From writer-director Cameron Crowe, this 2000 film stars Patrick Fugit, Kate Hudson, Frances McDormand, Billy Crudup, and Jason Lee. William Miller (Fugit) is a fifteen-year-old in love with rock-n-roll in the early 1970s. After getting noticed in his native San Diego by writing for a local magazine, he is invited by Rolling Stone to go on the road with an up-and-coming band, Stillwater, and write a piece on their dynamic. William embarks on the experience of a lifetime when he becomes immersed in the extravagant lifestyle of the band members (among them, Crudup as the guitarist and Lee as the lead singer) and falls in love with a groupie (Hudson). The standout performance in this film comes from McDormand as William's unconventional, neurotic mother. It is a very well-written and well-acted behind-the-scenes look at the music scene of the 1970s. I very much enjoyed it and highly recommend it.
Should you see it: Yes
Grade: B+
I agree FR. The film is well-written and well-acted. However, I disagree with your higher praise. To be clear, Almost Famous is a good movie, but "A-". Well-written (dialogue wise) and well-acted, unfortunately, is not enough to move beyond a "B" in my humble opinion. Ultimately the emotion is lacking. A coming of age story is fine but if that story ends with a sort of sentimental emptiness then why should we care about Miller. Add to this several "of course" moments (Disapproving mom, band dysfunction, falling in love with some flirt who is clearly out of your league) and I think the movie misses in accomplishing a true feeling of being almost famous.
ReplyDeleteedit: replace "true feeling" with "authentic depiction"
ReplyDeleteDuly noted: after some reflection I changed the film's grade from an A- to a B+.
ReplyDelete