Review of Taking Woodstock (2009) by Ruth L — 10 Jul 2012

We were anticipating a bit of a boring film after reading the reviews but thought we'd give it a go, seeing as Lee's stuff is usually great. I'm not sure which film the reviewers watched but I'm pretty sure it wasn't this one. The characters were completely three dimensional, there wasn't a single action phrase or behaviour that jarred or bumped you out of the bubble it makes. It was realistic but not without magic. It conjured up the era so cleverly, with gentle warmth and humour, particularly the straddling of the two worlds- sleepy ultra traditional American towns unchanged for decades dragged into the 60's. We thought the portrayal of the particularly 'uncool' central character was full of integrity- we've all met people like this. I know which are the cliched hippy 60's bits that people are referring to- I bet a lot of money they were like this.

This film isn't about Woodstock- its about the guilt and emerging need for change for a young adult, the resentment and love, in equal measure, for ageing family members and a sympathetically painted picture of how people work together. So glad we watched it.