“Almost Famous” (Directed by Cameron Crowe 2000)
“Almost Famous” is the ultimate feel-good film for aspiring journalists and the music obsessed. At times it’s a little too lame, a little too predictable and perhaps a little too unbelievable but it’s fun and that’s what really matters.
The film’s main character William Miller (Patrick Fugit) is a 15-year-old, dweeby, adorable, music obsessed kid who finds his future in the guidance of rock-critic legend Lester Bangs (Phillips Seymour Hoffman). Through Miller the audience gets a bird’s eye view at the supposed life and times of Cameron Crowe, the director and reason for “Almost Famous.”
The entire film is filled with several sort of magically satisfying quips that seem to click and make sense for any moment in anyone’s life. Early in the movie Miller is riding in a car with the matriarch of the “Band-aides,” Penny Lane (Kate Hudson) and she offers him the line, “ I always tell the girls, never take it seriously, if ya never take it seriously, ya never get hurt, ya never get hurt, ya always have fun, and if you ever get lonely, just go to the record store and visit your friends.” The quote is undeniably cheesy but incredibly true. Music is a comfort that almost everyone enjoys and feels nostalgic towards and if there’s no feeling of happiness or satisfaction from a song or an album your problems are larger than taking life too seriously.
Perhaps the most romantic and lip-quivering quote comes from Bangs near the end of the movie. While on the phone with a deflated Miller, Bangs says, “The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you’re un-cool.” This line is perfect. Fanatics the world over are all tragically un-cool but it’s a united front that bring the music scene to life on a day-to-day basis.
Coinciding with the satisfyingly cliché, feel-good dialogue is the Grammy award winning soundtrack. Each song properly brings to a point the moment and movement of the film. The portion of the film’s music that stands out is the Elton John “Tiny Dancer” sing-along on the bus after the lead guitar player of Stillwater, Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup), has a crazy, acid filled night out without the band. The sense of unity is rewarding and the urge to join in is undeniable.
Moving along with the precise dialogue and soundtrack would have to be the acting. Luckily for Hudson this movie was pre “How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days” so the looming sense that she’s a romantic-comedy only sort of leading lady is left at the wayside and an undeniable talent is revealed. Hudson’s charisma is complimented by Fugit’s perfect pass as a teenager trying to figure out the world and himself. Along with Fugit and Hudson are Crudup’s love to hate him rock-n-roll giant and Jason Lee’s bigger than life ego- both played to a ‘t.’
“Almost Famous” will leave you with a silly smirk on your face and an overwhelming urge to sing “Tiny Dancer” on the top of your lungs; an admirable accomplishment for a semi-biographical film.
No comments:
Post a Comment