6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.6 |
A man working at his parents' motel in the Catskills inadvertently sets in motion the generation-defining concert in the summer of 1969.
Starring: Henry Goodman (I), Demetri Martin, Imelda Staunton, Kevin Chamberlin, Seth BarrishComedy | 100% |
Music | 82% |
History | 36% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: DTS 5.1
Spanish: DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
BD-Live
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
What is Taking Woodstock? It isn't a drama in the vein of director Ang Lee's darker tragedies; the film's saccharine sensibilities and rose-tinted nostalgia are too sugary sweet to elicit a lasting emotional response from its audience. It isn't a comedy befitting the comedians that fill its ranks; its characters' quirky personalities are amusing, as is its clash of hippie culture and mom-n-pop conservatism, but actual laughs are few and far between, making the bulk of the film an exercise in awkward pauses and meandering visits with a listless mob. So what is it exactly? Lee and screenwriter James Schamus' misguided attempt to diversify their canons? An overtly sappy jaunt through a simpler time? A historical dramedy suffering from an abnormally pronounced identity crisis? An underwhelming, albeit harmless bit of sentimental self-indulgence? An introduction to the free spirits who first witnessed a generation-defining shift in American culture? Sadly, Taking Woodstock is all of these things and more, meaning moviegoers will spend far more time locking down Lee's tone than enjoying the film itself.
Martin does a fine job, but his character is too anemic to bear the burden of the tale...
Evocative of Scorsese's 1970 documentary, Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace & Music, Taking Woodstock revels in natural lighting, soft focus photography, and intentionally degraded establishing shots. Universal's 1080p/VC-1 transfer preserves Lee's vision, forgoing unnecessary artificial sharpening to faithfully reproduce the director's every hazy edge and swampy shadow. Colors, while muted on the whole, are rich and lifelike, lovingly rendering the earthy hues and natural skintones that bolster Eric Gautier's palette. Blacks, though more akin to charcoal than ink, are adequately resolved and more than appropriate for the subject at hand. Detail waxes and wanes as readily as the festival itself -- a slight waxiness even suggests a touch of noise reduction has been applied -- but remains fairly consistent throughout. Sharp? Not in a traditional sense. Satisfying? Quite so, particularly in light of Lee's intentions. It helps that the studio's technical efforts are so sound. Artifacting, banding, ringing, aliasing, and other digital nonsense are never an issue, and the image is both clean and stable. A fine representation of its director's dreamscape, Taking Woodstock's video presentation should elicit praise from former hippies and young filmfans alike.
Universal's immersive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is just as impressive, albeit not for the reasons newcomers might expect. Since Taking Woodstock lingers on the outskirts of the festival, rarely venturing near the main stage, music doesn't play the role it may have in another director's film. Instead, the rear speakers are tasked with creating a convincing soundfield; one haunted by the distant anthems of rock gods, but never devoted to their melodies. The faint sounds of the concert drift in from every angle, offering listeners a remarkably subtle, essentially realistic experience. That being said, the result is often undeniably front-heavy. Because Lee largely abandons the festival's music to focus on the three days of peace his characters are peddling, the film isn't the sonic showcase people are probably anticipating. Thankfully, dialogue is clear and intelligible, prioritization is spot on, and nuanced LFE support adds a welcome bit of weight to passing vehicles, pressing crowds, and some of Bethel's more heated encounters. The track certainly isn't going to wake the neighbors, or anyone sleeping upstairs for that matter, but it is a rewarding bit of time travel, effectively enveloping those in its vicinity and transporting them to a quaint New York township in 1969.
The Blu-ray edition of Taking Woodstock isn't spilling over with special features, but it does offer a decent collection of supplements fans of the film are sure to enjoy. The best of the bunch, a breezy Audio Commentary with director Ang Lee and writer James Schamus, is brimming with candid observations, personal anecdotes, and extensive details about the production. The pair rarely run out of things to say and their conversation remains both engaging and amusing throughout. Six Deleted Scenes (HD, 11 minutes) are just as good, and could have easily found a welcome home in the film. Likewise, Peace, Love and Cinema (HD, 20 minutes) is a fairly generous production documentary that serves up a satisfying series of interviews with every key member of the cast and crew. Some participants are a tad annoying (Emile Hirsch chief among them), but they manage to inject an interesting perspective into the proceedings that was missing from Lee and Schamus' commentary. The only hit-or-miss supplement is No Audience Required: The Earthlight Players (HD, 4 minutes), a somewhat shallow look at some of the film's supporting characters. Rounding out the package are Universal's usual assortment of Blu-ray exclusive features: My Scenes bookmarking, BD-Live Functionality, and an unsightly News Ticker.
To my dismay, Taking Woodstock isn't a life-changing cinematic experience in the vein of the festival it follows. Instead, director Ang Lee disappoints, failing to establish the film's identity or deliver the wry humor Schamus' script seems to require. Universal's Blu-ray release is much better, delivering a faithful video transfer, an immersive DTS-HD Master Audio track, and a solid collection of supplemental features. I would recommend seeing the film before committing to a purchase, but fans will be pleased with the treatment Lee's ode to peace and love has received.
Warner Archive Collection
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2001
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