FLICKS.CO.NZ

Out now on dvd/blu-ray

Movieslike this one

Taking Woodstock, Movie

Taking Woodstock 2009

Trailers
Reviews
Stuff

The new comedy from Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee. A 1969-set true story about Elliot Tiber (played by great stand-up comedian Demetri Martin, see him here) who inadvertently played a pivotal role in making Woodstock the famed happening it was. More

Working as an interior designer in Greenwich Village, Tiber felt empowered by the gay rights movement. But he was also still staked to the family business – a motel in up-state New York. After hearing that a concert had lost its permit from a neighboring town, Tiber called producer Michael Lang (Jonathan Groff) at Woodstock Ventures to offer his motel. Soon the Woodstock staff was moving into the El Monaco, half a million people were on their way to Tiber’s neighbour’s (Eugene Levy) farm and Tiber found himself swept up in a generation-defining experience that would change his life, and American culture, forever. Hide

0 votes / 0 comments The Talk

  • No Votes Yet

    Want to See it

    What say you?

    • Noone has commented yet. Sad.

  • CARE TO COMMENT?

    Want to see it?

 

Flicks.co.nz Review

Rating:

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply
Andrew Hedley Flicks Writer

You’ll wish you were at Woodstock after seeing Ang Lee’s new film, which paints the legendary music festival as a muddy, friendly, peaceful, bucolic wonderland. But this isn’t the definitive Woodstock movie. More

Instead, it’s a coming-of-age comedy-drama about the pivotal role Elliot Teichberg and his parents played from their frumpy little motel in upstate New York. The resulting feeling of contented disappointment is akin to what you’d get if you drove across the country to see your favourite rock band, only to find your ticket isn’t valid and you have to listen from behind a large fence.

Not to worry. Demetri Martin proves an empathetic lead as Teichberg. We’re right there with him, nervous as he gets in over his head and proud to see him finally find his feet in the world. His eccentric parents – Brits Henry Goodman and Imelda Staunton – are priceless.

The cinematography by Eric Gautier (who gave Into the Wild its serene beauty) creates a pretty, lazy summer afternoon feel and the focused rural location work builds a sense of excitement as we watch hordes of hippies pouring in – all captured in lengthy tracking shots.

If anything, the film suffers from being a bit too ambitious. There are so many supporting characters that Teichberg spends all his time wandering around, meeting all of them in turn. Some, like Liev Schreiber’s transvestite security guard, don’t quite work.

Despite this, Taking Woodstock casts a nostalgic eye on a bygone era. It’s a sleepy, bittersweet, warm-hearted toast to three days of peace and camaraderie. Hide

The People's Reviews

Rating:

21 ratings and 22 reviews

All reviews (22)

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply

Dissapointed

Nadine-Higgins Wannabe (?)

Saw the movie last night and was very disappointed, it did start to pick up in the middle (had the feel of buidling to something) and then nothing happened. I was looking forward to the music and there was none at all. Would not recommend to anyone - sorry

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply

Don't expect a chonicle of the festival... a unique take

Paul Nobody (?)

I guess people will go in expecting a film about the concert itself - where really this is a sweet wee drama-comedy, focusing on a personal story. It's a hang-out movie - the story unfolds as people are hanging out. This is a brave move by the filmmakers - it's not the obvious way to do a Woodstock movie and it doesn't have a Forrest Gump-like soundtrack.

The mother is especially hilarious.

I thought it was very cleverly put together and very involving.

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply

Nice Timing....

Andy Nobody (?)

For this release. Right on the Weekend of the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock. I'm looking forward to seeing this. Should be entertaining.

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply

Review

Anna Nobody (?)

I agree that it could have done with more of the actual woodstock music and concert shown in the movie. But i did enjoy it.

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply

OMG!!

Janine Nobody (?)

This movie was one of the worst movies I have seen in a long time. I am glad I didn't pay to see it because I would have been really angry. I will not be reccommending it to anyone. Very disappointing!

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply

It'll be beautiful

DaveKeyes B-Grader (?)

A lovely easy going story ... one of those personal journey ones. More about personally taking stock - with the festival as the surround, rather than a full Woodstock focus. Funny, playful, relaxed, great music, good times, recommended by me.

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply

Captures the Spirt of Woodstock in a Unique Way

Jeremy-Linton Nobody (?)

From reading some of the other comments it sounds like most people that are dissappointed in this film were mainly put off due to their expectations for a film that focuses on the music.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. I loved the unique focus on the small town that hosted the festival and how it affected all of their lives. I believe it was a great way to really capture the vibe of Woodstock without getting too rapt up in the actual musicians that were playing, which to me has been focused on enough over the years.

