Rating: 
Summary: Music
Review: People fight, people love, but there is always the music. A young William lead the most unordinary childhood one could imagine. Lied to even about his age, he tries desparetely to latch onto something real that he can identify with. Even at his young age his sister leaves from their mother's superimposed values on them and her reckless control. William writes for his school and is eventually noticed by an editor for a local music critque which Willima views as a mentor. It begins when William is finally noticed by Rolling Stone and is asked to go write an article about Stillwater which is an up and coming band. He soon travels with the band and their "Bandaids" which is a petty euphimism for groupies. One in paticualr catches William, a girl who calls herself Penny Lane. The movie is fair in the sense of camera work, sound, and shot selection. One thing that this movie has that is untouchable by almost any other movie is the writing and character's power. The characters, oh the characters... not one was left uninteresting. The band themselves are the driving force behind the story and is the reason that the group keeps going to wherever they go. The band's lead singer is the typical man who went to music for stardom, even preplans how the fans will view him. He tries to act like he doesn't care and that is what the audience adores, but he is simply faking it. The editor of the local magazine is what William becomes through his journey and he does this the hard way. William learns what this man has learned through experience and leanrs most importantly the number one rule that he was told. "Don't think that you are their friends." Russel, the band's guitarist is the one that is what the lead singer wants to be. He is the famous band player and truly is what everyone wants, an easy going slacker. This is what brings much tension between the band memebers, the trueness of Russel. After a long fight and pain between the band was the best scene in the movie. The music brought them back together. In a bus together they play a song and they can't help it, the music gets in them and they sing together. The music brings them together. Russel himself doesn't know what he wants yet goes simply on instinct in his decisions and that is what gives him his power and his weakness. One of the most important things that comes of this instictual life is an affection for Penny Lane, THE bandaid. The love between Russel and Penny seems as true as could be but it was a candy coat for Russel's instict. The tour had to end and everyone has to return to their respective homes and their respective lives. One part of Russel's life is his girlfriend back home. This to even more tension due to Russel's lack of reality. Which brings us to the most interesting character of the movie, possibly of the year. The blue jean baby, the LA lady, the seamstress for the band. Penny Lane lived for the life of the band, not the fame that naturally followed them. She loved the music, not the thousands of screaming fans. Sh wanted to live in a fairy tale, and in her own mind was. She always talked about the real world, but never wanted to go back. She was the band's tiny dancer, she wanted to marry a music man. She was the tiny dancer for all of them, she is in them and always with them from then on. If you don't know what I mean, listen to Elton John's "Tiny Dancer", this song was written for this character. The song made a cameo but should have been a theme. This was a powerful story about love, pain, but importantly life. Life in its rawest form from everyone's view. Sorry, we have ANOTHER movie of the year now, "The way of the gun" moves down.
Rating:
Summary: An awesome night at the movies
Review: What a great movie! I'm definately a bad judge of good acting, but even I could tell the performances in this movie were brilliant. I think it's really not right that they listed the actor who played William so low on the cast list, he truly was the main character and created a really amazing character. Originally I went to see this movie with my family because my sister swoons over Billy Crudup and I hadn't been to the movies in *quite* a while. But it turned out to be a really great movie (plus Billy Crudup is pretty cute). But why was it rated R? It really angers me when movies are rated for language. I mean, it's just words. And sure there was sex and drugs and nudity in it but the sex was fairly tame (a lot tamer than Austin Powers which was rated PG-13! ) the message was extremely anti-drugs (the kid never ends up taking any and the people who do are portrayed as extremely messed up) and the nudity was a super-quick shot of Penny's chest, which is nothing. There are PG-13 movies with quick nudity like that, right? Aaaaanyway, back to the movie itself, I thought it was really great and made a lovely evening and if you haven't seen it...then mosey on down to the movies this instant!
Rating:
Summary: Almost Famous is Absolutely Wonderful!
