WOW!
After a very mediocre year for film, leave it to Cameron Crowe to deliver a five
star movie. It should be no surprise that Almost Famous emerges as a heartwarming
winner given Crowe's stellar resume. Of all the films he's had his hand in (Jerry
Maguire, Say Anything, Fast Times at Ridgemont High etc.) only Singles was not
up to par, and it was still a good film. Based on Cameron Crowe's own experiences
as a teenager, Almost Famous tells the story of innocent young William Miller
(newcomer and Utah native Patrick Fugit), a wide eyed music fan/journalist who,
to his great surprise, is hired by Rolling Stone magazine to tour with a rock
group called Stillwater (a fictional 70's rock band) and write a piece on them.
Leaving
his overbearing, but loving mother (the wonderful Frances McDormand) behind, William
becomes part of a new family--consisting of rock stars, tour managers and groupies.
Yes the whole rock world is here. The constant bickering, the infidelity, the
drug use and the magic. But Crowe handles this subject matter with finesse and
heart. Ultimately, this is the story of a group of people who felt they could
change the world, and in some aspects, they did. There is so much to recommend
in Almost Famous that I don't really know where to begin. I guess will start with
the performances.
Fugit
makes a strong film debut, exhibiting a kind of warmth and innocence that comes
right through the screen. McDormand (Fargo) excels as a mother who, against her
better judgment, takes a chance on her son. And while often abrasive and over
protecting, you never once doubt her love for William. Jason Lee (Chasing Amy)
is a hoot as Stillwater's lead singer. He shows off his signature smart ass attitude
and it's a perfect fit for this film. He also shows great energy in the concert
sequences (although it is a dubbed singing voice). Billy Crudup also shines as
Stillwater's guitar player and most celebrated band member. Of all the band, he's
the one that bonds most with William. Philip Seymour Hoffman (Boogie Nights) also
makes a nice turn as Lester Bang, a famous rock critic who helps try to keep William
in the right direction.
The
true breathtaking performance in Almost Famous, however, has to belong to the
stunning Kate Hudson. Her turn as a groupie/muse is all at once tough and heartbreaking,
and she glows throughout the film. In fact, I'd have to say that this is one of
the strongest performances of the year. Almost Famous also features terrific performances
by Fairuza Balk (The Craft), Anna Paquin (X-Men), Jimmy Fallon (Saturday Night
Live), and countless others. The glue that keeps Almost Famous together is of
course, the insightful Crowe, who not only captures the feel of the 70's rock
scene, but the sounds and sights as well. This is a keenly observant film with
terrific characters, and strong dialogue. It's also a very honest movie and doesn't
drown in fake sentiment.
It
should also be noted that Crowe wrote many of the film's original songs with wife
Nancy Wilson (of Heart fame) and you'd swear that these were actually 70's rock
tunes. Crowe also takes much credit for the casting of Almost Famous, and this
ensemble works beautifully together. Most stunning of all is that this is only
Crowe's fourth directing effort and it's nothing short of a masterpiece. Almost
Famous is so much more than a sweet love letter to rock and roll. It's about love,
friendship, truth, lies, and most importantly it's about that point in our lives
when we make that jump from youth to adulthood. In short, Almost Famous is about
life. This is a fantastic film and one I won't soon forget.
