Taking Woodstock

Review by Sean Lynch

Set in 1969, Taking Woodstock tells the true story of Elliot Tiber (Demitri Martin) who, almost accidentally, played the single most pivotal role in making the Woodstock Music Festival the historic event it's now known as.

It's a simple case of one Jewish "Mumma's Boy" finding himself in the right place at the right time.

In a nutshell, Elliot is just a supportive son of two struggling small-town hotel owners in a town which has the farm fields to accommodate a music festival of Woodstock's proportions.

However, it isn't long before Elliot gets swept up in the generation-defining experience that changed global culture forever.

On paper, Taking Woodstock should deliver a lot more than it actually does.

Demitiri Martin is one of the most inventive and unique comedians of our generation, delivering whimsical humour at it's best... yet his role here isn't that of mirth maker.

In fact, despite what trailers might suggest, Taking Woodstock is almost bereft of "traditional" laughs.

That's not to say there isn't any thing to take from it - but on a completely superficial level, it's bound to disappoint more than a few punters expecting an out-and-out chuckle fest.

Ang Lee, who seems to adore and somehow understand these remarkably subtle and unique "American" stories (he was also the guy behind Brokeback Mountain, which aside from the "Gay Cowboys" was moreso an insight into growing up in the blandness of small town America) crafts something pretty interesting with Taking Woodstock.

On one hand Lee magically captures the dream-like mood of getting swept up in an outdoor music festival (for those who have been to something like Falls Festival, you'll understand that wafting and aimless sense of adventure it offers).

On the other, he tends to get lost in cliche and inconsistency of tone on far too many occasions.

There seems to be more and more of these sorts of "numb" Americana flicks hitting our screens these days.

Movies like Juno, The Assassination of Jesse James and Garden State which are amazingly therapeutic when you need to identify your own mood (essentially - those emotionless "depresso days" we all have... generally on Sundays), but are also films which are rendered powerless when it's audience is fully attentive (and... well... happy).

There are some great moments to enjoy (Dan Fogler and Liev Schreiber are excellent) throughout Taking Woodstock, and given your mood and the right circumstances, it may be just exactly what the doctor ordered.

In fact, the more I think about it, the more I really like it. Lots of characters, lots of genuine and detailed development, some decent dramatic scenes, underlying themes of accepting others and yourself...

However, catch this flick on a day where you don't feel trapped within your own grey-minded-world... then Taking Woodstock is a long and draining way to spend your day.

3 out of 5

Taking Woodstock
Australian release: 27th August, 2009
Official Site: Taking Woodstock
Cast: Demitri Martin, Emile Hirsch, Liev Schreiber, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Paul Dano
Director: Ang Lee