Almost Famous (2000)
“So Russell…what do you love about music?” – William Miller.
“To begin with, everything.” – Russell Hammond.
Almost Famous (2000)
Directed by: Cameron Crowe
Written by: Cameron Crowe
Starring: Patrick Fugit, Billy Crudup, Kate Hudson, Frances McDormand
This semi-autobiographical film, written and directed by one-time Rolling Stone writer (and now famous director) Cameron Crowe, is two hours of rock’n’rollicking good vibes. Although it’s billed as a ‘comedy-drama’, Almost Famous is another movie that blurs the lines between genres, with the musical focus and young lead making this more of a coming-of-age classic supported by a killer soundtrack.
The film follows William Miller (Fugit), a fifteen-year-old aspiring rock journalist who lives in San Diego with his overprotective mother Elaine (McDormand). When a local rock reviewer asks him to review a Black Sabbath concert, William is barred from backstage until cover band Stillwater sneak him in. Making friends with Stillwater, including front-man Russell (Crudup) and veteran groupie Penny Lane (Hudson), William is hired by Rolling Stone to write an article about the band and takes off with them on a tour around the country.
Let’s be honest - movies about music are basically cheating. They get to use iconic music for their soundtrack, injecting nostalgia and energy onto an otherwise blank slate. And make no mistake, the Almost Famous soundtrack rocks; Led Zepplin, The Beach Boys, David Bowie, Elton John, The Who, Cat Stevens, Simon & Garfunkel, it’s a never-ending rolodex of musical legends. But Crowe and the actors have produced such an entertaining and unique story that the music is nothing but a secondary character – it’s a tool used to encapsulate the mood of each scene, and guide us on William’s journey.
As mentioned earlier, the character of William is loosely based on Crowe’s personal experiences as the youngest ever contributor for Rolling Stone. He went on the road with the Allman Brothers Band in 1973 at the age of 16, and recalls that during the following few years, he “lost his virginity, fell in love, and met his musical heroes”. As such, the film follows William’s journey from innocent 15 year old to…slightly less innocent 15 year old. And he’s so god damn loveable! This is one of the keys to the film – the character of William acts as a conduit for a lot of jokes, but also humanises the characters and provides us with a loveable hero to spend two hours with. Entering a world of shady characters, motives and morals, William acts as a beacon of untarnished wholesome goodness. This leads to some sobering dramatic scenes to balance out the comedy, where a fifteen-year-old kid seems like the smartest person in a room full of ‘adults’.
Also…HOW GOOD IS THIS CAST? It feels like I say that about every movie, but this one jumps off the page. Fugit is genuinely adorable as a discerning and inquisitive kid in his starring role, but the depth of the cast around him is phenomenal. Hudson – who has since turned into a lovable rom-com pinup girl – exploded onto the scene with her performance as Penny Lane. Previously just known as ‘Goldie Hawn’s daughter’, she won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar for this film, setting up the rest of her career. McDormand – now acknowledged as on the best actresses of all time – also received a Best Supporting Actress nom for her fantastic portrayal as the neurotic Elaine. The rest of the cast includes the charming Crudup, quirky Phillip Seymour Hoffman (RIP), Jason Lee, Zooey Deschanel, Anna Paquin, Noah Taylor, Jimmy Fallon and a very young Jay Baruchel.
Not much else to say here - killer cast, killer soundtrack, great story. Buckle up for an entertaining trip across America with a smorgasbord of colourful characters. Highly recommend.
Rating: 7.5/10
Casting what-ifs:
The now-famous Crudup representation of Russell Hammond was almost not to be. The part was originally offered to, and accepted by……Brad Pitt (!!!). However, after rehearsals began, Pitt and Crowe both quickly agreed that it was “not the right fit” and Pitt dropped out of the project.
Natalie Portman (riding her newfound Star Wars fame) was originally cast as Penny Lane, but dropped out when schedule conflicts arose.