Almost Famous (2000) [VHS] starring
Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand,
Kate Hudson, Jason Lee, Patrick
Fugit
Almost Famous
Almost Famous is the movie Cameron Crowe has been waiting a lifetime
to tell. The fictionalization of Crowes days as a teenage reporter for Creem
and Rolling Stone has all the well-written characters and wonderful movie
moments that we expect from Crowe (Jerry Maguire), but the film has an
intangible something extra--an insiders touch that will turn the film into the
ode to 70s rock & roll for years to come. We are introduced to Crowes alter
ego, William Miller (Patrick Fugit), at home, where his progressive mom
(Frances McDormand, just superb) has outlawed rock music and sister
Anita (Zooey Deschanel) has slipped him LPs that will set his mind free.
Following the wisdom of Creems disheveled editor, Lester Bangs (Philip
Seymour Hoffman in an instant-classic performance), Miller gets on the
inside with the up-and-coming band Stillwater (a fictionalized mixture of the

Allman Brothers, Led Zeppelin, and others). A simple visit with the band
turns into a three-week, life-altering odyssey into the heyday of American
rock. Of the characters he meets on the road, the two most important are
groupie extraordinaire Penny Lane (Kate Hudson in a star-making
performance) and Stillwaters enigmatic lead guitarist (Billy Crudup), who
keeps stringing Miller along for an interview. From the handwritten credits
(done by Crowe) to the bittersweet finale, Crowes comedic valentine is an
indelible, heartbreaking romance of music, women, and the privilege of
youth. --Doug Thomas
Personal Review: Almost Famous (2000) [VHS] starring Billy
Crudup, Frances McDormand, Kate Hudson, Jason Lee, Patrick
Fugit
It's 1973 and William Miller (Patrick Fugit) is about to have one of the
craziest adventures of his lifetime. He's writing a piece on the new up and
coming rock band Stillwater for the magazine Rolling Stones. He's going to
get to go on tour with them and write about anything he wants about them
for the next month or so. First though he has to get permission from him
mom (Frances McDormand)... because he's only 15.
Before he gets this little gig, he's trying to get an interview with Black
Sabbath when he meets Penny Lane (Kate Hudson), who's not just a
groupie, but a Band-Aid. The difference being, she's in it for the music and
not the sex with someone popular. Penny is definitely one of those `out of
this world' types of girls. Not just in looks, but in her actions as well. She's
a legend to the rock bands because she's just so much fun to have around,
and she can always light up a room when she steps into it. She tugs on the
tendrils of every heart of every man who comes into contact with her. But
the only man she truly wants is Russell Hammond.
Will is accepted as a friend and not just `the enemy' as usual by the band
members of Stillwater. Most notably by Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup)
and Jeff Bebe (Jason Lee). Jeff is the lead singer and Russell is the lead
guitarist and also heart throb of the group. While Jeff is sort of an open
book for Will, it's Russell he's a bit more interested in, mainly because
Russ never really gives that interview he's looking for, but more than not
just some one liner quotes. As time goes on, we see how the band has
some inner turmoil due to Russell's looks. He's becoming the front man of
the band when it was supposed to be Jeff, like the plan was. Just like a lot
of bands, this one started off great, but slowly, it could be coming to an
end.
I absolutely love this movie. Every time I watch it I have a big smile on my
face almost the whole the time. From the atmosphere to the music to the
settings to the parties, everything just makes me happy. Maybe it's
because somewhere deep down in me I'm a rock star myself. Sure I can't
sing, nor play an instrument (recorders don't count!), but by god I'm a rock
star! The whole story is so much fun to watch unfold. Getting to witness the
first time William gets to go back stage to the first time he gets to hang out

at a hotel party, all the while making sure he calls his mom in the morning
to check in, is just so much fun.
I actually watched `The Bootleg Cut' of this movie to do this review, and I'm
pretty sure it was the first time I ever watched it. It's mostly the same, but
more Penny Lane. Those parts were good but there were some parts that I
still thought that should've been left out. For instance one scene has Will
writing some paper, and his sisters ex comes in his window and starts
talking to him about nonsense. It felt very weird and definitely should've
been left out. Some scenes I could see why they were left out but were ok I
guess. Like a scene that involves Stillwater going to a radio station and
doing and interview with a drugged out DJ. It was kind of funny and also a
little informative of the situation between Russ and Jeff. But they also left
out some scenes. I don't remember them all, but I do remember one. It
was the scene where Will is in the hotel room and has some of the girls
jumping around him and basically it's left to us, but he has sex with them,
which is his first time having sex. They left that out. That was a great
scene, so I don't know why it was taken out. Oh well.
Also all the actors were great. Kate Hudson was very good, and I love the
scene where Will tells her someone sold her for 50 bucks and a case of
beer. She starts to cry just a tad, and then asks, "What kind of beer?" and
smiles with a tear still rolling down her face. That was awesome. Patrick
Fugit was good also, being the nice, sweet, and innocent kid and getting
introduced to the life of the rock star. Jason Lee rocked his part perfectly.
He just had that 70's rock band swagger with the long hair flowing and not
a care in the world except for his band being awesome. I also liked Billy
Crudup and really everyone that was in Stillwater. They just seemed like a
real band. So real I'd love to get a faux poster of the actual actors in their
get up with a big STILLWATER above them. And Frances McDormand
was just phenomenal as the mom of William. You honestly couldn't help
love her. She was a great mom, even though a little crazy. You could tell
she loved her kids, but was just a little too protective (so the movie makes
you think). I actually thought she wasn't that protective though like the
movie makes her out to be. Seriously she let her 15 year old kid go on tour
with Stillwater to write for the Rolling Stones. At 15 I had to be home by
8pm and 9pm on weekends.
It was also fun to see a lot of cameos. Jimmy Fallon (a little more than a
cameo), Nick Swardson, Peter Frampton, Zack Ward, Martin Starr, and a
lot more.
In the end, man I would definitely say own this movie and make it the
bootleg edition. That way you can watch both movies versions. I would
DEFINITELY watch the award winning Theatrical Version first though.

P.S. - The bootleg edition comes with a 6 song EP of Stillwater. I love this
CD. `Fever Dog' sounds so good as well as the other songs. I just wish I
knew who really sang these songs.
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