Rating: 
Summary: Musically Intelligent...
Review: I felt like I could really relate to this movie because I'm both in LOVE with music and with journalism. I think that it was very relalistic in its portrayl of musicians. Overall a wonderful movie that I could watch over and over.
Rating: 
Summary: delightful evocation of the '70's
Review: What makes "Almost Famous" so much fun to watch is that it manages to capture a glimpse of the pop culture past without ever becoming heavy-handed, precious or sanctimonious in the process. It clearly loves the rock music world it is exploring, yet the film is also clear-eyed enough to see that strange subculture in its totality - warts and all. As he did in "Jerry Maguire," writer/director Cameron Crowe shows himself to be a master at mixing disparate moods and exploring universal truths within the context of a light romantic comedy. Based on Crowe's own experiences as a teenaged rock journalist, "Almost Famous" tells the unusual story of a 15-year old writer named William Miller who finds himself composing a behind-the-scenes article for "Rolling Stone" on an up-and-coming rock band called Stillwater. As a part of the tour, William is privy to all the backstage shenanigans, interpersonal conflicts and free-living excesses that are an integral and inevitable part of any rock band's existence. William sees firsthand the conflicts that arise when one band member seems to be rising in prominence and popularity often at the expense of his band mates who can but look on in jealousy and wonder. William also observes how fame, fortune and recognition often require a compromising of both artistic integrity and the musical purity that made the members want to be rock stars in the first place. Like all the members of the team, as well as the hangers-on, groupies and roadies, William is drawn to rock and roll because it speaks to some indefinable need in his soul - yet, he also learns, through observation, that much of the glamour is really a cover for the insecurities and emotional emptiness of the individuals who comprise this strange, life-in-the-fast-lane world. Yet, all this makes "Almost Famous" sound dark and preachy - which it definitely is not. On the contrary, Crowe keeps the proceedings light, airy and fast-paced thanks to the fact that William himself always remains such a clear-eyed, steady and likable young man. William is the anchor that helps keep Crowe's movie real. This wide-eyed fifteen year old seems far more mature and emotionally grounded than all the older people he is involved with. These include the band's handsome lead guitarist, Russell Hammond, and a beautiful, sweet and radiant "band-aid" named "Penny Lane." As Penny, Kate Hudson literally lights up the screen with warmth, sincerity and vulnerability every time she appears in a scene. She is truly a natural. The same can be said for young Patrick Fugit who never hits a false note as William, making him a character the audience can identify with from first moment to last. Billy Crudup conveys just the right combination of arrogance and good-natured insecurity to make Russell a complex and believable individual. And the wonderful Frances McDormand steals every scene she is in as William's fretful, up-tight, but obviously loving mother, who can do little but stand back in open-mouthed astonishment, aghast at the "immoral" lifestyle of the people who have "kidnapped" her child. Yet, at the same time, something about her child makes her trust that, when the temptations come fast and furious, his innate moral strength - the strength she has imparted to him - will triumph in the end. Thus, she reluctantly and anxiously allows him to fulfill his dream. Lovers of early '70's "classic" rock will adore the sound, the look and the general time capsule feel of the film. Crowe has gotten all the "accoutrements" of the period absolutely right - from the shaggy hair, to the frenzied concerts, to the casual drug usage to the familiar tunes playing on the soundtrack. "Almost Famous" is a movie to relax into, especially if you yourself came of age in that era. It will gently carry you back to a past that seems both terribly recent and painfully long ago all at the same time. Enjoy the journey.
Rating:
Summary: A lovingly crafted tribute to an era
Review: By the time I finished watching "Almost Famous," I had a silly grin on my face and sincerely wished I had been one of the characters in it. This movie rocks! Both literally and figuratively.
Rating: 
Summary: ROCK AND ROLL REVIEW
Review: This is one of those movies you've heard so much about and are thoroughly disappointed by. "Almost Famous" is almost Gidget in it's simple pansy story about Rolling Stone Magazine's cub reporter Cameron Crowe in the early '70s. The music isn't even relevant of it's day but are even older radio hits. This kid really began to ware on me. I kept wating for something, anything to happen.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie, superb cast, amazing realism.
