Frances McDormand, Kate Hudson, Anna Paquin, Billy Crudup, Jason Lee, Patrick Fugit - Dir:Cameron Crowe Audiences and critics alike are raving about this larger-than-life rock 'n' roll favorite that Roger Ebert calls "one of the best movies of the year!" The guys of Stillwater have the sound, they have the look and Rolling Stone magazine wants their story. For young reporter William Miller, it's the opportunity of a lifetime as he hits the road with his favorite band and discovers the price of fame, the value of family and the limits of friendship.
Cameron Crowe's career trajectory reads like a true Hollywood story--he started out as a 15-year-old writing for Rolling Stone magazine and eventually ended up writing, directing, and acting in movies. His poignant writing style reflects the nostalgia and humor of an era, with bits of pop culture and musical history and trivia woven in. This has proven to be a highly successful formula, as in the 1989 emo love story SAY ANYTHING, and the '90s grunge rocker hit SINGLES.
Crowe's ALMOST FAMOUS is a semiautobiographical account that tells the story of a teen journalist, William Miller (Patrick Fugit), who goes on the road with an up-and-coming rock band called Stillwater. Though Miller's mentor, legendary rock critic Lester Bangs (portrayed with humor and heart by Philip Seymour Hoffman), cautions him not to befriend the musicians, Miller takes it a step further and befriends both the band and the Band-Aids--the girls who hang around with the band because they love the music. Miller is in for a wild ride around the country, to thrilling concerts and debauched backyard parties, living the life many 15-year olds dream about. He discovers that beneath the glittery façade of rock stardom are sometimes bittersweet life lessons and mild doses of heartbreak. More impacting are the friendships he finds with his glamorous travel companions. Newcomer Fugit is the perfect William Miller: baby-faced, slightly gawky, and an awestruck observer. Kate Hudson sparkles as Penny Lane, the leader of the Band-Aids, and Frances McDormand delivers a stellar performance as Elaine, Miller's protective and mildly paranoid mother. In the tradition of SAY ANYTHING and JERRY MAGUIRE, Crowe's coming-of-age tale is intelligent, well-written, and memorable.
Theatrical release: September 15, 2000.
ALMOST FAMOUS opened up the 44th London Film Festival.
Patrick Fugit, who made his feature-film debut in ALMOST FAMOUS, grew three inches during filming, resulting in multiple costume refits. Near the end of filming, costar Billy Crudup had to wear platform shoes to ensure continuity. Fugit's voice also changed during the film's shoot.
The roles of Russell Hammond and Penny Lane were originally offered to Brad Pitt and Sarah Polley, respectively. Pitt left the project because he didn't feel he understood the character, while Polley couldn't commit because of other projects.
Philip Seymour Hoffman (Lester Bangs) was available only for four days of shooting. During all four days, the actor was nursing a bad cold.
Rolling Stone chief Jann Wenner makes a cameo appearance as the man William sees in the taxi.
While a young writer for Rolling Stone, Cameron Crowe wrote the liner notes for Peter Frampton's album FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE. Frampton served as a musical consultant on ALMOST FAMOUS, teaching the actors how to perform onstage as a rock band. He also appears as one of the road managers, playing cards.
The film features music composed by Nancy Wilson, writer-director Cameron Crowe's wife and a member of Heart.
Mark Kozelek, who plays the bassist in Stillwater, is a member of the Red House Painters.
ALMOST FAMOUS is the first Crowe film that doesn't feature actor Eric Stoltz. Every other Crowe project has featured Stoltz in some way. However, the actor's name does appear briefly on a billboard.
During filming, Kate Hudson (Penny Lane), daughter of Goldie Hawn, was dating real-life rock star Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes. They got married on December 31, 2000.
Zooey Deschanel is the daughter of cinematographer Caleb Deschanel, who photographed such films as A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE and BEING THERE.
Billy Crudup took guitar lessons for his role as Stillwater guitarist Russell Hammond.
There was an actual country rock band named Stillwater in the late 1970s who recorded two albums for Capricorn Records (the Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd).
The ALMOST FAMOUS soundtrack album won a Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
ALMOST FAMOUS won two Golden Globe awards: Best Motion Picture--Musical or Comedy and Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Kate Hudson).
