In a World...

First Hit:  Although a bit rough in execution, it was very entertaining and adoringly quirky.

The title has to do with a marque saying in voiceover work. It was made famous by a legendary voice over man who has now passed on.

The man long considered the second in command in this field Sam (Fred Melamed) is going to receive a life achievement award for his work, while his daughter Carol (Lake Bell), who wants to do voiceover work gets very little work and has to make a living from doing voice coaching.

The voice over business is mostly controlled by men and it has its characters. Carol’s sister Jamie (Alexandra Holden) supports Carol by letting her stay with her and her husband Moe (Rob Corddry). In the studio that Carol uses for her minor voiceover work and coaching is an engineer named Louis (Demetri Martin) who likes Carol a lot but cannot seem to find the wherewithal to ask Carol out on a date.

As this story unfolds it is about how Carol gets some jobs and then lands the big one over the up and comer Gustav (Ken Marino) and her father.

Bell is great as Carol, wrote an interesting screenplay and directed herself and the other actors with an effortless that showed up in many scenes. Although some scenes didn’t seen complete, others will beautiful and well-acted (Carol staying ad Louis’ house was priceless). Melamed was perfect as the ego driven overindulged old timer of the business. Holden was very good as the sister who seemed to be struggling with her life but finds its base by learning from one mistake. Corddry was super as Holden’s supportive loving husband. Martin was really great as the guy who really wants to share his love but struggles to find the path.

Overall:  This film was fun, interesting, and a great start for Bell.

Taking Woodstock

First Hit: It was an enjoyable and at times interesting, story but it left me wanting to go see the film Woodstock for the 4th time.

Based on a true story; Demetri Martin plays Elliot Tiber who, as the story would have it, saved the Woodstock Concert.

The film is about what happened to Elliot, his mother and father Sonia and Jake Teichberg (played by Imelda Staunton and Henry Goldman respectively) who were running a rundown resort in upper New York which was going into bank default when Elliot comes up with an idea to save the motel and the Woodstock festival. He had read that the concert was kicked out of one venue and was searching for a new one to hold its arts and music festival.

When Michael Lang (played by Jonathan Groff) flies to the motel in a helicopter while the other Woodstock Ventures personnel arrive in limos the cash begins to flow. Initially, the Woodstock Ventures group said Elliot’s open field land was unserviceable, however when Elliot introduces them to Max Yaugar (played by Eugene Levy) and they see his land, a deal is made.

The town’s people resent Max’s deal and Elliot for using the permit to let hundreds of thousands of hippies invade their town for the concert so they ostracize and picket them. However, they also take advantage of the invasion of young people and make money from the concert as well. As the concert date gets closer the activity around Elliot’s family motel increases which include his parents getting high on hash brownies, the hiring of an ex-Marine drag queen named Vilma (played by Liev Schreiber) for security, and Elliot’s coming out as a gay man.

None of the music of Woodstock is heard, and that does take away from the film as does a senseless and poorly acted Vietnam Veteran role played by Emile Hirsch.

Although I would have liked to have heard some of the music and seen some of the Woodstock acts, having a little insight to this critical background story was enjoyable and, at times, well acted.

Martin, is very good as Elliot. Goldman was effective as his quiet and resigned father. Staunton was outstanding as his scared, shrewd mother. Kudo’s to Schreiber as Vilma as he was clearly outstanding in the role as a drag queen and former Marine. As mentioned Hirsch was unbelievable as a Vietnam Vet (being one myself), and Levy was great as Yaugar. Ang Lee caught the flavor of Woodstock and some of the people who came to enjoy the music. Occasional scenes showing original news footage was effective and I loved seeing the VW vans, cars, and the carefree feeling of that period effectively represented.

Overall: It was a good film and I was a bit let down by the lack of the original Woodstock music, I found myself waiting to hear it.