Taking Woodstock~ Based on the infamous concert that defined a culture in 1969, this film takes a look at one family in the center of it all. While I imagine the movie takes it's own liberties; the sex, drugs, hippies and the music are all there. The movie opens showing a very stagnant life of Elliot Teichberg, who works & takes care of his parents' motel. With status on the commerce committee in the local town, he convinces the bank to give him more time to pay off the mortgage of the motel. Seemingly at a loss for ideas, he finds out that a near-by town has rejected Woodstock Adventures request for land for their coming festival. Hoping to host a music festival of his own to raise money, he calls on Woodstock Adventures, and offers his property. They end up not only fixing up & using up the motel facilities for the managers of the festival, but they also take over a neighbor's land (Eugene Levy) for the concert & stage itself. The struggle for Elliot is his mother's over-bearing obsession with making money on everything she feels is being "ruined"- Elliot's father, however, comes alive and relishes in the number of people enjoying "peace, love & music" for three days...all under the care of new friend & trans-sexual body-gaurd, Vilma. Elliot, in his own right, takes a ride to find himself and become brave enough to realize where he truly belongs. The movie was well-thought out and I enjoyed the fact that it focused on one specific family, behind the scenes & at the center of it all. As for the music? The film did not focus on the concert itself, but as for the soundtrack- if you're looking for Jimi Hendrix or The Who, they aren't there, but tunes from Janis Joplin, the Doors (who turned down playing at the concert) and Crosby Stills & Nash did play themselves out. The documentary is more likely to focus on the music- but Taking Woodstock draws the audience closer to what may have been happening. The comedy is more ironic than laugh out loud, nevertheless, it makes it's point and brings out recognizable characters that we've all seen before in the newest generation of movie-making. I'd say, it's worth your ten-bucks to the theater.
Son of Rambow~ For anyone that ever had (or still has) a large imagination; this vibrant indie film is definitely one that explores the imagination of a boy who needed an out. Will Proudfoot comes from a family that belongs to the Church of the Brethren, a conservative denomination that keeps itself from anything it perceives at worldly, including television. Through a series of mishaps & run-in's w/ the school bully, Lee Carter, Will finds himself exposed to Rambo (1982), which Carter had pirated by taking a video camera to the theater. The movie inspires the boys to make their own film and Will's wild imagination gives him motivation to recap scenes from the movie. One of the unique effects show-cased in the movie was Will's imagination which often takes a cartoon form, just like his drawings. It adds a flair and makes the movie visually entertaining. Son of Rambow also enacts the growing friendship b/t two boys who's families, though, different, keep them from feeling like they really belong, except when they're together. It was definitely one of the most interesting and touching films I had seen in awhile. It comes close to Little Miss Sunshine, but certainly has it's own unique flavor. If you're looking for a night-in, this is a movie worth watching.
Son of Rambow~ For anyone that ever had (or still has) a large imagination; this vibrant indie film is definitely one that explores the imagination of a boy who needed an out. Will Proudfoot comes from a family that belongs to the Church of the Brethren, a conservative denomination that keeps itself from anything it perceives at worldly, including television. Through a series of mishaps & run-in's w/ the school bully, Lee Carter, Will finds himself exposed to Rambo (1982), which Carter had pirated by taking a video camera to the theater. The movie inspires the boys to make their own film and Will's wild imagination gives him motivation to recap scenes from the movie. One of the unique effects show-cased in the movie was Will's imagination which often takes a cartoon form, just like his drawings. It adds a flair and makes the movie visually entertaining. Son of Rambow also enacts the growing friendship b/t two boys who's families, though, different, keep them from feeling like they really belong, except when they're together. It was definitely one of the most interesting and touching films I had seen in awhile. It comes close to Little Miss Sunshine, but certainly has it's own unique flavor. If you're looking for a night-in, this is a movie worth watching.
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