Richard Roeper (EBERT & ROEPER AND THE MOVIES), Jack Matthews, and Jami Bernard of the New York Daily News, Owen Glieberman of Entertainment Weekly, Film Comment, the Austin Chronicle, and the American Film Institute named ALMOST FAMOUS one of the 10 best films of 2000; Roger Ebert (EBERT & ROEPER AND THE MOVIES), the Online Film Critics Society, the San Diego Film Critics Society, the Boston Society of Film Critics, and Rolling Stone named it the best film of the year.
The San Diego Film Critics Society and the Boston Society of Film Critics named Cameron Crowe Best Director of 2000. Crowe also won Best (Original) Screenplay awards from the Online Film Critics Society, the San Diego Film Critics Society, and the Broadcast Film Critics Association.
The Online Film Critics Society and the Las Vegas Film Critics Society named Kate Hudson Best Supporting Actress of 2000. Hudson also won the Breakthrough Performance award from the Broadcast Film Critics Association and Best Newcomer award from the Florida Film Critics Circle.
The Broadcast Film Critics Association, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, and the Florida Film Critics Circle named Frances McDormand Best Supporting Actress of 2000 for her roles in ALMOST FAMOUS and WONDER BOYS. The San Diego Film Critics Society also named McDormand Best Supporting Actress.
The Online Film Critics Society named Philip Seymour Hoffman Best Supporting Actor of 2000.
The Online Film Critics Society named the cast of ALMOST FAMOUS Best Ensemble of 2000.
Almost Famous Quotes/Excerpts:
"Do not take drugs!"--Mrs. Miller (Frances McDormand), repeatedly throughout the film, to her son, William (Patrick Fugit)
"How old are you?"--Penny Lane (Kate Hudson)
"18."--William
"Me too! How old are we really?
"17."--William
"Me too!"--Penny
"Actually, I'm 16."--William
"Me too. Isn't it funny? The truth just sounds different."--Penny
"I'm 15."--William
"Rock & roll is a lifestyle...and a way of thinking, and it's not about money and 'popularity!' Although, some money would be nice....And the chicks are great."--Jeff Bebe (Jason Lee)
"Opie must die!"--the Band-Aids (Fairuza Balk and Anna Paquin) to William
"I am a golden god!"--Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup), standing on a rooftop at a party while on acid
"Tell Rolling Stone that my last words were...'I'm on drugs!'"--Russell to William
"Is it that hard to make us look cool?!"--Jeff
"The only real currency in this bankrupt world is what we share with each other when we're being uncool."--Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman) to William
"I know you've heard this before. And I have never said this to anybody, not really--well, nobody who didn't legally have to say it back to me, but--I love you, and I'm about to go where...many men have gone before."--William to Penny, while she's nearly passed out on drugs
Almost Famous Reviews:
"...Terrifically authentic and heartfelt..." -- Rating: A-
-- Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
Ranked #4 in Entertainment Weekly's "Owen Gleiberman's BEST MOVIES OF 2000"
-- Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
"...Always a fluent writer of dialogue, Crowe puts some rip-roaring tirades in [the film]..."
-- John Wrathall, Sight and Sound
"...Not only a glowing, effectively realized tribute to both the era and the music, but also a beautifully crafted coming-of-age drama..." -- 4 out of 5 stars
-- James White, Total Film
"...Something to cherish and enjoy, an intimate yet universal film that will delight you and involve your heart..."
-- Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
"...Oh, what a lovely film....ALMOST FAMOUS is funny and touching in so many different ways....It's a coming-of-age film, about an idealistic kid who sees the real world, witnesses its cruelties and heartbreaks, and yet finds much room for hope..."
-- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
"An unusually sweet-natured take on the early-1970s rock scene..."
-- Sight and Sound Critic, Sight and Sound
"...[Patrick Fugit] is remarkable in his first film role....Ms. Hudson and Mr. Crudup inhabit their roles with such mellow ease that the film opens up around them....In addition to Ms. McDormand and Mr. Hoffman, [Jason Lee and Fairuza Balk] are especially memorable..."
-- A. O. Scott, New York Times
"...Kate Hudson gets a chance to shine....[The] strengths here are the characters, performances and the command with which Crowe sets up his story..."--3.5 out of 4 stars
-- Mike Clark, USA Today
1976 
Widescreen; Special Edition 
Intelligent dialogues and story line
Captures the era perfectly
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