Altamont

Author(s): Adam
Location: Texas

“Altamont"

Directed by Walter SallesWritten by Alfonso Cuaron & Carlos Cuaron
Produced by George Lucas, Albert Maysles & Alfonso Cuaron

Principal Cast:

MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY as Ralph "Sonny" Barger
MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL as Dorothy Maynard
ANTHONY MACKIE as Meredith Hunter
PAUL DANO as Alan Passaro
ROBERT DOWNEY, JR. as Albert MayslesJOAQUIN PHOENIX as David Maysles

Tagline: "December 6, 1969... The day the music died"

Released: December 6, 2007

Rated R for strong language, some strong violence, some sexual content, drug use

Synopsis: December 6, 1969. It was a free concert featuring The Rolling Stones, Santana, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Crosby Stills Nash & Young and Jefferson Airplane. It was being called the Woodstock of the West Coast. It became a chaotic affair that ended in four deaths, four births, and the day the music died. Altamont tells the story of three groups at the Altamont event.

Ralph "Sonny" Barger, leader of the Oakland division of the Hell's Angels, is hired to lead his gang as security for the event. They are paid $500 and free beer throughout the event. Consuming alcohol and taking drugs throughout the day, they become agitated at the hard to control crowd. They resort to violence and aggression towards the crowd. This results in four deaths and numerous injuries.

Meredith Hunter, an 18 year-old African-American is attending the concert. With him, he is carrying long-barreled revolver. In a dispute with Alan Passaro, a notorious 21 year-old member of the Hell's Angels, he is stabbed and kicked to death. Passaro was tried for murder in 1972, but acquitted in belief that the act was in self-defense. It is never known if Hunter drew his weapon before or after being stabbed. Hunter's death is known as the most famous death at the event.

Dorothy Maynard, a single mother-to-be who is nine months pregnant, is attending the concert with her husband for a day of music before her child is born, as chaos breaks out, Dorothy goes into labor. Now, Dorothy is in fear of losing her child at birth amongst everything occuring around her.

Albert & David Maysles are two filmmakers attending the show with equipment and filming the concert for use on a documentary. Not expecting what would occur as the sun went down, they begin to film the chaotic events. Eventually, they have caught on tape numerous situations, including the stabbing of Meredith Hunter. Their footage would eventually be used for a documentary they called "Gimme Shelter"

Altamont is the story of four different groups of people and how one day changed their lives. It show how the Altamont event each affected them in its own way. It opens our eyes to how we handle certain situations and how we come out as different people when having experienced a traumatic event.

What the press would say:

"A moving film about human nature from different aspects of a diverse group of people"

"Beautifully shot and photographed. Walter Salles is making his way to the list of top foreign filmmakers in our modern day"

"When it comes to this years acting race for the oscars, McConaughey, Gyllenhaal, Dano, and Mackie can be placed at the starting line"

"The Cuaron brothers have scored another hit as writers, from Y tu Mama Tambien to this, their range and diversity to tell a story is clearly shown in their works"

FYC

BEST PICTURE- George Lucas, Albert Maysles, Alfonso Cuaron

BEST DIRECTOR- Walter Salles
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY- Alfonso/Carlos Cuaron
BEST ACTOR- Matthew McConaughey
BEST ACTRESS- Maggie Gyllenhaal

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR- Paul Dano
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR- Anthony Mackie
FILM EDITING
CINEMATOGRAPHY
SOUND MIXING