Movie Review: Taking Woodstock

Taking Woodstock
Written by: James Schamus
Based on the book by Elliot Tiber
Directed by: Ang Lee
Starring: Demetri Martin, Emile Hirsch, Eugene Levy, Henry Goodman, Imelda Staunton, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Liev Schreiber

Arriving in theaters this weekend is the brilliant new film from Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain, The Ice Storm), Taking Woodstock. It's the story of how a young man turned his parents failing motel in a small New York town into the hub of the biggest music festival in history.

And what a gorgeous story it is.

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2009 hasn't been the best year for movies so far, with everything seeming so underwhelming. In fact, I'd been wondering just how anyone was going to make a best of list with what we've seen so far. It seems like this year is going to belong to the small films. Films like 500 Days of Summer (currently entrenched at my number one spot), Away We Go, and now, Taking Woodstock.

Taking Woodstock is one of those movies that can restore your faith in American film, which as of late, hasn't been anything to write home about.

The film is wonderfully written, superbly directed, and features a flawless cast. The film has such heart at its core that it is near impossible not to be captured by it immediately.

The entire cast is great but one stand out is Imelda Staunton who slips into her part like a second skin. She's barely recognizable as Elliot's (Demetri Martin) mother.

Speaking of Demetri Martin, he is the biggest surprise here. I know he's capable of acting from his show and he is extremely funny. Here he takes center stage and gives a remarkably natural performance which is one of the highlights of the film.

James Schamus' script gives us wonderful characters to enjoy and feel for. His story is delightful, funny, and touching. He peels away layers of Elliot's character with such care and makes his secrets feel important but not overwhelmingly so.

Ang Lee does a brilliant job directing here. This is the Ang Lee I remember from The Ice Storm. He delivers us a beautiful film from start to finish.

Taking Woodstock, isn't really about the concert itself but the events surrounding it, more specifically how these events affect a small family. We don't get any cheesy cameos of people trying to be the performers in fact we don't see the performers at all. We hear them in the distance which makes for a nice atmospheric effect but everything we see happens on the outskirts of the event itself. We experience the crowds, the hippies, the townsfolk affected by the insanely large crowds (who are none to happy).

At one point, Liev Schreiber's character says to check out the center of the universe. It certainly feels that way when we see thousands of people invading this small New York town. Watching Taking Woodstock, makes you feel like you're a part of it even for a couple of hours.

Taking Woodstock is one of the few must see movies out there right now. It's a beautifully directed film with a stellar script and some amazing performances that is well deserving of your attention.

Get out to your theater and see for yourself.

Taking Woodstock is in theaters now.