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Taking Woodstock

  • 2009
  • R
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
30K
YOUR RATING
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.
Play trailer2:13
14 Videos
99+ Photos
Period DramaBiographyComedyDramaHistoryMusic

A man working at his parents' motel in the Catskills inadvertently sets in motion the generation-defining concert in the summer of 1969.A man working at his parents' motel in the Catskills inadvertently sets in motion the generation-defining concert in the summer of 1969.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
    • Elliot Tiber
    • Tom Monte
  • Stars
    • Demetri Martin
    • Henry Goodman
    • Edward Hibbert
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    30K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Ang Lee
    • Writers
      • James Schamus
      • Elliot Tiber
      • Tom Monte
    • Stars
      • Demetri Martin
      • Henry Goodman
      • Edward Hibbert
    • 80User reviews
    • 150Critic reviews
    • 55Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 8 nominations total

    Videos14

    Taking Woodstock
    Trailer 2:13
    Taking Woodstock
    Taking Woodstock
    Clip 1:13
    Taking Woodstock
    Taking Woodstock
    Clip 1:13
    Taking Woodstock
    Taking Woodstock
    Clip 1:13
    Taking Woodstock
    Taking Woodstock
    Clip 0:59
    Taking Woodstock
    Taking Woodstock
    Clip 1:11
    Taking Woodstock
    Taking Woodstock: Yagur's Farm
    Clip 1:10
    Taking Woodstock: Yagur's Farm

    Photos112

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    + 106
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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Demetri Martin
    Demetri Martin
    • Elliot Teichberg
    Henry Goodman
    Henry Goodman
    • Jake Teichberg
    Edward Hibbert
    Edward Hibbert
    • British Gentleman
    Imelda Staunton
    Imelda Staunton
    • Sonia Teichberg
    Kevin Chamberlin
    Kevin Chamberlin
    • Jackson Spiers
    Lee Wong
    • George the Doorman
    • (as Takeo Lee Wong)
    Anthoula Katsimatides
    Anthoula Katsimatides
    • Esther
    Clark Middleton
    Clark Middleton
    • Frank
    Bette Henritze
    • Annie
    Sondra James
    • Margaret
    Jeffrey Dean Morgan
    Jeffrey Dean Morgan
    • Dan
    Christina Kirk
    Christina Kirk
    • Carol
    Gail Martino
    • Town Clerk
    Emile Hirsch
    Emile Hirsch
    • Billy
    Adam LeFevre
    Adam LeFevre
    • Dave
    Eugene Levy
    Eugene Levy
    • Max Yasgur
    Andy Prosky
    Andy Prosky
    • Bob
    Dan Fogler
    Dan Fogler
    • Devon
    • Director
      • Ang Lee
    • Writers
      • James Schamus
      • Elliot Tiber
      • Tom Monte
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to the Washington Post, screenwriter and producer James Schamus told reporters at the Cannes Film Festival that the biggest challenge in casting extras for the movie was to find people "who were not working out all the time, and who still had pubic hair."
    • Goofs
      Arlo Guthrie was heard singing "Coming Into Los Angeles" in daylight. When the 1969 Woodstock concert first took place, Arlo came on stage at midnight right after Melanie.
    • Quotes

      [the Chamber of Commerce discussing tourism ideas]

      Frank: Well, okay. We got a lot of dairy farms around here, right? And a fair number of bulls. Okay, you've all heard of the running of the bulls in that town in Spain, Pampoona.

      Elliot Tiber: Pamplona.

      Frank: Well, no one's doing one in the Catskills. Seems to be a big draw over there.

      Annie: It would be very amusing to see all those Jews from Levitsky's summer colony, you know, the ones with the black top hats and the curls, running for their lives chased by our local livestock. Wouldn't that be a wonderful sight!

    • Crazy credits
      The Focus Features logo has a psychedelic kaleidoscope design and plays a rock version of the theme music.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Cannes Film Festival 2009 (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      How Could We Know
      Written by Jamie Dunlap, Stephen Lang and Scott Nickoley

      Performed by Lori Mark

      Courtesy of Marc Ferrari/Mastersource

    User reviews80

    Featured review
    9/10

    Director Ang Lee Has Captured the True Essence of WOODSTOCK Better Than Any U.S. Born Director!

    TAKING (the Music Out of) Woodstock!....OK, maybe my re-worked title is somewhat over the top. But then "Taking Woodstock" is a bit over the top, too! Hell, 1969 was over the top, wasn't it?! But who really cares! Come on, people! It's a Movie! Name ONE film set in 1969 that isn't a little overdone. I should know about Woodstock; I was THERE.......in spirit!

    Sadly, as much as I, and about 50% of Americans in my age demographic, longed to be present, we formed part of the 98%(of the half) who couldn't make it. The other 50%, incidentally, were probably praying for the earth to open up and swallow those 1/2 million music, marijuana and peace-loving souls. ("Nearly 500K attended Woodstock" -Wikipedia) Director Ang Lee has really amazed me. He has made...

    A) The film that best encapsulates, captures the true essence, of this great cultural benchmark concert and most extremely divisive moment in our nation's history since the Civil War!

    B) He did this despite being someone from outside our American culture!

    C) He has managed to serve up what was, for me at least, the one of most entertaining and vibrant movies of 2009.

    Laughed so hard at times, I cried! I can't even REMEMBER the last movie that did that for me!!! Isn't that what movies are supposed to be all about?

    Demetri Martin is the late-twenty-something-good-Jewish-Still-living-at-home-son, who serves as the concert's catalyst. Martin renders his role with great finesse, aplomb and stand-alone chutzpah! (Check out his resume on IMDb: What a multi-faceted talent)

    But the real scene-stealer was a TOTALLY unrecognizable Imelda Staunton, as the Jewish mother from Hell! She should have at the very least received an Oscar nomination! Fascinating "Woodstock" dichotomy: Martin's character is right there, in the center of the firestorm...and yet, NOT! What a great metaphoric irony for the millions of us, who were and weren't there, either!

    Despite a few flaws, a Resounding 9*********

    ..... ENJOY! / DISFRUTELA!
    • Tony-Kiss-Castillo
    • Dec 25, 2021
    • Permalink

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    FAQ21

    • How long is Taking Woodstock?Powered by Alexa
    • What is the song playing in the second half of the trailer?
    • Who plays the musicians at the concert?
    • Do they use any of the music from Woodstock?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 28, 2009 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Taiwan
    • Official site
      • Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Destino: Woodstock
    • Filming locations
      • Valley Rest Motel, New Lebanon, New York, USA(El Monaco Motel)
    • Production company
      • Focus Features
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $30,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $7,460,204
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,457,760
      • Aug 30, 2009
    • Gross worldwide
      • $9,975,737
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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