“WISH COME TRUE”
Starring: Demetri Martin, Dan Fogler, Henry Goodman, Jonathan Groff, Eugene Levy, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Imelda Staunton, with Emile Hirsch and Liev Schreiber
Directed by: Ang Lee
MPAA Rating: R for graphic nudity, some sexual content,
drug use, and language
Genre: Drama with Comedy/Music
By John Delia
Ang Lee hits the mark with this excellent adaptation of Taking Woodstock from the memoirs of Elliot Tiber. Lee takes us back to that magical event in 1969 like no one has ever done before. I loved the way he got me involved in the storyline from the very beginning to his inevitable ending. Cool and groovy man!
The film centers on Elliot Tiber (Martin), a guy who has come back to his rural White Lake, New York hometown following a bad stint in Greenwich Village
during the turbulent gay rights movement. Taking refuge at his parents run down El Monaco Motel that has been on a down slide for a long time, he works his way up to the head of the town’s betterment program. With the bank on the heels of the El Monaco, Elliot sets out to promote the depressed community.
Hearing that a neighboring town has rejected a permit for a Woodstock Music and Arts Festival, Elliot sends a message to the promoters that he can get a permit for them if they move the festival to White Lake. When they take him up on his offer, it’s the start of what becomes the most remembered concert happening ever. But, what it takes to pull off the feat is what this story’s really about.
Hippies, smokers and tokers are just some of the wild and sometime wonderful people that Ang Lee brings to the screen. From all accounts of
what happened at the most remembered concert ever, he does a great job of bringing the thousands of festival goers to life. I liked the way he interested me in the characters and then slowly built awareness of the reality of the monumental task by adding more eccentric people to the mix. By the time the concert is near, Elliot’s whole village is filled with peace, love and currency.
The acting in the film by the whole cast is very good, but Lee’s choice of Demetri Martin is what makes the film work. His ability to create the naïve
yet savvy charmer, who falls into the lucky deal, is superb. Lee doesn’t hold back anything capturing the events and road to the festival without having to show the acts on the stage. Special kudos to Liev Schreiber who plays a transvestite security guard, his performance is a hoot.
The film contains graphic nudity, some sexual content, drug use, and language all in the context of realism and art.
FINAL ANALYSIS: You do not have to have been there to enjoy this account, but for those who have it’s a blast from the past. (5 of 5 Palm Trees)