Odds 'N Ends

Good morning all,

I realized I've given out a lot of positive reviews so far on this blog, but I've seen three recent movies that managed to generate some negative thoughts... so let's dive in...

First and probably the best of the 3 is Ang Lee's latest period piece, Taking Woodstock. I respect Ang Lee as a director, his constant theme of tradition versus progress permeates most of his movies, and his films are very well shot. I don't really enjoy most Ang Lee movies though, a lot of them suffer from pacing issues and I really think they could use a little more time in the editing room. Taking Woodstock follows along with this... the main plot is about a boy trying to reconcile with his parents and to help his struggling community. Some of the direction, especially the long tracking shot as Martin's character, Elliot Tiber, gets a motorcyle ride down the road of hippies to the festival, seems inspired. Other parts of the direction, like the constant close ups of Tiber's head or some weird split screens, don't work as well.

My major gripe with Taking Woodstock was the complete lack of focus on the music of the festival. It's pretty much a 2 hour tease of protests, people setting up, and hippie antics, leading to a pretty bad sequence where Elliot goes for a psychadelic trip. I know the music of the Woodstock festival has been well documented, but I think having no performances at all makes the movie kind of a cheat. Another thing the movie cheats on a bit is the sexual preferences of the main character... Considering this is the same director who created Brokeback Mountain, the fact that no one seems to care, especially in 1969, seems completely untrue to the conservative nature of the town.

The acting was top notch, although the supporting characters were fairly underdeveloped. Demetri Martin, in his starring debut, made an awkward, well meaning, and straight faced protagonist (going from stand up comedy to a dramatic lead doesn't always go so smoothly). Eugene Levy gave a surprisingly low key and smug performance as Max Yagur, the dairy farmer that owned the festival grounds (good to see Levy in something besides a straight to DVD American Pie sequel). Dan Fogler gives a fairly one note comic relief performance, while Emile Hirsch plays a troubled Vietnam veteran adequately. Imelda Staunton (the bitchy administrator from Harry Potter part 5) plays Tiber's mother as a complete terror. In fact, her character seems much too serious and tough for the goofy supporting characters around her.

The final piece of acting and my personal favorite is Liev Schreiber as the transvestite head of security. I feel like many actors would have taken this character wayyy over the top, but Schreiber plays it completely straight and serious. If Schreiber's character had been more focal and developed, I think he'd be worthy of supporting actor awards consideration, but its a fairly minor part.

So overall, I give Taking Woodstock a minor recommendation... If you like Ang Lee or Demetri Martin, its worth watching once... A perfectly average 5 out of 10

That's all I have to say about that.