbouring town pulls the plug on an upcoming hippie music festival Elliot jumps at the chance. He calls the producers and with the help of his neighbour and farmer Max Yasgur (Eugene Levy) helps create an experience that not only would change his life but also go down as one of the most important dates in music history.

woodstock If Ang Lee has proved anything in his career is that he can capture a period in time better than anyone else on the planet. His style and obvious love for the subject matter comes across in every scene. His use of colour and sound go to great lengths in ensuring we are transported back to the late 60’s.

The film is populated with split screens and long; one shot takes that bring across the chaos and atmosphere of a music festival. Make no mistake about it. Taking Woodstock is a time capsule of a film. It has an almost documentary type feel to it. A docu-drama brimful of love and nostalgia.

The script is based on Elliot Tiber’s own book and has been brilliantly adapted by screenwriter and producer James Schamus. A frequent collaborator of Ang Lee’s they seem to have perfected their partnership over the years. It’s truthfully a very funny script and part of the credit has to go to the superb cast. Demetri Martin is great as our confused and unlikely hero and it is brilliant to see Eugene Levy in something good rather than another American Pie sequel but the real star of the show is Brit actress Imelda Staunton as Elliot’s mother. Her off the cuff remarks and batty one-liners elevate the film into comedy gem territory. Her lines are delivered with such class and spark it’s impossible not to laugh at her.

Liev Schreiber also turns in an entertaining supporting performance as Vilma. An ex-soldier who also happens to be a drag queen and Emile Hirsch is also on fine form as a young Vietnam-vet.

Of course, what would a film about the origins of Woodstock be without music? The soundtrack is superb but Ang Lee doesn’t dwell on it. While there are great songs by Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead and Crosby, Stills & Nash among others this happens to be a personal story of sexual awakening and liberation. Ang Lee knows that the music is important but character is everything. This is why he has been very careful in making sure the films soundtrack doesn’t detract from the drama onscreen. This is a personal revolution that happens to be told during a massive global revolution.

There is a lot a joy in music and Ang Lee has captured that joy from start to finish using the medium of film. Can you dig it?

Rating: ★★★★☆

DVD EXTRAS

Deleted scenes
Commentary with Ang Lee & James Schamus
Peace, Love & Cinema
No audience required: The Earth Light Players
Horsing around the set