Almost Famous

Fell in love with Kate Hudson in this movie. Absolutely mesmerizing and enchanting.

Very enjoyable and one of my favorites. The film is semi-autobiographical, Cameron Crowe himself having been a teenage writer for Rolling Stone.
Love me some Kate Hudson.

Cameron Crowe Definitely one of my favorite directors and perhaps the best in the genre. The amount of masterpieces he directed (Jerry Maguire, We Bought A Zoo, Vanilla Sky,...) created high expectations in my cinematic personality.

So, I was researching where I could (re)watch the movies I have on my watchlist when I found out that Almost Famous would be on a sunny afternoon of March 5th on AXN White. So, in my pretentious wisdom, I recorded it without knowing that I would actually enjoy it very much.

Everything is perfect. The plot is basic and linear, but appealing and well done. The excess of the time, the constant addiction to drink, drugs and partying is portrayed perfectly in the work, thus being able to reflect on a time when daydreaming was the most common method of survival.

I found it amusing to see a younger Patrick Fugit, since I had also seen him in We Bought A Zoo. Overall, very good performance for someone who was only 18 when he made this film. Russell Hammond, as a character, represents the duality of both the era and the people, who easily corrupted by the advantages of the stardom of the era perform acts that only satisfy them, not thinking of those around them. However, the character that touched me the most was, without any shadow of a doubt, Lester Bangs (played by the great Philip Seymour Hoffman, may he rest in peace). Lester is undoubtedly the character who has the greatest sense of how false appearances and friendships created in stardom are. As someone down to earth, he tries to guide and be William's passive mentor, giving him advice that allows him to distinguish the true from the nefariously false.

I must say that the revelations made in the storm scene when they are on the plane are truly hilarious. I burst out laughing when the latter says out of the blue that he is gay.

So, the plot, the atmosphere, the characters, the script and the comic scenes in the film allow me to give it a 5/5 rating.

“From here on out, I am only interested in what is real. Real people, real feelings, that’s it, that’s all I'm interested in.” ❤

One of my favourite film, so well made, so well inspiring.

Really well made and brilliantly put together film.

The Extended version is the only one to watch.

Lots of great performances by a group of excellent actors.

And the singalong on the bus scene stays with you for life.


9/10

Wonderful portrayal of coming of age and love shown through the 70's life style of Rock and Roll.
Great soundtrack and storytelling, the perfect combination of story and music.
The cast is very good but the person who shines the most is Kate Hudson.
Really enjoyed this.

On tour with Slipwater in this film.

'Almost Famous' is such a likable coming-of-age movie, oozing with swag and feel. It's a journey centered on the love of music more than anything. Director Cameron Crowe puts us almost literally into the 70s at the prime of rock'n'roll with the atmosphere and vibe. William Miller (Patrick Fugit) is a young teenager living with his overprotective single mother. His older sister leaves for California at 18 to become a flight attendant, leaving William with her music collection. There he develops a love for music, specifically rock'n'rock. He writes freelance articles for a music magazine, and at 15, he is assigned to review the Black Sabbath at a concert. There, William runs into an older girl, Penny Lane (Kate Hudson), and also the fictional rock'n'roll band, Stillwater. Rollingstone Magazine hires him to interview Stillwater while traveling with them on their cross-country concert tour. On the way, he befriends and bonds with Penny, and he becomes close with the band members, including the leader Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup). I won't say more about the plot, but I think it's a movie you have to watch. It showcases the typical lifestyle of a 70s rock band through their good and bad times, which tests their strengths and flaws. All from the perspective of the 15-year-old journalist.

I can't get past how likable the plot, the feel, and the characters/cast were. The cast had wonderful chemistry in making the characters feel relatable and tangible enough to feel authentic. The directing, production, script, acting, soundtrack, and production all stood out to me. Even the dialogue had some pretty cool lines. I never felt bored by the presentation or pacing. Emotions, ideas, nostalgic moods, people's perspectives, and conflicts all blend into an exquisite experience. It was also personal for Crowe because it was a somewhat semi-autobiographical account of his youth as a Rolling Stone journalist covering a similar band. Fifty songs were featured in this film from a large part of the budget designated for music, showing the care it must have taken to choose the pieces. I think the 60s and 70s music is hard to beat. Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, Pink Floyd, The Who, Led Zeppelin, etc all defined that timeless era. The film is on the long side, but it was worth it.

Would I recommend it? If you enjoy music, it's a must-watch film. Cameron Crowe has directed a line of satisfying films, and this is another one of them. 'Say Anything', 'Jerry Maguire', and 'We Bought a Zoo'. He also wrote the classic 1980s 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High'. Even if he doesn't make a lot of movies, the ones he makes are memorable and have a charm to them.

8.5/10

Really really good film, instantly one of my favourites, so many great performances from so many talented actors and actresses. The soundtrack is also amazing, songs like Alvin and the chipmunks and tiny dancer. The story is so good, about a kid reporter diving into the world of rock and roll. I liked every character. Really just a brilliant film from start to finish that I didn’t want to end.