Taking Woodstock

The plot is non-existent, but the athmosphere of the 60's era is captured nicely and the cast is stellar. The decision to focus on the 'side story' rather than the concert itself works to the film's benefit.

Woodstock festival was the greatest event of love, peace, drugs and music in the past century. No wonder it changed many lives. Ang Lee's Taking Woodstock focuses on one young man's sexual transformation, as well as changes in the whole family unit. Although film succeeds on some levels, there are plenty of flaws too. For one, there's brilliant LSD trip scene, and for other - over the top, silly comedy elements. Woodstock festival will be remembered forever, but this movie won't.

Immersive. Must-see for any hippie lover. But honestly, Ang Lee's got to just come out of the closet and cut the crap.

Great. The greatest event in the history of rock shown through the perspective of a young, buttoned down guy. This is a behind the scenes kinda look at the festival, and the actual event is shown from a distance so you can really appreciate the enormity of the spectacle. Its an inspiring, joyful film, reminding you at moments that we really are all just flawed humans longing to understand and be understood. Perhaps Ang Lee isn't a one-hit wonder after all. recommended.

Felt like a nothing movie as its completely forgettable. Doesn't commit to any genre and I dare say its far from a comedy like the cover suggested. You would also expect that Woodstock itself would get some form of screen time but Ang Lee couldn't fit any of it into the two hour running time..

There is something cool in this movie, a good production from the time of Woodstock. But the story here around this event, there is nothing special, like all of Ang Lee films I've ever seen. My opinion.

very enjoyable, despite the fact that the actual plot is a little nonexistent. the film wanders from group to group showing the audience glimpses of the woodstock festival. it gets away with this lack of structure because every character is incredibly interesting and genuine. ang lee's direction was awesome, as usual. i loved how some of the film was shown in a documentary type way. it showed how demetri martin's elliott was just an onlooker to the woodstock tidal wave he helped unleash.

6???????????…

Hey, this is actually kinda fun when it's just a big farce.

This is a comedy-drama, so initially starts with some light comedy then alternates between a good trip and bad trip. Does not have much to do with the actual festival of music though. Really the story of Eliot which has been presented here in an interesting form.

Such a fantastic voyage!

better than your average feel good. i enjoyed the way this film portrays sexuality, drugs and psychedelic culture.

57.000

Entertaining comedy which perhaps missteps by focusing on the exploits of Martin and his family rather than the titular event (especially in the second half), but remains a mostly enjoyable evocation of the time and place (and deliberately or accidentally reminiscent of Rob Sitch's THE DISH in this respect). Hurt by a formless structure which causes some sagging in the pacing from time to time, and a tendancy towards caricature (especially in the overblown, misjudged performance from Staunton).

I was really pumped about this movie, but i have to say it was kind of a let down

No one's asking for a song-by-song re-enactment of the concert, but Lee's refusal to focus even for a moment on the musical aspect of the festival starts to feel almost perverse, as if he's deliberately frustrating the audience's desire.

This is a good film with a straight forward script. Demetri Martin is good in the lead role, basically playing it straight. There are some funny moments, overall I would recommend this picture.

Visually displeasing and gentle minor key drama meaning to represent a cross section of the Woodstock generation, with a surprising mediocre quality from its director and some achieved visual bits towards the end.

Really, it's the same circumstance captured in Bye Bye Birdie, but Lee and Schamus lack a sense of humor.

Considering the comedic chops of many of the people involved, this movie couldn't decide whether to be a comedy or drama, until way too late it took a far more dramatic turn than it should have. Emile Hirsch rocked his part. The weird thing is that we really do not get a conclusion or any movement in Martin's closeted gay man thing, like, what was the point? This movie gets extra points cause I used to go to that farm all the time as a kid.

"Taking Woodstock fails to immerse us in the visceral feeling of being there." - Ryan Stewart

Very likable film. The mom is a hoot ("You, theater girl! Back in the barn" "Cover your parts! We've got company" "No shtupping in the bushes"). Lang started to sound a bit like the Festrunk brothers ("We will cruise and swing for several days, enjoying your farm"). The acid-trip sequence was handled in low-key taste. Also containing many droll nods to the original movie (split screens, Lang riding on his motorcycle, etc)...not to mention of course the decidedly droll ending.

lot of kudos for the LSD trip scene...

Too long and has some useless characters.. Got a bit bored in the second act.. It was fun from time to time but not that good a movie overall.. Has the atmosphere of the era a bit, but not that much..

Some may be disappointed that a movie about Woodstock doesn't include any of the music or anything related to the actual concert, but if Taking Woodstock has anything to say is is that the concentration of people was the actual event and the reason they all gathered was almost moot. But really it's all a biopic centered on Eliot (Demetri Martin) dealing with the burdens of greedy parents, closeted gayness and the tornado of chaos he invites to upend his remote town.

For every two things I liked about the movie there was one thing I didn't. It kind of meandered around and had really bad ways of being subtle about something and blatant about it later.

Not what I expected, but surprisingly good.. I think the film's about the awesome event that was Woodstock and its almost supernatural cultural implications. I dunno. Either way Ang blended the original Woodstock doc with his film almost seemlessly, it felt like an extenuation and an inside track version. Just cool. Also the acid trip/high press conference speech were both brilliantly accurate depictions of the effects of LSD an weed I have ever seen in a film. Ang must have done his research ;)

Grundlegend ist der Film nicht schlecht. Er schafft es aber nicht, mir zu vermitteln, wie das Woodstock Feeling war. Es wurden auch leider keine Originalaufnahmen verwendet. Auch wenn der Film anfänglich eine Komödie sein will, kann er als solche nicht überzeigen. Die Musik kommt auch zu kurz.

Too light hearted for it's own good, needed more emotion. The fact that it tries so hard to be a straight portrayal ultimately makes it's story structure one dimensional, and it feels more like a set of stories of the time than a cohesive whole, but it's charming. Those looking for additional substance won't be enamored by it, but those who like charming casts and good soundtracks will enjoy it. A good reenactment, but not exactly the best story. Enjoyable but not substantial.

Could've used more music since the film was supposed to be about Woodstock. Demitri Martin is surprisingly ok in his role. Character development wasn't very good. Too many characters were brought in and out of the film arbitrarily. I did like that they used the split-screen footage at times, a la the Woodstock documentary. But really, a very blah film that didn't shed very much light on Woodstock itself.

An interesting take on a movie that's less about Woodstock and more about one guy coming to terms with himself. There is some merit to the complaints about a lack of character development as the film introduces us to a multitude of characters who have distinct story lines and we only get true closure with two of them. I liked the use of grainy footage at times and the multiple frames showing different groups in one shot. Definitely interesting and enjoyable.

A misfire that never commits fully to either comedy or drama, though the lead performance by Demitri Martin is surprisingly likable.

It's a solid account of organization of Woodstock. Lee doesn't go for a punchline, it's a bit all over the place multi threading topics. Mainly avoids the serious issues or political aspect, concentrating on naivity and entertainment of a generation. It's not hard to say there is a cheerful appreciation of the event in general. After all everything seems lighter and fuzzier in the countryside.

Boring. Ang Lee's worst.

Captures the confluence and the corresponding state of transformative wonder engendered. Neat.

Very slow, very little character or story to latch onto, not a great adapation.

easy movie ;)