Almost Famous

I just watched the film "Almost Famous" the other day. I hadn't watched it in a while. What a great movie. The soundtrack is top notch, the acting was very good, but for me it was the story itself that stands out.


Writer/Director Cameron Crowe based the story on his own life. The movie is about a 15-year-old William, while trying to be a rock critic, gets the chance to travel on the road with an up and coming rock back in the spring of 1973. He does this by convincing everyone that he's 18, including the editor of Rolling Stone magazine. It is on this trip that he is able to grow and mature, away from his mother's loving, but cloistered home.


According to Wikipedia, 'The film is based on Crowe's experiences touring with rock bands The Allman Brothers Band, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. In a Rolling Stone article, he talks about how he lost his virginity, fell in love, and met his heroes, experiences that are shared by William, the main character in the film.'[1]


For me, one of the central relationships in the film are between William, Patrick Fugit, and the lead guitar player Russell, played by Billy Crudup. William views Russell with a lot of reverence. Through he course of the film, he comes to realize that Russell is just a guy, with as many flaws as everyone else.


The other significant relationship is between William and a groupie, or 'Band-aide', named Penny Lane, played by Kate Hudson. She starts out as somewhat of a mentor about life on the road. She helps to keep him safe, and to not look so 'starry-eyed' at these guys in the band.


Crowe won and Oscar for his screenplay, and the soundtrack won a Grammy. Crowe has also directed or written, 'Say Anything', 'Singles', 'Jerry Maguire', and 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High', (also based on his real life experiences).




1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almost_Famous