Directed by:
Cameron CroweScreenplay:
Cameron CroweCinematography:
John TollComposer:
Nancy WilsonCast:
Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Kate Hudson, Jason Lee, Patrick Fugit, Zooey Deschanel, Michael Angarano, Anna Paquin, Fairuza Balk, Noah Taylor (more)VOD (1)
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Crowe's ALMOST FAMOUS is a semiautobiographical account that tells the story of a teen journalist, William Miller (Patrick Fugit), who goes on the road with an up-and-coming rock band called Stillwater. Though Miller's mentor, legendary rock critic Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman), cautions him not to befriend the musicians, Miller takes it a step further and befriends both the band and the Band-Aids--the girls who hang around with the band because they love the music. Miller is in for a wild ride around the country, to thrilling concerts and debauched backyard parties, living the life many 15-year olds dream about. He discovers that beneath the glittery façade of rock stardom are sometimes bittersweet life lessons and mild doses of heartbreak. More impacting are the friendships he finds with his glamorous travel companions. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (10)
A very pleasant film. I’m pretty far from a rock fan, and going on tour with a band is the last thing I could wish for, but this film has such an easygoing and lovely atmosphere that it almost made me feel like going to see a concert (but only quietly, from the backstage :-D). Anyway, a little paradoxically, the character that I found the most likeable was mum McDormand.
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I'm glad I saw this and can't say I didn't like it. At the very least, though, it's fair to mention that the longer version (The Bootleg Cut) is unnecessarily drawn out in places (especially in the exposition and at the end). Plus, the film just isn't good enough to keep you unreservedly entertained for the entire two and a half hours. It certainly works as an appealing type of generational statement, and hardcore fans of classic rock will definitely enjoy it, but despite the feel-good vibe of the whole thing I couldn't help feeling that the filmmaking craft here was only slightly above average at best. Even in terms of emotion, it wasn't as strong as I thought it would be. Definitely an enjoyable feel-good film, but that's about it. [65%]
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I actually watched the movie just because it starred Billy Crudup, who was great in The Morning Show, and I wasn't disappointed in the end. A special mention goes to the soundtrack - finally, after a long time, I didn't feel as if a big fat slimy creature had tried to fuck me in the ear while sleeping.
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Dear movie: the profaned term "like real life" fits you like few others. Poor William accidentally gets into the backstage of a rock concert in the role of a semi-amateur journalist and from there he's just one step away to getting involved in the big tour of his favorite band. And on top of that, it seems like he has fallen in love with a fellow traveling companion, whom he will never have. If there was something captivating about this film for me, it was precisely William's storyline with Penny Lane, which emotionally practically broke me apart, and during most of their dialogue, I honestly had an authentic feeling in my stomach that would be enough for me to never forget Almost Famous for the rest of my life. Here Cameron Crowe hit the bullseye and it's even more of a pity that their story, in a way, remains untold, and the film spends its remaining running time focusing more on the bromance of the main character with Russell.
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An unusual film experience, whose greatest advantage are gripping concert scenes that take the viewer to the very edge of ecstasy, and I'm not even a big fan of rock music. Cameron Crowe's concept of the story and rock as art and cult is impressive, despite the uneven pace. The whole film carries a haze of nostalgic atmosphere from the 1970s, which speaks to me even though I wasn't born at that time. And that was, in my opinion, Crowe's main intention, to appeal to a wide range of audiences and show what that era was like, and he succeeded to the dot. In his rendition, it is truly outstanding.
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