TAKING WOODSTOCK

RYAN: “Taking Woodstock” is the new film from the Academy Award-winning director of “Brokeback Mountain,” Ang Lee.

CAROLINE: This movie looks so cute to me and every time I see the commercial on TV, my heart sings a little. Sadly, I couldn’t attend the screening with you. How was it?

RYAN: I’m really not into Woodstock or that era or the music so I really wasn’t interested in this movie at all until I saw the trailer. And now I’m even more pleased by the film.

CAROLINE: We’ve found some of Ang’s movies to be slow in the past. How does this one compare?

RYAN: It’s definitely slow, but not as slow as “Brokeback Mountain.” There’s a lot more going on in this movie, and it’s got more colorful characters. And the music is infinitely better.

CAROLINE: Ugh, that strummy guitar in “Brokeback” made me want to kill myself. How was the cross-dressing Liev Schreiber?

RYAN: I’m gonna go ahead and give him a “B” for brilliant! It’s a stand-out performance for him. I can only imagine what he thought when he took on this role and how much fun he had playing it. He’s not even a drag queen; he’s just a regular dude in a wig, heels and a dress. It’s so funny.

CAROLINE: What about Demetri Martin?

RYAN: He’s pretty good. He’s kind of a geeky, awkward person in real life so he’s almost playing himself. It’s not an outstanding performance, but I liked him. Emile Hirsch is also in it as a war vet suffering from flashbacks. And Meryl Streep’s daughter, Mamie Gummer, has a lil role too.

CAROLINE: Is the movie funny at all? Or more sentimental and nostalgic?

RYAN: It’s not too sentimental but it’s a really great period piece. The costumes, the location and the hippy hair are all awesome. It’s really just a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Woodstock – how they found the location and how the community fought against it and it almost didn’t happen. It’s from the point of view of Demetri’s character.

CAROLINE: How did they portray the actual Woodstock concert?

RYAN: They didn’t really, and I was disappointed by that. It’s just sort of in the background. I was like, “After all this, I want to see the show!” I wanted to see a Janis Joplin or a Jimi Hendrix re-enactment. Where was the payoff?

CAROLINE: I guess Ang ran out of time. Anyone else famous in it?

RYAN: I really liked Imelda Staunton who I remember fondly as Professor Umbridge from “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.” She plays Demetri’s mom.

CAROLINE: OMG I love her! She was Vera Drake too.

RYAN: There’s also Eugene Levy of “American Pie” fame among other things. He’s great as well.

— BOTTOM LINE —

RYAN: This movie could get some Oscar buzz if it hangs on for a while and because of the Ang Lee factor, but it’s not spectacular. I’m not over the moon about it. Some people might love it, but I just liked it.

— RATING —