Review: One of the best moments of "Almost Famous" is when William Miller (Patrick Fugit) angrily tells the deluded groupie Penny Lane (Kate Hudson) the painful truth about just how much Russell, the charismatic guitarist of "Stillwater" cares about her: "He sold you for 50 bucks and a case of beer." Penny Lane begins to cry, but then quickly adopts her carefree smile and giggles, "What kind of beer?" Cameron Crowe could easily have made Russell a world-class jerk, but he doesn't. He cares about all his characters, no matter how deluded or on the surface immoral. That is the beauty of "Almost Famous." Besides being funny, smart, and charming, it makes every character a real winner underneath. Cameron Crowe is almost like Frank Capra in that his characters eccentric and flawed but ultimately endearing. All the performances are wonderful, from Frances McDormand as William's paranoid yet strangely New-Age mom: she shrilly rails against the evils of rock n roll but later on when she meets Russell she says, "I felt that we connected over the phone," to Kate Hudson as Penny Lane. A wonderful movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Almost Famous is Almost GREAT
Review: There are two reasons why I didn't give this movie 5 stars. One) Phillip Seymour Hoffman is one of the best actors on screen today and I wished he would've been in it more. He's brilliant Two) I loved Jerry Maguire (Cameron Crowe's other big hit) and it was not only because of the characters, but because it dealt around football. This one has Awesome characters, but deals around 70's rock music--which I know not much about nor do I like the music BUT it was an awesome CHARACTER film. Kate Hudson was outstanding and so was the kid---I don't know his name. Frances McDormand (Fargo) is also at her best in this film. I loved seeing Jason Lee in something other than a NEW JERSEY film, too. If you love 70's rock music then disregard the 4 stars and give it 5!
Rating:
Summary: Made me nostalgic for 8-tracks
Review: Anyone who grew up in the 70s and loved rock music will go to this film with an enormous amount of goodwill. They won't be disappointed. Not only are the characters well written and wonderfully acted, but all the details are right as well. When I was a kid, I wore out my family's copy of the Christmas recording by Alvin and the Chipmunks that opens the film. I want to see this film again just to watch the backgrounds and set direction. And there's a great scene on an airplane.
Rating:
Summary: A Rock-in Movie!
Review: Almost Famous feels like a postcard from the past, reminding us of where we came from, though avoiding nostalgia for the most part. There's the bequeathment of vinyl records from an older sibling (trivia: I kept most of my sister's 1970's rock albums in great shape, but Frampton Comes Alive, which I hated, I used for an archery target. Ted Nugent would be proud; sorry, Sis'.). There's drugs, there's sex, rock and roll, etc. Delightfully, however, Crowe's story doesn't lose its focus by delving too deeply into any of those trieds and trues, but stays with what makes it unique: William's development as a writer and a journalist. The story's plot is basically about the influence that a young journalist has on the people around him, and how their influence on him at this very integral time, then bounces back at him. Through much of the film, William seems like just one of the other fans that Stillwater sees all around them. What they forget is what was said of him when he first enters their fold, "He's the enemy." How a 15-year-old kid from San Diego can be the "enemy" is the payoff of this film. It's all the better because it's not only possibly close to reality because we know it's based on Crowe's experiences, but more importanly, it feels real
Rating:
Summary: Uhh... Wow
Review: It seems good movies aren't playing at most theaters.I remember when Boys Don't Cry was in theaters, noone around my area was showing it.Same thing with almost famous.I had to go out of state to see it!Call me desperate,but I was NOT let down.Almost Famous is the HILLARIOUS and touching tale of a young boy on the road with a rock band and all the enigmatic people he discovers along the way.Several scenes will make you roll in the aisles laughing (especially when he's on the phone with his mom) and others will make you look on in awe as every little heartstring in your body is finely tuned for the perfect feeling of emotion.The acting is incredible especially when you consider that none of the people were really "Big name" actors.He could have got Leonardno Decaprio or Devon Sawa or whatever his name is but instead he chose an actor based on actual talent and created a character so close to real life I felt like I knew him. I laughed I cried and then i laughed again and left the theaters knowing that I had seen a movie that while maybe not as popular as Scary Movie or the pathetic Urban legends 2, was truly an experience.It was magical.From the opening sequence with Cameron scribbling the cast to the happy,but not sappy, ending,this movie is a true classic.In a year full of terribly overrated movies, I finally saw one that will be underrated but I still consider it one of the best ever!Oh yeah, this movie also something rare today:It was something me and my parents both enjoyed very much.Do everything in your power to see his film,ya won't regret it!
Rating:
Summary: Seventies Revisted
Review: Cameron Crowe's autobiographical "Almost Famous" sends the viewer back in time to the greatest decade of rock and roll. Crowe has revisted the last gasp of the greatest rock and roll ever made. Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin, Elton John, Simon and Garfunkel, Cat Stevens... these were the greats of music in the late sixties and early seventies and Crowe revives all of them with the remembrance of his experiences working for Rolling Stone magazine. The ficticious band "Stillwater" which the story revovles around is based loosely on Crowe's encouters with Led Zeppelin, one of the all time greatest contributors to rock and roll. The cast is absolutely superb. Kate Hudson has staked her claim to fame with her incredible performance as Penny Lane. Billy Crudup and Jason Lee were also fantastic as the leaders of Stillwater. And kudos to newcomer Patrick Fugit for his breakthrough performance as William Miller or rather a young Cameron Crowe. It is rare that I give a movie as much praise as I am giving Almost Famous. I was thoroughly impressed with all aspects of the movie. Cameron Crowe is an extremely descriptive storyteller. Need I mention that the soundtrack is an outstanding collection of classic rock and roll. You will be singing Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" for days after you see this wonderful movie. So put on your shoes and beat-up jeans and be prepared to warp back in time to the greatest period of rock and roll. Led Zeppelin is the greatest!
