Almost Famous (2000)

Directed by: Cameron Crowe
Format: DVD
DVD Features: making of, production notes, cast, filmmakers, trailer, Rolling Stone articles, music video
Starring: Patrick Fugit, Frances McDormand, Kate Hudson, Jason Lee, Philip Seymour Hoffman

**This movie has received a Gummi Award nomination for Most Inappropriate Musical Sequence.**

Have you ever wanted to shirk your responsibilities, leave your job, leave your life and run off to follow your favorite band? The Dead Heads did it back in the day. If I was skinnier, prettier and 10 years younger, I'd run off and follow mine. Have you ever waited outside a tour bus, hoping you'd see your favorite singer, your favorite drummer and maybe, just maybe they'd take special appreciation of you and ask you to come on board? If I won the lottery, I guarantee you that I'd be following a tour bus (and blogging the whole while).

In Almost Famous, William Miller is a young boy when his older sister decides to leave home and tour the world aboard an airline. As she departs, she whispers to William that his future is awaiting him under his bed. There, he discovers a suitcase stocked with a prime selection of rock records (most of them, I recognize from my parents' collection that I used to raid as a kid). Years later, in 1973, he meets music critic Lester Bangs (Hoffman) who becomes his mentor. William publishes his writing through an underground magazine and one fateful day, Rolling Stone takes notice. They offer him $1k to follow the band Stillwater on tour.

William's mother reluctantly allows him to flee the nest, provided that there are "no drugs" involved. Along the way, he meets rock legends, a girl named Penny Lane, almost dies in a plane crash and learns about life on the road. He's torn between telling the objective truth and becoming one of the groupies. But his publisher warns him, "We already have Hunter Thompson". His mentor reminds him to always be, "honest and unmerciful".

Although the movie takes place in the Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin days, there isn't a heavy focus on period dress or psychodelic drugs. It's not without its celebrity look-alikes, mind you, but the film doesn't focus on the crazy hippie aspect of Rock 'N' Roll the way Stone's The Doors did. One odd symbol that I noticed was Lester's red telephone. It's like the Bat-phone in the Adam West series, the one that Commisioner Gordon picked up whenever there was trouble.

The acting in Almost Famous is sturdy, but not spectacular. One of the best characters, Penny Lane (Hudson), has a great line. In regards to her "non-groupie" brigade of girls and their rock-star relations, she says, "I always tell the girls, 'Never take it seriously. If you never take it seriously, you never get hurt. If you never get hurt, you always have fun. And if you ever get lonely, you just go to the record store and visit your friends." Despite the great line, Lane doesn't follow her own advice. But, they could have gotten anyone to fill Penny Lane's shoes. The best acting was given by the Stillwater members themselves - well, Billy Crudup as the guitarist Russel Hammond (not a real band member?) and Jason Lee as the vocalist Jeff Bebe.

I really enjoyed Almost Famous. It takes the viewer on a tour behind stages, but without all of the drugs and debauchary that most rock-band movies rely on. The main character, William, never loses his nievete and innocence. From the perspective of a rock fan, it's a vicarious journey no matter which band you adore. From the perspective of a critic, it shines a little ray of hope. And from the viewpoint of a movie lover, although not as deep and thoughtful as some, this film is a winner. It might even make it into my permanent collection.

Overall Rating: 3 1/2 stars
Hottie Rating: eh...2 stars (props to the groupie life)

Alternate Recommendation: Velvet Goldmine
Official Site
IMDB Page
Rolling Stone review (and yes, I'm aware of the irony)

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