Rating: 
Summary: Hipper-Than-Thou!
Review: This movie gets one star from me. Heck, it earned it, didn't it? If this wasn't the number one film of the century, it was ay least the number one film of the year. Cameron Crowe's hipper-than-thou opus is one of the greatest pieces of art in the history of American cinema, and with two rising stars in Billy Crudup and Kate Hudson, this is the film that brings generations together. It is a bridge between the 70's and 90's that reminds us that above all, we are all people; living, breathing entities who NEED each other. This could be the glue of humanity, bringing down all racial, generational, and national barriers. What do I love about rock 'n roll? EVERYTHING...and more!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Watch it over and over again
Review: Once again Cameron Crow has made a movie that can be watched over and over again and still be as good or better than the first time. Letting the Music tell the story on the Bus scene was brilliant!
Rating:
Summary: one of 15 best movies ever
Review: WOW...very good. Should be nominated for best picture in OSCARS, its a great movie for guys that like music from the 70s.
Rating: 
Summary: You've got to be kidding?
Review: I have to agree with the other below average reviews after having just seen this, and the lauded performance of Goldie Hawn's daughter pretty much sums up my opinion of the movie: a LOT of hype for very little substance. There is an occasional laugh and reasonably good acting especially by the lead singer, the mentor writer from Creem and the kid weren't too bad. It seems as if based on many of the reviews, the soundtrack is the real star of this movie which brings up another point. This assertion that Rock Music was poisoned and a betrayal to its sincere, humble beginnings after 1973 is laughable. Check your CD collection, I bet you've got some music that was made after that that sounds pretty good right? Feel betrayed or that you're being hustled by big bad corporate types when you listen to it? The only bad thing that happened to Rock at about that time was it was then that the kind of snobbery that still pervades in terms of judging another based on what Rock they listen to began. It's all just subjective rubbish and "Rock" is still just Rock -- not Beethoven or Haydn.
Rating:
Summary: THE GREATEST FILM EVER...AND I REALLY MEAN IT
Review: Many people may underrate this film because it didn't win or get nominated for very many Oscars and it didn't hit it big in the box office. But ALMOST FAMOUS is probably the best movie of all time. It's humorous and heartwarming (and I'm a 17-year-old girl who wasn't even born yet in the 70s).This story is basically about director/writer/producer Cameron Crowe's teenage life as a rock journalist for Rolling Stone magazine. William Miller is Crowe's alter-ego (newcomer, Patrick Fugit) who has to travel around the country with a fictional rock band named Stillwater and get an interview with them. Along the way, William learns about life, true love, how to have fun, and how to "be cool". Some people who actually lived through this time period may feel as though this film is unrealistic. Well, this is one person's view of the 70s and every other person has different experiences so of course you probably wouldn't think this is the kind of thing you did in the 70s. The stand-out performances are the ones by Billy Crudup (Stillwater's lead guitarist, Russell Hammond), Kate Hudson (Penny Lane), Francis McDormand (Elaine Miller - William's overprotective mother), and of course, Patrick Fugit (William Miller). The supporting cast was excellent, too especially the girl who played Anita Miller, William's older sister, Jason Lee (Stillwater's lead singer), and Ana Paquin's character. Also, the guy who played Lester Bangs was great, as well. ALMOST FAMOUS isn't just about Crowe's life as a rock writer: it's about rock 'n roll, sex, drugs, love, and everything that was great about the 70s. This is a timeless classic and if you have a great sense of humor and love everything or something about the 70s and don't want to see a movie with cheesy or corny parts, then this is definitely for you! Go buy or rent ALMOST FAMOUS and I know you won't regret it!
Rating:
Summary: One Of The Best And Greatest Rock And Roll Movies Ever.
