2039 - American Reunion

For some reason I found myself checking this out on Netflix.  It’s an interesting thing.  I don’t know if this was a bad film or a pretty okay one.  It’s tough when it’s a reunion sequel to a much loved film from your childhood.  I thought that this one did a really great job of playing up the original, and I think also the fact that I’ve grown up along with these guys doesn’t help at all either.  As a stand-alone piece I don’t think it would be all that satisfying or entertaining - but as a welcoming home party it’s worth the effort for sure.

1920 - A Mighty Wind

Re-watched this film for research on a project I'm getting ready for.  I have to be honest in that this isn't my favourite Guest film.  I love the musical aspect of it, but I just feel like it's missing a point to the whole thing.  I'm not quite sure why we're following these people or what Guest is trying to get at with the idea of following these folk stars around - the themes and whatnot.  I love a lot of the performances here, but mostly Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara, who are fantastic and somewhat heartbreaking.  Everyone else just feels like they're coming out to do something fun - which it is.  There's some characters here that I just downright don't enjoy at all - but it's no fun obsessing over that :)
It's a very welcome additional to Guest's work, but no where close to my favorite.

1514 - Taking Woodstock

 

I had a geography teacher who made us watch the film Woodstock over and over and over again.  I can't remember if he'd been there - I'm sure that he wanted to be if he didn't.  Either way, because of that man, I've always had at least a minor interest in this festival.  

This is an interesting film in terms of the people that have come together to be a part of it.  Ang Lee is a bit of a surprise - although if you look at the man's filmography there is no rhyme or reason to it - he's all over the map in terms of the kinds of films and subjects that he gets involved in.

There's a wonderful supporting cast here: Liev Schreiber, Paul Dano, Eugene Levy, Imelda Staunton, Emile Hirschto name a few.  I can't imagine that they got involved with the film because the script gave them an amazing role to play - they were all good, but none of them are playing career making performances - they got involved because of what the project was about.

I'm a bit neutral on this film.  I enjoyed it, but it's not something I'm going to find myself raving about as a 'must see'.  It's what it is, a small document of a person who got involved in something extraordinary.  Take that for what you will.  The one irony is that, for a film about one of the greatest musical festivals of all time, I can't say that the soundtrack particularly stood out.

Taking Woodstock   Taking Woodstock [Blu-ray]