A Film A Day: Almost Famous (2000)

Almost Famous (2000)

Cast

Patrick Fugit, Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Kate Hudson, Jason Lee, Zooey Deschanel, Anna Paquin, Fairuza Balk, Bijou Phillips, Noah Taylor, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Terry Chen, Jay Baruchel, Jimmy Fallon, Rainn Wilson, Mark Kozelek, Liz Stauber, John Fedevich, Eric Stonestreet, Michael Angarano

Storyline

High-school boy William Miller (Patrick Fugit) is given the chance to write a story for Rolling Stone Magazine about an up-and-coming rock band as he accompanies them on their concert tour.

Opinion

I've been told to watch the director's cut if I had the time, and even though last night I was very tired, I decided to go for it. Best decision I've ever made.

Incredibly entertaining, funny and surprisingly heartwarming, Almost Famous is not just another film about music, but one of the finest films about music ever made.

Director and writer Cameron Crowe made precious his long experience as a rock music critic and journalist, and crafted a wonderful film that has so much to say about the music industry: band, fandom, and cynicism of journalism. Also he wonderfully balanced the comedy and drama elements.

The writing is just fantastic. The plot is quite simple and a bit predictable, but nonetheless enjoyable, even if like me, you don't particularly like rock music. The dialogue is overall good, even though many of the great lines belong to McDormand's character. The characters are also great and you actually care about them. I appreciate what Crowe did with the mother character, because he went beyond creating just an anti-rock character but gave her enough space, and good development.

The soundtrack is spectacular. Everything from Simon & Garfunkel to The Chipmunks, from Led Zeppelin to Elton John is spot on. And I repeat, I am not a big fan of rock music.

The acting is top notch. Cameron Crowe did a wonderful job assembling this cast. Patrick Fugit steals the show as William Miller, the precocious rock 'n roll journalist. Billy Crudup and Kate Hudson both do a great job and have a tension filled chemistry that perfectly goes along with the story. Philip Seymour Hoffman is wonderful as Lester Bangs. Needless to say is that Frances McDormand is absolutely perfect as Elaine, William's mother. I don't think anyone else could have done so good with that character.

Quotes

Penny Lane: I always tell the girls, never take it seriously, if ya never take it seriously, ya never get hurt, ya never get hurt, ya always have fun, and if you ever get lonely, just go to the record store and visit your friends.