Taking Woodstock Review
Sunday, March 7, 2010
, Posted by Should I See It at 2:17 AM
Film: Taking Woodstock
Director: Ang Lee
Starring: Demetri Martin, Imelda Staunton, Henry Goodman, Emile Hirsh, Jonathan Groff, Liev Schreiber, Eugene Levy.
Plot: Elliot Tiber, a man working at his parents' struggling motel in the Catskills, inadvertently sets in motion the generation-defining concert in the summer of 1969.
In a film set in the 1960s you expect a lot of sex, drugs and rock and roll. But the problem with Taking Woodstock is that there is too much sex and drugs and not enough rock and roll.
The rock and roll that I am talking about is of course both literal and metaphorical.
The soundtrack is not nearly as stand out as other recent films set in the period, like The Boat That Rocked, and for a film about Woodstock, you expect it to be memorable.
Metaphorically, it feels like there isnt enough action to keep the story moving and a good pace. The first half is quite engaging, as we discover the kooky little town in which the Tiber's live, and it gets almost a little exciting when the Woodstock planning team move in. But just as Elliot finds himself wandering around the festival, so does the plot, and so to does the audience's attention.
Demetri Martin is kind of lackluster. After the first couple of scenes, he fails to engage the audience. This is essentially Elliot's story, Woodstock just provides a colourful catalyst for it to occur. Martin's distinct lack of... well, anything made me want more Woodstock and less Elliot.
Martin aside, there is a plethora of supporting performances that are wonderful.
Let me say that Imelda Staunton is one of the most wonderful, yet underrated actresses around.
As Elliot's mother Sonia, Staunton gives the best performance of the film. She balances the light and the dark perfectly. What always impresses me about Staughton is her power of transformation. From the way she sits dead pan in front of the television, to the way she rips the sheets of the bed, she IS Sonia.
As Elliot's mother Sonia, Staunton gives the best performance of the film. She balances the light and the dark perfectly. What always impresses me about Staughton is her power of transformation. From the way she sits dead pan in front of the television, to the way she rips the sheets of the bed, she IS Sonia.
As her husband Jake, Henry Goodman is equally wonderful, though his role is a little less flashy than Staunton's. Also excellent is Liev Schreiber, who gives a completely unexpected performance as a transvestite named Vilma.
Jonathan Groff as Woodstock organiser Michael Lang is solid, and has a surprising charm about him. Groff proves to be as watchable on screen as he is on stage. Though his wig is incredibly distracting. (The number of critics referring to him as 'newcomer Jonathan Groff' prooves that they havent done their research. Groff is actually a well establish NY based actor, who was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in the musical Spring Awakening.) Well. the good news is that we wont have to wait very long to see him on screen again. He is joining the cast of Glee for five to six episodes when it returns in April.
The use of the split screen in the big crowd scenes or when Elliot makes his way into Woodstock HQ is incredibly effective. It creates a chaos that at first overwhelms, but then manages to absorb the audience with a sense of wonder and excitement. And there is a remarkable tracking shot as Elliot makes his way to the festival. But visually, the rest of the film in not all that interesting. There is a distinct lack of the beauty that we have come to expect from an Ang Lee film.
Taking Woodstock is a somewhat confused, underwhelming film. With Ang Lee at the helm, I expected the film to have a lot more impact, not just at the box office, but on the audience.
Should I See It?
This is tricky. I would recommend it only to see the fabulous work of Imelda Staunton. Just don't go into it looking for a great film.
Taking Woodstock Official Site here.
