Rating: 
Summary: Awesome Awesome Awesome
Review: Deserving of the Oscar nods and rave reviews it received, "Almost Famous" not only reflects on a generation searching for itself through the excesses of sex, drugs and rock and roll, but expresses the human side of us that keeps us honest no matter our role in life. At times exciting, nostalgic, captivating and moving, Cameron Crowe's semi-autobiographical story of becoming a rock & roll journalist in a time when rock & roll was spreading its wings on new horizons finds itself appealing to many people on many levels. Its well-cast assembly of actors tell a wonderful story that hits the human side of "Behind the Music". A must see for any one who's ever been the number one fan of any band. You would probably be better off with the other version... but none the less, this is a great movie!
Rating:
Summary: Hidden Scenes
Review: Access the SPECIAL FEATURES menu on DISC ONE, and hit the RIGHT arrow on remote once, and then the UP arrow, and the last polaroid will be highlighed. Click it and watch a four minute deleted scene involving much of Penny Lane. In the "Special Features" section of the second DVD, Access the "Cast" section. Enter Fairuza Balk's Bio and press up on your remote. Click on the highlighted poloroid for a scene outake from the bus, with an audio intro from Crowe. Go to the audio selection screen on the director's cut disc. Go to the top of the selections and then push the righthand selctor button on your remote. The center hole on the LP should be highlighted. Hit enter and you will see a "haunted" take of Phillip Seymour Hoffman.
Rating:
Summary: Best in a long time
Review: This was without a doubt one of the best movies of all time. I can remember being 13 when the movie came out in 2000 and wanting to see it then, but my parents thought I was too young. So i finally saw it about 7 months ago and just again last night and it definatly explains the life of a rock star. and its hard. living on a bus. [bad] food. whatever and whatever. but Cameron Crowe, Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup, and everyone else did an A+ job and i think if anybody else had done it, it wouldnt have come out as real and good as it did. I own this movie and you definatly should too.
Rating:
Summary: Get the Director's Edition !
Review: OK, I admit it - I bought the normal DVD first, then the Director's Edition when it came out. For 28 bucks, you get the regular DVD, a bootleg DVD that's ~30 minutes longer than the original and a Stillwater CD, including "Fever Dog". I won't tell you what's in the extra 30 minutes of the bootleg - figure it out for yourself - but if you like this flick, you'll want the extra goodies. What a great soundtrack!
Rating:
Summary: AN ABSOLUTE MUST SEE
Review: This movie goes to prove William Goldman's quote that in Hollywood "nobody knows anything" is true. This deservedly won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar but was pretty much ignored. Having finally gotten around to seeing it I must say that this is one of the best movies I've seen so far this year. Cameron Crowe's autobiographical film about a young music journalist wannabe who ends up on the road with a rock band is truly brilliant. Billy Crudup, Kate Hudson and Patrick Fugit all give terrific perfomances,in fact the whole cast is excellent. Heartfelt, funny, sad, touching this is a must see. If you haven't seen it yet don't waste any more time. I guarantee you'll LOVE it.
Rating: 
Summary: Cameron Crowe finally writes HIS story.
Review: Cameron Crowe wrote and directed this movie (which is semi-autobiographical) about a precocious teen ready to boldly brave the waters of rock jounalism,if only he could get backstage to interview the almost famous band, Stillwater, for Rolling Stone magazine. This is the story of William Miller, baby-faced, honest to a fault, and anxious to try his new wings, even though his teacher mom is so fiercly trying to protect him from the one thing that William is so eager to interview: Rock stars. Well written, directed and acted, with lovable charactors such as Penny Lane, Russel Hammond, and Lester Bangs, this is one movie that I didn't want to end. The music is great, too. You'll love it!
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Summary: What do you love about music?
Review: Almost Famous is beautifully entertaining and easily sinks into your heart. It's about a young boy, William Miller, who's healthy relationship with his mother is what's keeping him away from the experience of sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll. After his older sister leaves him with her collection of familiar 1970s records and a note explaining that one song by The Who can make him see his future, he grows up and dives into the rock culture of what the world once became. Sooner or later, Lester Bangs, a famous critic for rock music, becomes a mentor and leads William to his dream of living the ultimate behind the scenes life as a flourishing young journalist. Just as William enters the world and finds the true meaning of being on tour, he finds himself overwhelmed hanging out with a fictional hard rock band Stillwater. He also finds himself gorgeously infatuated with the openminded dreamer Penny Lane, a young band aid, which is a false name she takes on, and would never tell a soul.
