1/01/2010

Taking Woodstock (2009)

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"They think that 5,000 people are going to buy tickets."

Elliot Teichberg (Demetri Martin) returns for the summer to his small hometown of Bethel in the Catskill Mountains to help out his parents (Imelda Staunton [who is hysterical in this!], Henry Goodman) who run a cheap, seedy motel. He promptly gets elected president of the Chamber of Commerce and sets about to get his parents' motel and the deteriorating tiny town on track.

He's asked to continue the summer concert series he ran when he lived at home -- basically Elliot playing music on his stereo. But he continues to look for opportunities to bring tourists to the area. When the neighboring town of Wallkill cancel the permit for the Aquarian Festival that was scheduled to be held there, Elliott decides this could be his town's summer concert.

And thus was born the historic Woodstock.

Others in the cast include Eugene Levy as Max Yasgur, who offered his dairy farm as the venue; Emile Hirsch as a young, disillusioned, drugged out local; Jonathan Groff as Mike, the laid back organizer; Mamie Gummer as Mike's assistant Tisha; Liev Schreiber in drag as Vilma who offers security; Richard Thomas as the Reverend Don; and Paul Dano as a hippie.

Based on Elliot Teichberg's memoir.

Director Ang Lee did an amazing job getting all the details. Some scenes are nearly identical of photos taken at Woodstock.

Run time: 2 hours, 1 minute

Rated R for nudity, language, and drug use.

My personal rating: B+

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