Taking Woodstock

Taking Woodstock

“The word is getting out that maybe we’ll have a few more guests than we thought.”

I was a year old during Woodstock and I don’t know anyone who was there. Before seeing Taking Woodstock, I really didn’t know much more about it than the fact that it was some huge hippie music festival with some of the greatest musical artists ever performing. Much of the crowd got naked, did drugs and promoted peace and love. Even though this movie proved that the nudity, drugs, peace and love I’d heard about wasn’t just rumor, obviously, my Woodstock education was somewhat limited.

Woodstock is hailed as one of the most pivotal moments in music history. Three Days of Peace and Music. What was supposed to be a 3 day festival with about 100,000 people paying $8 (less than most people will pay for a ticket to see this movie) each to be there, became a 3 day piece of history with almost half a million people in attendance; the majority with no ticket and no money.

It’s hard for me to fathom that many people coming together and there not being some sort of riot, but the festival truly was one of love, peace and music. People were happy to come together, share whatever they had to share, communicate and just listen to the music that defined the times.

I expected Taking Woodstock to give me the next best thing to being there feeling. I thought it was going to be a factual comedy about the festival. Lighthearted and happy, yes; but with issues laced throughout, this is no comedy (though, the audience tried to make it more comedic than it was by forcing laughter). It was more about how Woodstock came to be and what was going on just outside the perimeter than it was about Woodstock itself. I expected to hear some great music, if only in the background. I only heard one Janis Joplin song. How can you have a movie based on Woodstock without the music of Woodstock?

Taking Woodstock followed Elliot Teichberg as he brought the festival to his rural community in New York in hopes of getting out of the debt he’d created trying to save his overbearing parents’ run-down motel/resort. Elliot had visions that this venture would enable him to leave the family business to follow his own dreams. Woodstock becomes bigger than he ever could have imagined and Elliot becomes one of the most hated men in the community—second only to Max Yasgur, who’s farm was used for the event—as more and more hippie folk show up to experience the promised peace and music.

Michael Lang was one of the "very cool" hippies that met with Elliot to bring Woodstock to him. I loved him the minute he climbed out of a helicopter with his long curly locks, jeans (was he even wearing shoes?), vest and man purse. Portrayed (by Jonathan Groff) as a laid-back and soft-spoken kinda guy, he was absolutely charming. Mamie Gummer (daughter of Meryl Streep) played his equally charming partner (friend, girlfriend???). The duo made me wish for a time machine to take me away from the intensity of today and be transported back to a simpler time. I find it funny that the community so abhors the hippies who seem to be the most gentle, relaxed and happy people one would ever come across. I wish people like that would come to my urban community…and stay!

Contradicting the former was Emile Hirsch who played Billy, a recently returned Vietnam Vet suffering from post trauma and proving that the times really weren’t that simple at all. While flashbacks of war plagued Billy, the festival allowed him to reminisce of simpler times and enjoy the youth that war had stolen.

Liev Schreiber is awesome as the manly man—minus the makeup, hair and dress—cross-dresser named Vilma who shows up and offers to help with security. A manly man cross-dresser, yes, I know that's a contradiction of terms. You'll just have to see for yourself. I thought the movie would take a more comedic turn with his arrival, but he had as much substance as he had muscle. His presence creates a sort of coming of age film. As Elliot wrestles with his own sexuality (or at least admitting it to his parents) he finds comfort in the confidence Vilma has to be exactly who he—or she—is. Schreiber in a dress was so worth the price of admission…if I’d paid the price of admission.

Even though it didn’t meet my expectations, I liked Taking Woodstock for what it was. I loved seeing the clothes, the furniture and the cars I remember from my childhood and a side of the festival I’d never heard about. I wish I’d been there. More than any other event in history, I think this is the one I would like to have experienced firsthand.

Fortunately, though the movie wasn't the next best thing to being there, it did allow me to feel the spirit that made Woodstock what it was. A spirit we should all embrace. Peace, Man.

Bottom Line: Taking Woodstock is Peace, Love and Music. The spirit of the festival is evident…even without hallucinogenic drugs.