Woodstock (1970)
US 225m, Colour (3 Days of Peace & Music Director’s Cut)
Director: Michael Wadleigh
As a record of what might be considered the defining moment of hippie counter-culture, Woodstock is a lengthy documentary about the infamous 1969 mud caked weekend of drugs, sex and pop music in up-state New York. The film’s most interesting and unintentionally comedic moments come from the dirty bearded dudes and their half-naked “old ladies” who endlessly spout the importance of their massive gathering. Although interviews with police, local residents and most fittingly, a guy who had the unenviable task of cleaning the portable toilets served to contextualize the weekend, you probably had to be there to have a full appreciation for the sights, sounds and smells that defined Woodstock (Klaus Ming June 2013).
2 comments on “Woodstock (1970)”
Leave a comment
ming movie reviews 
As far as I can remember, I haven’t seen this since it came out. Haven’t felt the lack, either.
There’s some good music, but there’s also quite a bit of lousy music, and (as I remember) entirely too many wide-eyed reports about how many miles the highway is backed up.
I always preferred Monterey Pop (an unhip choice at the time). Shorter, more focused, and much better music. Some of the deleted scenes on the DVDs are really good, too.
I had only seen clips of Woodstock prior to this viewing of the film. I had expected a whole lot more from the documentary, and agree with you about the music – pretty boring for the most part. I suspect the original shorter cut moves along at a bit better pace – the extended director’s seems a bit much.
As music festival documentaries go, I definitely preferred Gimme Shelter (1970), and though i’ve again, only seen excerpts from Monterey Pop (1968) film, the performances look to be a whole lot more interesting than Woodstock.