Almost Famous is the ultimate coming of age/love story for those of us who are in love with the 70s rock scene but missed it by an entire decade. With a degree of uncertainty on my part, it can be speculated that those who did have to opportunity to experience this time would love this film. The bottom line is this: Almost Famous does a fantastic job of accomplishing what it set out to do: to portray this time. Not to glamorize it, but to concentrate of accuracy.
Quickly summarized, the plot goes something like this: William, age 15, has displayed a love for rock music and has an exceptional ability to write which has caught the attention of Rolling Stone magazine. He is sent on tour with a 70s rock group, Stillwater. William meets a girl. William falls in love. There is conflict. In the end, he gets the story on Stillwater, which he had considerable trouble trying to obtain.
Of course, I've left a lot out. Almost Famous doesn't have a complicated story: in fact, it's quite straight forward and simple. But as well know, a complicated plot isn't needed to make a movie work. Almost Famous grasps all components that make for a good film and present them in the best way that it possibly could.
If you love 70s rock, you'll love this film's soundtrack. Music is constantly playing during Almost Famous. Hits from Jethro Tull, Lynrd Skynrd, Led Zeppelin and The Who highlight the film, as well as original rock tunes from the ficticous band Stillwater.
Almost Famous does a wonderful job of showing a typical rock group during the 70s. Stillwater is a carbon copy of every group of this genre: The stragly, bearded vocalist, better-than-everyone-else attitude, and the classic conflict between two of the band members regarding who will get the spot light. Stillwater is the perfect band, drawing influence from many actual groups of the time. In fact, many times life outside of the band is referred to as "the real world". This "real world" that is talked about it ignored by everyone involved with the band, as though it is non-existant.
Almost Famous is based on a real-life coming of age story. William, the young reporter, learns so much about the people who create the music that he loves. It seems like a harsh wake-up call when he realizes that these people aren't who they are made out to be by the media. As he says, they "use their fans and then throws them away". Almost Famous achieved its realistic aims and steered clear from the idealistic, glamorized portrayal of a 70s rock band.
This films bridges many different movie genres. It is a coming of age movie, a love story, and a representation of an important part of pop culture in our history.
All parts were played excellently in this movie. It was wonderfully cast and works well. An interesting side note, that has nothing to do with the merits of the film: most of the men in the movie are rather attractive, while all of the women are quite the opposite. This is merely my opinion though and my love for the "Jim Morrison-during-his-bearded-years" look.
So... go see this movie. It's good for young people like me who didn't have the chance to experience this time, and for the older people who did. It's good for all age, although there are a few sexually suggestive scenes, minimal drug use and a bit of nudity. As a coming of age story, this film works well.
If only Stillwater had actually existed... oh my... I've fallen in love with a fake band.
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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