Review: Now Here is Cameron Crowe's best work ever, and considered by many, including myself, to be the best movie that represents 1960's & 70's Rock And Roll. I own the original VHS copy, and have yet to buy the new Bootleg Cut version, which I hear is also something to love. I love the soundtrack, some of the best songs ever and other rarities of Rock and Roll are included. OK now back to the movie, He picked the best actors for the best parts, like Kate Hudson (who actually is married to a rock star) playing the famous band-aid, Penny Lane. Or newcomer Patrick Fugit as William, the struggling 15 Year Old Rolling Stone Journalist. Or Jason Lee (of Jay And Silent Bob Fame) as Jeff Bebe, the Lead Singer of Made-Up Band, Stillwater. Or how about Billy Crudup as Russell Hammond (and is not in anyway related to the organ company famous for the B3), the guitar player and other artistic focus of Stillwater (I heard some rumor that Crowebar officially recruited Brad Pitt to do Russell, but he was busy doing The Mexican with Julia Roberts). Now for a minute I wanna talk about something in the movie which was true masterpiece. In the beginning of the movie when William discovers rock and roll through The Who's Tommy, he plays Sparks first. What Crowebar does in the movie, he mixes the first half of the original Tommy Version with the 2nd Half of the Live At Leeds Version as the scene changes to 1973 from 1969. He should have either put that on the soundtrack album or better yet used Amazing Journey attached to Sparks for the album, because that would keep the mood of the Psychedelia and Rock of Sparks. Either way it would have been great. Anyway, If you are young (like me) or old (doesn't matter) and you are deep into 60's and/or early 70's Rock (Volkswagen Bus and Everything), then you would love this movie! As the chef said, "I Guarantee!" And on a closing note, this movie actually takes place at the end of the greatest period in American History, The 60's. Most people say that the 60's ended in 1969, but the spirit of freedom, free-love, drugs, and anti-war protest lived on until 1973. So Lester Bangs was actually sort of right, by '73 Rock and Roll was almost over ("You Made Just It In Time for the death rattle, last gasp, last grope"), but as we all know Rock and Roll never truly died until December 8, 1980, the day John Lennon was assainated. So in one sentences to sum up everything I have said in this review, The 70's were a drag after '73 (why? 1 Word: DISCO!!!!!!!! I HATE DISCO!!!!!!!!!!).
Rating: 
Summary: Almost Perfect
Review: It started out a little slow, somehow, but managed to hook me in the end. If you're old enough to remember what music we were actually listening to in 1969 it's a little off-putting to see them show a copy of Joni Mitchell's "Blue" two years before it was released, to say nothing of "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" featured as a prominent prop 1-year before it existed. As trivial as this sounds, these careless errors in detail may have been why for the first 1/2 hour I was disappointed by the film. Ultimately it's a lot of fun, although in the end somewhat depressing. The characters are really real: you keep really wanting to like the Billy Crudup character, but in the end you realize he's a creep. Almost Famous would make an excellent double-feature with High Fidelity.
Rating:
Summary: Drag!
Review: I do not understand all the hype with this movie. This was one of least entertaining movies I have ever seen. People who liked this movie have nothing better to do than watch paint dry.
Rating:
Summary: Perfection!
Review: Almost Famous is a perfect movie. This is a very bold statement, I know. I probably won't be able to back the statement up in a few sentences. You will have to watch Almost Famous to see for yourself. Cameron Crowe has always been my favorite movie writer/director. Say Anything. Singles. Jerry Maguire. And now, Almost Famous. Crowe has an amazing ability to give his characters down to earth personalities. From the way they give their lines to the expressions on their faces, it is as if the actors in Crowe's films go to "The Cameron Crowe School for Acting" before filming. What makes this aspect of his films interesting for me is that each film is very different from the last, even though they are similar on many levels. Kate Hudson, Bully Crudup, Patrick Fugit and all the actors were perfectly cast. Kate Hudson seems to be a natural. She handled the character of Penny Lane like a pro. Her facial expressions, the ways she moved and positioned her hands, and her laugh, made Penny Lane seem like an innocent yet mysterious and experienced groupie. I would like to give special props to Fairuza Balk. Even though the part was small, Fairuza's Sapphire was a great addition to the film. I love the scene in which William's Mother called the hotel and Sapphire spoke of what a great boy William was. Fairuza seems like an old soul, perfect to play a groupie from the 70's. She reminds me of my Mother's old hippy friends from when I was a kid. The soundtrack...PERFECT. The Who, Simon & Garfunkel, Led Zep...and Cameron (or whoever chose the music) picked all of my favorite songs!! I have not been so in love with a movie like this since... I can't even remember. One question: Where was Eric Stoltz?
Rating:
Summary: Great, great movie!
Review: This movie was fantastic. I was fully expecting another "hippy" movie and boy, could I have been more wrong? Being born in the late 70's doesn't usually allow the characters to connect to me, but this movie was a timeless story of a boy growing up young and living an exciting life. I would recommend buying this on DVD or at least renting.
| 