If you have been to a multiple day festival before you will have a wonderful sense of nostalgia. This movie completely captures how amazing people can be when they remove themselves from the hum drum monotony of their day to day lives and get together with like minded strangers for a few days of complete freedom and joy.

A great feel good movie with a lot of veiled depth about the people that helped make Woodstock one of the most famous events the world has known.

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply

good film !

Kim Nobody (?)

good film, funny and keep ur eyes on the screen :)

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply

Good fun

Bryce Nobody (?)

Enjoyed it, bit of a laugh here and there. Worth watching

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply

Decent, but not great...

James Nobody (?)

I thought Demetri Martin did a good job. The movie itself was decent, but not anything to write home about. It had some quite funny parts to it, and the style was interesting though.

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply

My review

Cherie-French Wannabe (?)

This was a great movie, the trailer doesn't lead you to believe the movie is about the music at Woodstock - the filmakers have cleverly created a movie focusing on one family, their part in the larger scheme of the festival and how it changed their lives..the comedy was subtle and the characters (at times) were hilarious.

It was thorougly entertaining and enjoyable to watch.

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply

Groovy Man

Adele Nobody (?)

I really enjoyeed this movie. Not what I anticipated, but did not disappoint.
Focusing on one young man's own awakening on experiencing "the centre of the Universe". Sounds like cheese, but cheese well worth a watch.

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply

Review

Kerry Nobody (?)

Great movie, would recommend to others, exactly as trailer suggested movie would be about. Great look at behind the buildup of Woodstock. People who go along expecting to see the music of Woodstock will be disappointed, but the movie is simply not about the actual festival.

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply

All G

jamie G Nobody (?)

good movie def worth a watch at the cinema as quite often there are splitscreens 24 styles. demetri is funny and a good casting. more music would have been good but thats not so much what the story is about. rock on the trippy scene near the end... dont sit to close for that one

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply

I loved it

Kim Nobody (?)

I liked the style of the movie, as it seemed to express the feeling of people at the time but without getting too heavy.

There were a couple of really funny bits.

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply

Just missing something...

Leah Nobody (?)

Saw this movie last night at the Flicks preview - and while i tried so hard to really enjoy it, i walked out feeling like it was just missing something. We didnt see any of the Woodstock music - something i was looking forward to. A really nice story about a family motel, but less about the festival itself. Still an enjoyable watch.

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply

Yay

Jason Nobody (?)

Great movie quite funny

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply

Would see again

Ken-Burns Flicks Superstar (?)

This is a great backdoor to Woodstock and really, really funny. Music festivals I'm sure are pretty much like this from whoa to go. Lovely view of the world

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply

Woodstock? Not really

Betsy Nobody (?)

Nice story about a boy and his parents learning to find their own way in the world. . . Woodstock seemed to be a part of this movie but not the part that I wanted it to be. Missed the music and felt manipulated when they showed us the stage from an acid haze! Really? Was that as close as we could get? Sorry, was pretty under-whelmed!

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply

Not bad, but not great

Philip-Moore Flicks Superstar (?)

This is a somewhat interesting story that at the end of it you sort of feel like uve missed something. oh yeah the actual concert. Yea there were some good moments in there. It was kind of like expecting carmello ice cream and just getting vanilla

Your rating / review...

Rate it:

Review it:

After submitting your review, you will need to login or signup to Flicks. Don't worry though, we'll keep your review and post it after you're done.

Press Reviews

Dominion Post (Graeme Tuckett)

If you're after a definitive reimagining of the legendary festival, this isn't it. Taking Woodstock is a little hippy, and a little trippy, but for a film based on a supposedly mind-blowing event, it falls well short. Full review.

Hollywood Reporter

The name Woodstock evokes so many themes in the mind from the 1960s counterculture to the explosion of youth music and sexual liberation. Yet Ang Lee's new film "Taking Woodstock" runs counter to any expectations that a world-class director would plumb the meaning of this transforming event. Instead Lee delivers an entertaining light comedy about a real-life person who somewhat inadvertently helped the whole iconic concert to take place. Full review.

TV3 (Daniel Rutledge)

A very average movie set against the backdrop of one of music’s most important events of all time. Elliot’s story just isn’t as interesting as everything else going on. If you’re interested in Woodstock, I’d recommend the fantastic doco Woodstock, 3 Days of Peace & Music. Full review.

Urban Cinefile (Australia)

One thing is for sure, life could never be the same after Woodstock. Ang Lee's film is a hypnotic carpet ride that allows us to understand that - close up and from afar. Full review.

Variety (USA)

Gentle, genial and about as memorable as a mild reefer high, “Taking Woodstock” takes a backdoor approach to revisit the landmark musical weekend through the antics and efforts of some of the people who made it happen. Full review.