Review: By the end of watching 'Almost Famous' I felt really cheated. By cheated I mean that I wish I could have lived at that time. It seemed like such an era of real emotion and adventure. Today's commercial world that shows in the music and in the additudes of society makes me feel like something was taken away from me. By the description above you can tell I really connected with this movie. That's because when I watched it I never saw Patrick Fugit or Billy Crudup or Kate Hudson. I saw William Miller, Russell Hammond, and Penny Lane. It was just so real to me I felt like I was there watching William's life as if I was sitting next to him. I guess it's because the script was based on Crowe's real life and he did actually live the story. Along with the great actors who put themselves into the characters. The realism was unlike anything I've ever seen, it was like watching a documentary but a whole lot more enjoyable. This movie made me see what I missed. On a different subject I think one actor in this movie who was also a little cheated. His name is Michael Angarano and he played the 11 year old version of William Miller and even though he was only in the movie for the first 8 minuted of dialogue, I thought he was really great. Mike added to the real emotion as well as the older and more well-known actors but nobody in the Amazon.com reviews for this movie recognized that and I would like to be the first.
Rating:
Summary: A movie to Crowe about.
Review: Cameron Crowe wrote and directed "Almost Famous", which is fitting since it is largely about his own beginnings. Cameron was the youngest writer for Rolling Stone magazine and, as a teenage journalist, he followed numerous bands as they went on tour. In this film, these bands are rolled up into a four-man group called Stillwater. These guys get my vote for the best band that never was. Since I was just out of kindergarten when the story was set, you should forgive me for thinking, after my first viewing, that Stillwater was an authentic recreation of some famous group from the early 70's. The realism is that perfect! But this movie is not about a band, at least not predominantly. It is a coming of age story. A young man raised in an unusual household, with an unusual mother, is taking his first steps to adulthood. The interesting thing is that his first steps are so large as to stretch past most people's entire careers. Through a combination of talent, luck and timing, young William Miller, played perfectly by Patrick Fugit, is recruited by Rolling Stone magazine to write an article on Stillwater. This strange occurrence actually makes sense when you watch the film despite sounding ridiculous as I write it. If William goes through dramatic changes in a short time, his mother is a rock of stability. Elaine Miller is able to "freak out" most people, with a few choice words but to her son, she is home, safety, love and in a way... imprisonment. She is very intense but caring and it is this combination which drives her eighteen year old daughter to a life of airline stewardship. We can see Elaine's true courage however, when she agrees to let the fifteen year old William go "on the road" with a drug taking, womanizing rock band. This, after we have seen her characterize Simon and Garfuncle as "stoned" and forbidden their music from her house. One of the most important people William comes into contact with, on his journey, is Penny Lane. She is a beautiful, glowing, perfectly permed young dryad who follows the bands and has a following of her own. Adamant that she is not a groupie, Penny has created a concept called "Band Aids." Her subscribers refrain from sex with the performers in an effort to more truly embrace the pure experience. She talks a good game but in the end, she's just a young woman in love. The object of her affection is Russell Hammond, the lead guitarist and Zen-master for Stillwater. Her situation is complicated after William falls in love with her, at first sight. Thus Alice enters Wonderland and many an adventure is had. Despite William's best intentions and the good advice of his mentor, Lester Bangs, the band manages to seduce him. His plan, to get in and out before missing a test, is soon discarded in the face of a larger than life rock and roll experience. There is one truly touching scene where the band, (and company), is riding their bus to the next gig and singing along to "Tiny Dancer." William leans over to Penny and says, "I have to go home!" To which she replies, with a magical pass of her hand, "You are home." That says it all. There are several contrasting character changes happening during the film. One stands out more than most. William starts his professional career as a fan, loving the band, the music and the whole lifestyle. As the tour progresses and his eyes are opened, he becomes, not jaded but more worldly, professional and wise. Conversely, Penny Lane is introduced to us as the epitome of sophistication. She is young but knowing, and handles William as an older sister might. As the film progresses we discover that Penny is not so all knowing as she seemed. She is just as fragile and naively hopeful as any other girl her age. In the end, it is William that has to send her a reality check. Everything about this film is fascinating. The music is just wonderful, with Billy Crudup and Jason Lee bringing authenticity to every performance. The band's interpersonal dynamic is almost a character of its own. This climaxes during the famous plane crash scare, when each confesses their deepest secrets to the unrestrained laughter of the audience. William, his Mother and Penny are all unforgettable creations. Crowe is a wonderful writer, so good in fact, that I am disappointed he didn't turn this story into a book. Watching the movie will just have to be enough, for now.
