Almost Famous (2000)
Director: Cameron Crowe
Starring: Patrick Fugit, Billy Crudup, Kate Hudson, Frances McDormand
Primary genre: Comedy
Secondary genre: Drama
Nominated for: Best original screenplay, supporting actress (x2), film editing
Won: Best original screenplay
Remember “Almost Famous”? Actually nobody does and it is a damn shame as Cameron Crowe’s rock n’ roll homage to a bygone era is full of a particular type sweetness, warmth and innocence that in our world today has been dead and buried. Based on his own experiences as a young rock n roll writer, “Almost Famous” has a wonderful ensemble cast ready to remind us a decade where people will connect through the most important means of all: music, rock music to be precise. In the 60s and 70s, a record was an event and any band that wanted to make it to the top had to rearrange their style in order to find their unique voice and thus, separate themselves from their contemporaries. In this case, the fictional band “Stillwater” bears all the issues which plague a rising musical group. From bitter rivalries to financial disagreements and beneficial fame are all here without the need to explore them in detail.
“We are not Groupies. Groupies sleep with rockstars because they want to be near someone famous. We are here because of the music, we inspire the music. We are Band Aids.”
These circumstances are what our insider in this world observes mostly passively: William Miller, a talented 15-year-old boy with great journalistic skills and an infectious passion for the material. As he ends up accompanying Stillwater (though a spot on Philip Seymour Hoffman) on their bus tour across several US cities, this is where the film draws you in an era successfully presenting the ever shifting landscape of rock n’ roll music: sex, drugs, philosophy and offbeat, absurd shenanigans. Despite a wisely restrained attempt to present this era as a kid-friendly R-rated version, the essence here is not to glorify a gritty take on the subject matter but to place us into a journey of coming-of-age for the young Patrick who sees himself being liked by this organic band and their groupies for who he is. Fugit is the standout here holding up his own against characters that are larger than life (it is rock n’ roll after all) conveying a sense of true honesty, courtesy of his academic mom (an excellent but underused Frances McDormand) sparking a link to the audience to potentially desire to experience such a journey themselves.
The rest of the ensemble (you will recognize plenty of known names coming and going) do not disappoint either. A young Billy Crudup as the ultimate, stoic heartbreaker and a longhaired Jason Lee as Stillwater’s egoistic frontman make strong impressions but it is Kate Hudson who became the movie’s de facto poster child; the blonde, pink glasses wearing “band aide” Penny Lane as she calls herself is an Oscar nominated breakout role and rightfully so. She is the voice of a generation whose purpose is without a purpose (Morocco anyone?) idolizing bands and music and being unable to separate the boundaries of meaningful relationships. Yet, her character is explored tactfully avoiding melodrama and staying true to her emotional core.
Crowe’s script is not insisting at pointing fingers at anyone - he neither glamorizes nor demonizes this lifestyle. He is solely fixated on Miller’s journey, an experience which will shape him as he goes through shows, luxury hotels, first sexual encounters and honest promises made to be broken. And this is why “Almost Famous” has stood the test of time. It does not try to revisionize the 70s decade nor seeks to shoehorn pointless critiques at people’s behaviors back then. Revisiting this personal, character-driven motion picture that is filled with awesome songs, is like your band’s experimental record. Each time you play it, you end up finding something more engaging, something that somehow was missed initially amidst the excellent casting, the on-screen chemistry and the polished direction.
Flawless coming-of-age film
+Relatable lead
+Sweet and touching ode to coming-of-age
+Awesome soundtrack
+Great cast
+Polished and tight script
+Great supporting characters
+Kate Hudson stills the show
+Filled with memorable moments