Rating:
Summary: It's About Music, It's About Life
Review: It's 1973, San Diego, California; an exceptionally bright fifteen-year-old aspiring journalist with his heart in rock n' roll goes after an interview with a heavyweight metal band in town for a concert, and winds up tagging along on tour with a band called Stillwater, in "Almost Famous," a semi-autobiographical story from writer/director Cameron Crowe. And once the bus leaves, it's music, mirth, mayhem and an unforgettable, career-launching experience for young William Miller (Patrick Fugit), as he gets a first hand look at what living the life of a rock musician is all about. It's a lot to take in, but Miller's intelligence and adaptability belies his youth and he eases into his role quite naturally, with a little help from a couple of new friends: Penny Lane (Kate Hudson), leader of the groupie elite "Band aids," following Stillwater on their tour; and Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup), who plays lead guitar for the band. For young William it's a foray into a real fantasy world, through which he conducts himself professionally and objectively; quite a triumph considering his previous experience as a writer was limited to a few unsolicited submissions to "Rolling Stone" and "Creem" magazines, from which he received, up to this point, no response whatsoever. His only real link to any of it, in fact, has been a chance encounter with Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman), editor of Creem, who ultimately becomes something of an anchor to reality for Miller. Cameron Crowe has given us a brilliant film that works on a number of levels; it's entertaining and insightful, delivered from his own unique perspective and presented objectively and without moralizing. It's like an excellent piece of journalism committed to film, which enables the audience to make that necessary emotional connection that makes it all so satisfying. Whether or not you even like rock n' roll, it's undeniably a force that has long since been ingrained in the universal consciousness of the world, and Crowe has captured the essence of it's soul in this movie. There are characters and moments here with which everyone will be able to readily identify; from Miller's mother, Elaine (wonderfully played by Frances McDormand), the professor who cannot understand the music and fears the influence of it on her children, to the kid who just loves the music, to those obsessed and taken over by it. It's a detailed look at what it means to be, not necessarily a rock "star," but a struggling band grabbing for the brass ring, and how it affects the lives of so many people directly and indirectly involved. Crowe takes it deep and demonstrates the upside as well as the down, in a way that sparks the imagination without being too graphic. It's a movie that allows you to experience the exhilarating, sometimes manic highs as well as the unpleasantness that must accompany it, but Crowe takes pains to deliver the message without ever taking you into unnecessarily dark or murky waters. He maintains a delicate balance throughout the film that gives it both conscience and credibility. There are a number of memorable performances, beginning with Fugit, who does such a great job of conveying the maturity of his character, which makes him so believable. Billy Crudup and Jason Lee (as lead singer Jeff Bebe) breathe life into Stillwater, while Kate Hudson absolutely sparkles as Penny Lane. And Hoffman takes the small role of Lester Bangs and imbues him with such spirit and nuance that his presence is felt throughout the entire film, as is Elaine, thanks to the tremendous talent of McDormand. Rounding out the terrific supporting cast are Anna Paquin (Polexia), Fairuza Balk (Sapphire), Terry Chen (Ben Fong-Torres) and Zooey Deschanel (Anita Miller). "Almost Famous" is, in the end, a stirring, thoroughly enjoyable experience; there's great music and some madness, and some real lessons about life in the real world to be learned along the way. It's a film with wide appeal and something in it for everyone; and if you've ever listened to a record or heard a song, believe me, this is one movie you're going to want to see.
Rating:
Summary: A Perfectly-Pitched Ode to Youth and Rock-n-Roll
Review: Cameron Crowe is getting better and better with age. He knows that remarkable things can be done with simple people in simple stories. It's all a matter of how your present the details. What is surprising to me is that Crowe is able to make such good movies that are utterly without pretense. This movie is touching without being maudlin, and manages to develop the character of an ultra precocious 15-year-old--Crowe's alter ego--wihtout making the kid annoyingly cute, and loveably different. In fact, to all appearances, he's a normal, "uncool," as one of the movie's characters puts it, kid, who happens to have an unusual talent for writing. Crowe has squeezed remarkable performances from all his actors, who present us with finely realized, 3-dimensional characters where a lesser writer/director would have given us types. This movie also has some truly funny moments. And, of course, for anyone who grew up on 70's rock-and-roll (even the tail end of it, as I did), this flick is a memorable blast from the past.
|
