Watching "Almost Famous" was one of those rare movie experiences, where I continued to sit in the theatre, reading all the rolling credits at the end, and wishing I could watch it again, right then.
I didn't want it to be over. This semi-documentary, written and directed by Cameron Crowe, was flawless. The comedic aspects of the story were hilarious, the drama of the times captured by a stellar ensemble cast.
The acting in "Almost Famous" was incredibly well-done, the music - well, let's just say it took me back to freer times in my life, (give or take a few decades). Yet it is definitely cross-generational.
It's a semi-autobiographical story, of a young high school boy, who at 15, with a mixture of hutzpah and innocence, manages to go on the road with a fledgling rock 'n roll band, 'Stillwater'. He is living out his dream; becoming a rock n' roll traveling journalist, with an assignment from Rolling Stone Magazine, to travel with the band, and write an "on the road" story, getting into the real "guts" of the bands' lives.
Initial references to Creem Magazine were also a personal drawing card for me to see this movie, since Creem Magazine was created in Detroit, where I lived, and WHEN I lived there. A bit part in this movie was played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman, who acted as a sort of mentor from Creem, to young William Miller, played delightfully by newcomer Patrick Fugit. The talent possessed by this gifted young man will definitely be seen again.....and again.
Cameron Crowe, the director, did an incredible job with a powerful script, taking place in the turbulent times of a different era of our history, pre-Watergate, on the cusp of Vietnam. He represented the innocence of a generation in this movie, through his actors, with heart-wrenching truth. Yes, they embraced "sex, drugs and rock 'n roll". But this movie portrayed the total picture - of a culture and the times they lived in. He was there. He lived through it himself. He apparently based his screenplay on his years doing somewhat the same thing, traveling while in high school, with the Allman Brothers. I'm sure the fact that Peter Frampton was co-producer added tremendously to the authenticity of this work.
"Almost Famous" takes place between l969 and l974, although most of the film takes place in 1973. It is fiction, and yet, it had a feel of such authenticity and texture, that I was able to almost view it as a documentary, albeit a semi-serious "Spinal Tap".
Although the characters in "Almost Famous" most certainly do embrace the sacred triumvirate of the times, (my times, truth be told), it definitely wasn't a teen flick about "my life on the road, with the roadies and groupies and a bunch of drugs and sex", by a Jerry Garcia wannabe.
The so-called star "groupie", (she insisted on being referred to as a "band-aid"), was powerfully played by Kate Hudson, Goldie Hawn's daughter. She played a mesmerizing role - that of one of the band's girlfriends, and the object of William Miller's growing first love. Watching this tenderly develop between these two adolescents was a beautiful aspect of the film.
The movie was magnificent.....nothing short of that. I saw it today because I'd seen enough interviews,read enough articles about the story and the characters portrayed in it. And I knew that I wanted to see these actors as well as, or particularly because of Frances McDormand, who was so captivating in "Fargo", and "Raising Arizona". I will see it again. And probably again. And pay $7.50 to do it each time. This is definitely a movie of Oscar quality, all the way 'round. Did I say "flawless"??
A semi-autobiographical account of how Cameron Crowe got his start in the journalistic world. A young boy is given his first assignment: to cover an u...More at HotMovieSale.com
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