AlmostFamous

What has been called by many critics as "the single most entertaining film of the year", ALMOST FAMOUS really doesn't disappoint. Filled with stunning performances by an excellent ensemble cast, personal poignant moments of nostalgia, and an overwhelming sense of adventure and intrigue, Cameron Crowe does a superb job of transferring his true-life experiences as a rock journalist onto celluloid. For a film that should have been nominated for several more Oscars (Best Picture, Best Director), ALMOST FAMOUS may be the best film about rock and roll of the decade.

1973. San Diego, California. William Miller (Patrick Fugit) is a budding rock journalist, the protege of famed editor of Creem Magazine Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman). [Personal note: Lester Bangs was the last great rock critic and is a true-life character.] Assigned to write a 1000-word essay on Black Sabbath, William instead is intrigued by the upcoming band Stillwater, led by guitarist Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup) and singer Jeff Bebe (Jason Lee). Rolling Stone Magazine takes a shine to William's articles and hires him to write an article about Stillwater's 'Almost Famous' nationwide tour. Leaving behind his frantic mother (Frances McDormand), he joins the 'Band Aids', a gang of girls who serve as companions for the band. The 'Band Aids' include Penny Lane (Kate Hudson), Sapphire (Fairuza Balk), and Polexia (Anna Paquin). On his journey across country, William bonds with the musicians and the girls and eventually comes of age amidst the world of rock and roll. Now for some history: the fictional Stillwater is a mix of two real-life bands Cameron Crowe interviewed: Led Zeppelin and the Allman Brothers. Penny Lane was a real 'Band Aid' and was on the set during filming. Crowe really DID have his first sexual experience on the road.

ALMOST FAMOUS really is a personal picture for Cameron Crowe, considering that is essentially an autobiographical journal on film. What really makes the film special is the cast, who all flesh out the wonderfully written characters. Patrick Fugit, in his screen debut, is suitably naiive and likable as William Miller. Frances McDormand is her usual excellent self as Elaine Miller, William's frantic teacher mother. Billy Crudup is suitably rockin' as Russell Hammond, but provides the rock and roll icon with a softer side beyond the glamour. Jason Lee was great in MALLRATS and his sarcastic brand of humor is appropriate here. Philip Seymour Hoffman is surprisingly good in a role that not anyone could take on. Lester Bangs was a perplexing personality and Hoffman manages to pull him off. It's great to see underrated character actresses Fairuza Balk and Anna Paquin as 'Band Aids' and Balk, especially, has a great character development scene on the phone with McDormand. But the real star of the film (and its poster) is Kate Hudson as Penny Lane. Her broad range of emotional depth as both a character and an actress really prove that she deserves her Oscar nomination. One problem with two excellent female actresses (Hudson and McDormand): when they're both nominated, according to Oscar history, neither will win. This is unfortunate, as I would love to see Hudson win an Oscar. As much as I love McDormand, she proved herself with FARGO and Hudson deserves this statuette.

Besides the brilliant ensemble cast, ALMOST FAMOUS really is not a "message movie". I concur with the opinion that ALMOST FAMOUS is entertaining. Plain and simple. It is fun to watch because we all want to be William Miller. We all want to tour with our favorite rock and roll band and become friends with the public icons. We all feel hurt when we are rejected at a backstage entrance. But we are able to project ourselves onto William Miller. He's just an everyday kid who loves rock, just like all of us at that age (or for some of us, this current age). And this is what makes ALMOST FAMOUS a must-see film. It is easy to identify with and is a great 2-hour escape into the world of rock and roll.