As soon as the hardship of the almost famous band and later confessions of secrets uncover, they sit quiet, put things behind them, and grow closer together. They also sing along together to Elton John's Tiny Dancer (a memorable scene). While the tour continues, and William's mother's concerned phone calls continue, William loses his virginity but gains the meaning of what it means to understand and appreciate life in general, and that you can't take the good without taking the bad.
This movie is a classic instant winner, with a cast that shines, and music that catches you. It's so touching and happy, you'll fall in love with it endlessly.
Rating:
Summary: One of the world's best movies ever
Review: Ok, so that title of one of the world's best movies ever sounds hokey. I do not care. I grew up with the music of the 60's and 70's, and this movie makes me feel like I am there again. I have watched it over and over...both versions, and even watched the entire movie witht eh directors comments running. I am not tired of it and think that five or ten years from now I will enjoy it every bit as much as I do now. This movie gets my highest recomendation, buy it and enjoy!!!!!
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Summary: One of the best films of 2000
Review: Cameron Crowe, former teenaged rock critic matured into essayist, screenwriter and film director, created my favorite film of 2000 (tied with "O Brother Where Art Thou") by bottling a precious ingredient found in few movies- real magic. Drawing from his own rich autobiography, Crowe vividly relates the journey of a teenage Odysseus (played here with wide eyed purity by Patrick Fugit) who embarks on a journey of discovery, pain, love, maturation, loss and spiritual awakening. The magic of Almost Famous lies in its characters' abilities to reach that most heroic of human experience: transformation into a better self.
Fugit plays William Miller, a fifteen year old genius based upon Crowe himself, who is given the impossible task of writing a "think piece" in Rolling Stone magazine about a fictitious rock and roll band called Stillwater. Forced to travel the road with the band and their entourage of "professional girl friends/fans/groupies"- called band-aides here, Miller finds himself caught between staying true to his calling- writing honestly- and betraying new found friends. Crowe's genius, as previously expressed in his earlier films Say Anything, Jerry Maguire and Singles lies in his ability to craft through careful collaboration with his always superb casts, real people who despite great character flaws and warts, have the spark of goodness inside them. In a Cameron Crowe film, everyone has the chance to be saved- and in their own way- everyone does end up forgiven and transformed. Unlike many of his cold-hearted, mean spirited and cynical film making peers who actively seek out the sordid, the ugly and the destructive in society, Crowe possesses a sincere love not only for his characters and the world they inhabit but for the audience as well. That love radiates throughout every frame of every film he makes (this does not speak to his misstep "Vanilla Sky") Crowe also possesses an uncanny instinct to marry music with the film. The sequence fusing Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" to a Stillwater's collective forgiveness of Russell Hammond is pure bliss. Of course Crowe creates many other similar sequences with music and image.
This is not to suggest Almost Famous sugarcoats the harsh realities of an early 1970's rock and roll experience. Crowe is too honest a storyteller to allow that. Free sex, drugs and the related decadence are ever present as are the consequences for such behavior. There is a real general callous soulessness that lurks on the tip of each scene threatening to consume the frail humanity of this Odyssey. But that evil is held at bay and ultimately destroyed by the great good that certainly dwells in every character's heart. As consistent with all previous Crowe films, the acting ensemble is perfect. She has so many scenes that literally broke my heart while making me smile. Billy Crudup as self obsessed guitarist Russell Hammond, although far too good looking for any real rock star, swings gloriously unpredictable between sullen silence, affable congeniality and rage. He is a star in the making. Jason Lee, as lead singer Jeff Bebe, possesses just the right amount of shallow intellectual posings, narcissistic self promotion and paranoid uncertainty that prevails so many in his vocation. Frances McDormand is absolutely perfect as Miller's hyper-protective Mother. The director's cut DVD is a God Send. The commentary by Crowe and his mother is priceless as is the fleshed out sequences which manage to humanize and elevate the characters even more. Being able to read the complete script is fascinating also as a reference point. It proves the old addage that all good films must begin with a great script.
Almost Famous is Absolute Magic. Don't miss this one.
Rating:
Summary: This is a great movie
Review: I enjoyed this movie from the first time i saw it on video. it is a well acted film and well written film. it is a quasi-autobiographical story of a 15-year-old boy who loves rock and roll and gets to write articles for Rolling Stone magazine. talk about a cool job! the different characters are well rounded, showing their faults as well as their strengths, making them more human than in many other films out there. and for anyone who loves Led Zeppelin or any other 70s rock band, this film is dedicated to you.
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