Rating: 
Summary: Ho-hum
Review: This movie does not have the lasting impact of other Crowe films: Singles, Jerry Miguire or Say Anything (all of which rank among my favorite films). If it weren't for Jason Lee (who does and outstanding job given his under developed character) I would have given it a 2. The story is based around a young boy with a gift for writting, he teams up with a band grows up a bit along the way. Unlike the other crowe films, I couldn't find any enjoyable characters (save Jason Lee). The predictable story-line just doesn't offer any moments that come close to "You complete me", and the ending will leave you unsatisified. The actors are good, but I believe a few were cast for the wrong parts. Rent before you buy.
Rating:
Summary: Silly and shallow
Review: I had heard how great this movie was, but was sorely disappointed. I think a great movie could be made about the rock scene in the 60s and 70s, but this isn't it. I found the characters too stereotypical and the situations absurd. Surely, we weren't that shallow and silly at that time.
Rating:
Summary: Almost great.
Review: Quasi-autobiographical nostalgia trip courtesy of Cameron Crowe, the setting being the rock world of the early '70's. As the poster for the movie indicates, rose-colored glasses are firmly glued in front of the eyes -- this is a love-letter to rock music, not an expose -- and the expected creative license is fully used. Substituting for Crowe, who was indeed a 15-year-old journalist who covered Led Zeppelin, the Allman Brothers, etc., is "William Miller", who, as played by newcomer Patrick Fugit, seems much too innocent to be entirely believable. Substituting for Led Zeppelin is a fictitious band called "Stillwater", complete with cardboard cutouts representing Robert Plant and Jimmy Page (Jason Lee, Billy Crudup). This is a design guaranteed to frustrate truth-seekers and nit-pickers, and is probably a smart move by Crowe, given the circumstances. Also smart is the selection of music -- blessedly, we're not exposed to a great deal of "Stillwater"'s "music". Crowe instead opts for some groovy "singer-songwriter" selections of the period that are easy on the ears. Perhaps Frances McDormand is the true triumph of the film as the rock journalist's mother. On the one hand, she's overprotective enough to disparage Simon & Garfunkel as being "on pot"; on the other hand, she's permissive enough to allow her son to briefly tour with a hard rock group. This character has the least amount of Hack Writer's varnish, and I suspect is the most autobiographical aspect of the movie. And Ms. McDormand fits the bill exceedingly well. Philip Seymour Hoffman is also excellent in the part of Miller's mentor, Lester Bangs, a real-life rock journalist for Creem Magazine who has retained his real name in the movie (probably because he's safely dead). Bangs constantly warns young Miller about the inadvisability of becoming too friendly with rock musicians. *Almost Famous* is most engaging when exploring the ethical behavior of both journalist and subject. Unfortunately, Crowe makes this worthy theme take a back seat to the main "interest": a love-triangle between the pubescent journalist, the rock band's guitar player, and a groupie who calls herself a "Band-Aid". (Howlingly unrealistic, this. The groupies in the movie are treated as "muses" instead of the Good Times Had By All. The rose-colored glasses are a dark, dark magenta, here.) But the movie is so good-hearted, and has enough going for it, that it's pretty hard to dislike.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites of all time
Review: This movie is fits in every genre possible without it being a complete mess, and it works so perfectly. THe story, which centers around a 15 year old who writes for Rolling Stone, is very interesting, and even more intriguing when you know that this story is based on the Director's life. The music is way cool, and captures the era well. Francis McDormand is very outstanding as the know all mom who has to deal with her growing son. Billy Crudup is great as the guitarist/star of the ficticious band: Stillwater. The movie is worth the price itself, but the DVd contains many interesting extras like articles written by Cameron Crowe back when he was kid, that were published in Rolling Stone. There's a making of documentar that's standard and interesting. There's also a cool Stillwater video. If you are "iffy" about buying this forget it, and just by it, it's got it all.
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