Review of Taking Woodstock (2009) by Genie K — 10 Mar 2010

Taking Woodstock was even more different than I expected, but for me, this is usually a good thing. Yes, there are many funny scenes, but I found the film to be mostly a drama centering on specific people's whose lives changed from a nation changing event.

Woodstock has become a myth in today's world, but here Ang Lee brings it down to earth and shows what effect it had on the person who organized it. Demetri Martin does a great job playing in a dramatic role, and when he performs comedy he doesn't do it in the style you would expect.

Imelda Staunton seems to always play a jerk, but she's excellent at it. I wanted her to just die by the end of the film. Ang Lee doesn't forfeit his style just to get this movie to match everyone's expectation.

It's funny to point this out, but it's edited like The Hulk in certain scenes. At first I didn't like what they did with Mike in the film. I really wanted him to be drawn into a deeper character.

But the truth is, the amount they use him brings a distinct subtlety to the development to Elliot, and many other characters, throughout the film. There are some moments I feel that were a little too cliche and done in many other films that deal with drug in a comedic fashion, but overall I found Taking Woodstock to be a refreshingly original take on the three days of peace, love, and music.