Almost Famous

Hopes, Dreams & Nightmares.

Almost Famous is Cameron Crowe's paean to rock music, of bands and songs, of journalism and promotion, of sex & drugs. Drawing from experience and stories passed on, Crowe tells the tale of a young teenage boy aspiring to be a music journalist in the 1970s. Finding himself backstage with the rock group Stillwater, William Miller (Patrick Fugit) embarks on a road journey with the band that's awash with egos, groupies, perils and pleasures, all of which change his life forever.

Lets go find something real!

The most striking thing about it is that it's not overtly funny or sensationalistic, it's a production that's full of love, real love, for the subject matters to hand, and it's very often a moving experi...

With the new 4K release, decided to watch the Director's Cut (Untitled) version for the first time having seen the theatrical version a couple of times over the years (last time was several years ago, however). Anyway, still a great movie even for someone who isn't exactly steeped into rock and roll music. Features a wonderful ensemble cast with solid performances all around (Hudson and Crudup were standouts) and the original music, alongside the classics, were great. 4.5/5

Misadventures while touring America with an up-and-coming band in the early 70s

A 15 year-old aspiring rock journalist (Patrick Fugit) gets a gig by Rolling Stone to tour America with the rising group Stillwater in 1973. He develops a relationship with a winsome groupie of the band (Kate Hudson) while learning the group dynamics behind the music, such as the rivalry between the guitarist and lead singer (Billy Crudup and Jason Lee).

"Almost Famous" (2000) was written/directed by Cameron Crowe, known for movies like Jerry McGuire (1996) and Say Anything (1989). Its a behind-the-scenes rock-oriented flick in the mold of The Rose (1979), Oh, God! You Devil (1984), Rock Star (2001) and The Perfect Age of Rock n Roll (2009).

The...

You see a lot of people here calling this one of their favorite movies. It's certainly one of mine. But, twenty years after I've found myself wondering if it's the movie that I like or if it's the music.

I mean, it references Lester bangs, and he is played by Hoffman. And it is a Crowe film. But it's about Rolling Stone when Rolling Stone was important and not the hallow shadow of it's former self.

And with that tale about Rolling Stone's former glory it tells the story about Rock and Roll before it caved into New Wave, Disco, and was finally washed away with the auto-tune and drum machine bubblegum pop that needs a mass burning in Soldier Field in the near future.

But look at the sound track, Simon and Garfunkle, The Who, Iggy Pop...

It was a tough day, but after watching the movie, it was exhilarating. It's fun when looking at the surrounding atmosphere of the movie. I felt like I was inside this world full of adventures.

Desparate to become a music journalist, "William" (Patrick Fugit) is offered the chance to write by local critic "Bangs" (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and that sees him at the stage door trying to blag his way in. Luckily for him, he befriends "Penny Lane" (Kate Hudson) and support act "Stillwater" and is soon inside, immersed in a world that plays out for us over the next two hours. He's a young and impressionable lad who's taken under the wing of the band's "Russell" (Bill Crudup) who keeps promising him an exclusive interview for "Rolling Stone", but that means he has to travel with the band across the USA whilst mother "Elaine" (Frances McDormand) panics a little at home. The lad is only 15! It's through his eyes that we get a glimpse of how...