I will be totally honest. I am a sucker for a film that uses music to its advantage. However, when a film manages to blend a beautiful soundtrack with pitch-perfect performances, memorable characters, a witty script, and classic direction, what do you have to complain about?
Almost Famous is the latest instant classic from Cameron Crowe. I don�t know how this man can do it, but he delivers every time. From his first credit as screenwriter for Fast Times at Ridgemont High, through Say Anything and Singles, up to Jerry Maguire, and now Almost Famous. I do not really know what I can say other than �this movie is perfect.�
This story is based on Cameron Crowe�s real life experiences as a young journalist for Rolling Stone. Newcomer Patrick Fugit gives an excellent performance as William, a brilliant fifteen year old who gets an over-the-phone job from Rolling Stone magazine to go on tour with the fictional group Stillwater, fronted by lead singer Jason Lee and lead guitarist Billy Crudup. Of course, along for the ride are the groupies who state �we are not groupies, we are Band-Aides.� The leader of the Band Aides is Penny Lane, portrayed by Kate Hudson. A teenage boy on tour with a rock band and groupies, how could his life go wrong? Well, of course there is his overprotective mother, played by Frances McDormand, and the fact that the man he is sent to interview is never around to interview.
Now that I�ve gotten the basic story over with, I must praise the performances. Everyone is perfect in his or her respective roles and quite a few should get Academy Award nominations. Patrick Fugit is a true unknown, but his award-worthy performance should change all that. Frances McDormand gives yet another wonderful performance as William�s mom. Kate Hudson steals practically every scene with her charm and presence, and just might receive an Oscar nod as well. This may also be the movie that finally gets Philip Seymour Hoffman a well-deserved nomination. And, in addition to all these wonderful performances, Billy Crudup may sneak by with a Supporting Actor nomination and finally break past the Indy circuit and into total stardom. And as for the rest of the cast, their parts may be too small for nominations, but they are wonderful. We have people like Jason Lee and Anna Paquin who bring a smile to your face every time you see them, as well as a brilliant performance from Fairuza Balk. All around, the ensemble is a total delight.
What more can be said? Well, a lot, but I wish not to ramble on. As I pretty much stated earlier, I love Cameron Crowe and believe his is a name that will live on amongst brilliant directors like Frank Capra and Alfred Hitchcock. He knows how to write a script and his direction is marvelous. From the films opening of Alvin & the Chipmunks� �Christmas Song,� I had a feeling I was going to love this movie. As the film progressed, I kept this feeling. The scene where the busload sings Elton John�s �Tiny Dancer� definitely confirmed this. I love a movie that knows to make the music an intricate character to the plot, not just background sound without significance, thus the meaning of the word �soundtrack.� Cameron Crowe obviously thinks this too, for he knows how to make you hear a song and be reminded of his movies. Does Peter Gabriel�s �In Your Eyes� and Say Anything ring a bell?
Overall, this is definitely one of the best films of the year, with award-worth factors coming out the wahzoo. The cast is wonderful, the direction perfect, the soundtrack beautiful, the costuming� etc. I could go on praising this movie for hours, but I would rather just suggest everyone go out and see this movie. It is set in the seventies, but does not feel nostalgic. It has a few teenage characters, but is not a teen flick. Music is important to the film, but it is not a musical. This is simply a great movie that has something for everyone to enjoy. It makes you laugh, it makes you cry, and in the end, it leaves you satisfied.
