ALMOST FAMOUS (2000)
Directed by Cameron Crowe
billy-crudup, cameron-crowe, Comedy, Drama, frances-mcdormand, jimmy-fallon, kate-hudson, patrick-fugit, phili-seymour-hoffman, zooey-deschanel
I’ll admit I didn’t know much about this movie before hitting play, but it had been in my orbit for years. I think for some reason I had it mixed up with Electrick Children (2012), which I know makes no sense, but they both have a blond woman in sunglasses on the cover, so?
Anyway — beginning with literally no expectations, I was so enthralled with this movie!
Fresh off the success of Jerry Maguire (1996), Almost Famous was a semi-autobiographical project for writer/director Cameron Crowe, who really did exchange letters with Lester Bangs and submit articles to The San Diego Door, Creem, and Circus before graduating high school at 15 and becoming a contributing editor at Rolling Stone.
THE PLOT
I, of course, didn’t think I’d see Zooey Deschanel at all, let alone in such an emotional (albeit short) performance, and I loved the opening sequence that led to her brother inheriting her albums, launching the story.
Much like Crowe himself, protagonist William Miller (Patrick Fugit) is a 15-year-old aspiring rock journalist in 1973 who convinces Rolling Stone to send him on the road with Stillwater, a not-quite-famous but not-quite-obscure band. His mother (the excellent Frances McDormand) is horrified and obviously concerned about the number of school days he’ll miss. His mentor Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman) tells him he’s missed out on rock’n’roll — that all they’re hearing now is a “death rattle, a last grope.” Bangs warns him not to get too attached to the band and to stay honest, but ultimately encourages him to go.
On the tour, William gets tangled up in Stillwater’s band politics, and, more importantly, falls orbit to Penny Lane (Kate Hudson), a “band aid” who follows Stillwater to every show and is unofficially dating married lead singer Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup). Their friendship (and William’s crush on her) make up the heart of the story.
As the tour progresses (long after William was scheduled to return home), his mother becomes more frantic, the band members grow more resentful of one another, and his emotional bond with Penny deepens. Multiple near-death experiences dot the path to William’s hard-learned conclusion that these rock gods he idolizes are just flawed, selfish humans like everyone else.
THE THEMES
Very simply, Almost Famous is about growing up. In a lesser, more fringey way it’s about the “art vs. commerce” conversation and the “fandom vs. exploitation” conversation, but that’s not at the center. It’s told through the lens of the music world and rock journalism with a general 70s bohemian flair, but at it’s core, this is a classic coming-of-age.
It’s about being 15 and falling into your first big love, whether that’s a person, an artist, or the open possibilities of your future.
FUN FACTS
Russell Hammond was supposed to be Brad Pitt before Crowe and Pitt collectively decided it wasn’t the right fit.
Jack Black and Jon Favreau both auditioned for the role of Lester Bangs.
Jimmy Fallon was 24 years old and off season from SNL when he took on the role of Dennis Hope.
According to legend, Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant really did proclaim to be a “golden god” one night at a party.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I watched the entire movie and didn’t clock that Russell Hammond was Billy Crudup until I looked it up afterwards. Was it the hair? The mustache? For some reason he was unrecognizable to me!
Every time I watch a Philip Seymour Hoffman movie I think to myself, “Thank goodness this exists, and that his talent was preserved in this way on camera.” That was once again true.
This is a good mood movie that is wonderful to watch, despite some difficult moments (a.k.a. watching Kate Hudson swallow a stomach pumping tube). I’d put it on my list of rainy day movies. It feels lived-in and comfortable, and everything turns out okay in the end, but the simplicity doesn’t detract.
this movie is good.
My rating: 4/5