Almost Famous

“Almost Famous” is a semi-autobiographical film about Cameron Crowe as he became a music writer at the age of 15.
The film, written and directed by Crowe in 2000, follows the aspiring rock critic as he is tossed into the chaos of the world of sex, drugs and rock-n-roll. William Miller (Patrick Fugit) a boy genius, months away from graduating high school, convinces his overbearing and neurotic mother Elaine, played perfectly by Frances McDormand, to go on tour with the band to write a potential feature story for Rolling Stone.
William grew up with his mother and older sister, Anita (Zooey Deschanel) and lacked friends in school, most likely due to being skipped ahead a few grades at an early age. William often turned to his influential sister, who rebelled against their mother by bringing records home. Their mother always claimed every musician was stoned as she pointed to Simon and Garfunkel’s eyes on the cover of their “Bookends” album. Tensions built between Elaine and Anita and Anita leaves the home to set off as a stewardess. Anita gives William her record collection and some listening suggestions and this is clearly a notable point in his life.

A few years later, William meets rock critic and writer, Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and convinces Bangs to mentor him in the art of critque. William’s first assignment is to cover a Black Sabbath concert. Here he meets Penny Lane (Kate Hudson) a “Band-Aide” or groupie. He also meets the fictional rock band “Stillwater,” and the group, especially singer and guitarist Jeff (Jason Lee) and Russell (Billy Crudup) respectively, take particular interest in William after he convinces the band he is a super fan, worthy of their time and attention.
The band decides it likes having William around and ask him to meet up at a few shows down the road. William accepts partly because of his interest in Penny Lane. When William starts submitting writing samples to Rolling Stone, the editors are convinced the kid, even though they don’t know he’s a kid, has potential. The editors take interest in his writing style and the up-and-coming band Stillwater and decide to let William have a shot at an in-depth piece about the band as they tour across the country.
Now, insert every cliché thing about rock-n-roll in the early ‘70s. And although the story isn’t anything fresh, the film rises above all others in its genre through the exceptional and honest acting done by the cast. The soundtrack paired perfectly with the film, with tracks from Led Zepplin, The Beach Boys, Cat Stevens and Simon and Garfunkel.
The film falls short with its fairy-tellesque happy ending as it steers away from the grit, grime and honesty of the cruel world of rock ’ n ’ roll it consistently portrays, but other than that, it pulls through with solid acting from the not-so-well known cast at the time and excellent cinematography to give it the film a ‘70s feel.