14 August
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Taking Woodstock
Ang Lee
Demetri Martin, Jonathan Groff, Eugene Levy, Emile Hirsch, Liev Schreiber, Jeffrey Dean Morgan
(Focus Features; US theatrical: 14 Aug 2009 (General release); 2009)
Taking Woodstock
Before he became the bane of every Marvel Superhero geek’s existence, Ang Lee made complex films about intriguing people and unique places. Thankfully, he’s returning to said territory with this terrific looking take on the seminal concert experience of the 1960s. Woodstock will forever be known as the moment when the Peace Movement found its final freak flag statement, and looking at what Lee has done with the supposedly true story of a small town motel owner instrumental in getting the festival to upstate New York, he’s apparently hit a home run. While there will always be cynics who see any celebration of the ‘60s as rose-colored revisionist history, the genial spirit wafting through the recently released trailer suggests something magical. If anyone can pull it off, it’s Lee.
It Might Get Loud
Davis Guggenheim
Jimmy Page, The Edge, Jack White
(Sony Classics; US theatrical: 14 Aug 2009 (Limited release); 2009)
It Might Get Loud
The rock guitar - the standard bearer for every failed and/or wannabe musicians superstardom dreams. Davis Guggenheim, a TV director turned Oscar winning documentarian (he helmed Al Gore’s global warming exposé An Inconvenient Truth) is turning his attention on the ever-present artist axe and he’s bringing six-string experts The Edge (U2), Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), and Jack White (The White Stripes) along for the ride. Sounds intriguing, especially for those of us less enamored with the new school of auto-tune technology.
Paper Heart
Nicholas Jasenovec
Charlyne Yi, Michael Cera
(Overture Films; US theatrical: 14 Aug 2009 (Limited release); 2009)
Paper Heart
She was the hilarious Jodi, the stoner gal pal of beard bet participant Martin in the classic Knocked Up. Now Charlyne Yi is taking on the post-modern concept of romance in her documentary style comedy co-starring Superbad‘s Michael Cera. Those looking for more Friend of Apatow facets will need to focus elsewhere. This wry, observant take on love was a Sundance smash, and while it does contain a few familiar ex-Freaks and Geeks faces, Yi’s take on this material (with help from director/co-writer Nicholas Jasenovec) is all her own, and it looks really wonderful.
