Taking Woodstock (2009)

A man working at his parents' motel in the Catskills inadvertently sets in motion the generation-defining concert in the summer of 1969.

Director:

Ang Lee

Writers:

James Schamus (screenplay), Elliot Tiber (book)

Stars:

Demetri Martin, Henry Goodman, Edward Hibbert

8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Henry Goodman	...	Jake Teichberg
Edward Hibbert	...	British Gentleman
Imelda Staunton	...	Sonia Teichberg
Demetri Martin	...	Elliot Teichberg
Kevin Chamberlin	...	Jackson Spiers
Lee Wong	...	George the Doorman (as Takeo Lee Wong)
Anthoula Katsimatides	...	Esther
Clark Middleton	...	Frank
Bette Henritze	...	Annie
Sondra James	...	Margaret
Jeffrey Dean Morgan	...	Dan
Christina Kirk	...	Carol
Gail Martino	...	Town Clerk
Emile Hirsch	...	Billy
Adam LeFevre	...	Dave

Storyline

A man working at his parents' motel in the Catskills inadvertently sets in motion the generation-defining concert in the summer of 1969.

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Plot Keywords:

lsd | male full frontal nudity | catskills | concert | musician | 

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Taglines:

"A Generation Began In His Backyard."

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama | History | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for graphic nudity, some sexual content, drug use and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the end of the film, Michael Lang says he's going to San Francisco to organize a free concert with the Rolling Stones. He's referring to the infamous Altamont Free Concert, where four people ended up dead, one of them by homicide. Because of these violent events, the concert was later on viewed as the end of the hippie era.

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Goofs

One of the production staff refers to the Hog Farm commune leader Hugh Romney as "Wavy Gravy". Romney, by his own account, was not given this nickname until about a month after Woodstock at the Texas Pop Festival (supposedly by BB King).

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Quotes

Elliot Tiber: Mom! Dad! You're like superheroes!

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Connections

Referenced in John Sharnhorst (2010)

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Soundtracks

Wooden Ships
Written by David Crosby, Paul Kantner and Stephen Stills
Performed by Crosby Stills & Nash (as Crosby, Stills & Nash)
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp
By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

Captures the Spirit of Woodstock in a Unique Way

From reading some of the other comments it sounds like most people that are disappointed 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.

Details

Official Sites:

Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 August 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Taking Woodstock

Filming Locations:

Cherry Plain State Park, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,457,760, 30 August 2009

Gross USA:

$7,460,204

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$9,975,737

Company Credits

Production Co:

Focus Features

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1