Seen on: July 31, 2009

The players: Director: Ang Lee, Writer: James Schamus, Cast: Henry Goodman, Edward Hibbert, Imelda Staunton, Demetri Martin, Kevin Chamberlin, Emile Hirsch, Liev Schreiber

Facts of interest: Lee also directed "Brokeback Mountain."

The plot: The film chronicles the events that eventually led to the gigantic Woodstock Festival in 1969.

Our thoughts: I wasn’t alive yet when the ultra-popular Woodstock Festival rocked the little town of Bethel, New York in the summer of 1969, but after watching Ang Lee’s wildly entertaining new film “Taking Woodstock,” I kind of wish I could’ve been part of this historic three-day concert event. What an experience this must have been!

What you should know about the movie is that it mainly focuses on Elliot Teichberg (Demetri Martin), the guy who helped making the festival possible by attracting the attention of festival planners because he had a permit for a local concert. Elliot was desperately trying to save his parents’ rundown motel, and Woodstock seemed like the perfect opportunity to tackle the financial trouble.

One thing quickly led to another, and before he knew it, his family’s hotel served as the headquarters for the many event organizers who lured hundreds of thousands of eager hippies to Bethel for a three-day celebration of love and freedom. Elliot helped bring Woodstock to its feet, and in return, Woodstock changed his life forever.

To be honest, I highly enjoyed watching Elliot Teichberg go from a rather quiet young man trying to support his family to a courageous adult challenging the fears that kept him from chasing his own dreams. Filled with light humor and passion for both the lead characters and the birth of the legendary festival, “Taking Woodstock” is indeed a wild experience.

No, you won’t see any big stage action in this film, and in my opinion, it doesn’t need any. Ang Lee and screenwriter James Schamus successfully manage to keep the film’s plot entertaining throughout, and even though some scenes end up dragging or look a tad awkward and out of place, “Woodstock” still remains a vibrant experience.

Also boosting the film’s success is its solid cast. Demetri Martin delivers an honest, authentic performance as Elliot, and so do Henry Goodman and Imelda Staunton as his immigrant parents. And who thought Liev Schreiber would be so great in a role forcing him to dress as a woman? Yes, his appearance is quite memorable indeed.

Freaky quote: "See what the center of the universe looks like." – Liev Schreiber

The final word: “Taking Woodstock” is not a film for everybody, and the easiest way to enjoy the film is to simply take it for what it is: an amusing tale of an ordinary guy whose actions helped trigger the phenomenon that was Woodstock. The film has its flaws, but I strongly suggest you give this one a shot.

Article by Franck Tabouring