Movie review--"Almost Famous"
Acting, music make “Almost Famous” best film of 2000Rock ’n’ roll journey shows price of fame and value of living without regrets.
For a crash course on how to be a rock journalist, check out “Almost Famous.”
Written and directed by Cameron Crowe, the film chronicles a California boy’s life and the many wild adventures he encounters during the late ’60s and early ’70s rock ’n’ roll period.
William Miller, played by Patrick Fugit, grew up idolizing rock bands. Now as a high school student, he dreams of writing about them for glamorous magazines such as Rolling Stone and Creem.
Not only is the acting superb and flawless, but the script is also brilliant. Crowe’s creative genius is apparent in lines such as, “I’m about to boldly go where many men have gone before,” “He says I’m a ‘yes’ person, and you are trying to raise us in a ‘no’ environment,” “Famous people are just more interesting,” and “Can you believe these new girls — none of them use birth control, and they eat all the steak?”
The standout performance belongs to Billy Crudup as Russell Hammond, lead guitarist of Stillwater, the band that William covers on a nationwide tour for Rolling Stone. Crudup’s character, the stereotypical, self-centered rocker, allows viewers a realistic glimpse into the tumultuous lives of rock stars. He never wavers; he never fails to grip you with his insightful facial expressions and transparency. Russell drinks a little too much acid one night at a party and calls himself a “golden god,” an accurate term for how people worshiped him and not the other band members.
The acting is phenomenal, but the movie’s soundtrack adds depth and clarity to each scene. The characters’ emotions are reflected in songs from legendary icons, such as Simon and Garfunkel, Rod Stewart, Elton John, Led Zeppelin and Cat Stevens. The two Elton John songs, “Tiny Dancer” and “Mona Lisa and Mad Hatters,” fit like perfect puzzle pieces.
Jason Lee’s character as Stillwater’s front man, Jeff, is intense, but he has excellent comedic timing, and his long, straggly hair and slender physique give him a believable rock star look. He makes ample use of the F-word, and his jealousy over Russell is a realistic portrayal of the costs of stardom.
Kate Hudson makes her mainstream debut in this film, and it is easy to understand why she won a Golden Globe for best supporting actress. She shines on screen, and her character, Penny Lane, a self-proclaimed “band aide” — not a groupie — is vulnerable, playful and sincere all at once. Penny is a dreamer, and she wants someone to share her dreams with. She can’t forget about her love with Russell, but William is one who gets captured by her spell.
The most engrossing, compelling scene is when Penny’s plane is about to take off. William, who watches from the airport, runs by the window, not wanting her to go. She places her hand on the window, and with the music escalating, it seems as if time is standing still.
Credit the movie’s hilarious bits to Philip Seymour Hoffman as legendary Lester Bangs, editor of Creem magazine, and Jimmy Fallon of “Saturday Night Live” fame as Dennis Hope, one of the band’s managers. Frances McDormand as William’s mother also gives plenty of laughs with her endless warnings about drugs, rock ’n’ roll and commercialization.
While the movie is fiction, much is based on events that Crowe encountered while he was a teenager writing for Creem and Rolling Stone. Crowe’s talent as a writer and director is never more evident than in this film. Watch it whenever you need inspiration or are craving a flashback to the days when rock defined cool.
posted by Lauren Champlin @ 12:27 PM
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