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FILM DETAILS

Certificate 15

Cast Billy Crudup Russell Hammond Frances McDormand Kate Hudson.

Directors Cameron Crowe.

Screenwriters Cameron Crowe.

Running Time 123 minutes

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Almost Famous
A 15-year-old aspiring rock writer experiences a band's life on the road, and is changed forever.

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Plot
William Miller is a 15-year-old aspiring music writer in the 1970s. Given the dream assignment of going on the road with band Stillwater for a Rolling Stone feature, he embarks on the trip with enthusiasm, much to the chagrin of his mother. Once on the road, he finds his life changing forever.

Review
God bless Brad Pitt. His last minute decision not to play the leader of fictional band Stillwater made way here for the genuinely almost famous Billy Crudup, and ensured the story of writer/director Cameron Crowe's adolescent affair with rock is a manifesto for misfits rather than an advertisement for charisma. At its centre is an unknown 15-year-old (Patrick Fugit) and not a superstar. This is how it should be. The senior writer says to the kid, "The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool." Not an image that would survive proximity to Brad.

Crowe shot his own script based on his adventures as a teenage rock writer in the era of The Allman Brothers, Lynrd Skynyrd and The Eagles. His film is a thank you to those who made him: his perplexed mother, played by Frances McDormand; the late rock critic Lester Bangs; depicted with an inch too much charm by the majestic Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Penny Lane, the tender spirit at the head of the swaggering army of groupies (or 'band aids' as they are preferred), following the denim infantry as they scale the heights of the nascent rock industry.

It's a good-hearted film and sentimental with it: a busload of longhairs singing along with Elton John's Tiny Dancer; a rock god turning up on a young writer's doorstep; a boy gently deflowered by three groupies; a farcical crisis on a plane. Crowe gets away with it because he doesn't try to be smart; he catches every detail perfectly (the brilliant opening montage, the sleeping band shots modelled after old Rolling Stone picks, the kid attempting to compose his first review by flashlight as the band play) and lets the music as rich and off-centre as The Beach Boys' Feel Flows and The Allmans' One Way Out take the strain.

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Your Reviews

Average user rating for Almost Famous

I hate goodbyes...

This is truely the first film that I labelled as "magical". It makes you fall in love and wish you'd grown up in the 60s/70s era of rock 'n' roll. The film transports you and you feel like you are on tour with Stillwater not watching a film. It seems to go on forever yes but that's the point because as the film winds down and you get the feeling that -like the people on the tour- this is going to all be over soon you can't help but feel mournful because you don't want this journey to e... More

Posted by Fallen Giant at 08:19, 06 January 2013 | Report This Post

Beautiful

One of my favourite all time films. The characters were chosen perfectly and all played really well. How adorable is William Miller? How gorgeous is Russell? So glad Brad Pitt didn't play it. Billy Crudup is perfect. Kate Hudson plays her role brilliantly. As does Frances whats-her-name. It's just a perfect film that I can watch again and again and I love it! ... More

Posted by Pezbury at 13:53, 02 August 2010 | Report This Post

Brilliant

This is a tricky one, cause I feel that by giving this movie 4 stars I'm under appreciating it but by giving it 5 I feel I'm going way overboard. "Almost Famous" is the kind of movie where a good soundtrack is essential and thankfully the soundtrac is killer. Mix this with very funny dialouge, great acting and moments of genuine emotion and this is one hell of a movie. For me...it just misses out on 5 stars, which pains me a little. ... More

Posted by krisjcummins at 19:20, 20 April 2010 | Report This Post

Awesome docudrama ... More

Posted by cinefile at 10:50, 17 September 2009 | Report This Post

Awesome docudrama ... More

Posted by cinefile at 10:50, 17 September 2009 | Report This Post

Sex, drugs and rock’n’roll

This is one of the films I used to love as a teenager. It is a coming-of-age story in which fifteen-year-old William is given, by chance, the opportunity to write the cover story for the Rolling Stone Magazine. He tours along with one of his favourite bands, Stillwater. His self-declared mentor Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman) advises him under no circumstances to make friends with the rock stars. But, of course, William is swept away by the situation and loses focus on his work. He f... More

Posted by TheMovieNess at 10:56, 01 November 2008 | Report This Post

Should have been a 5 star review

And probably would have been if they were reviewing the director's cut. 'Untitled' is one of the best movies, not just of recent times, but ever. ... More

Posted by tdfproductions at 19:09, 26 September 2008 | Report This Post

love this movie 5 star, makes me laugh, makes me cry, the scene went russells wife asks who penny is and then penny get upset and storms out is just the greatest diolog-free scene ever. ... More

Posted by anakin73 at 18:16, 18 July 2008 | Report This Post

Was"nt a 4 star movie.

I liked this movie and i enjoyed it but i did"nt think it was amazing or anything.It felt like it was on for like 3 hours.I loved the mother in it,she was hilarious.I know this totally nothing to do with the review but how old is this movie cos kate hudson looks so young.There was a few people i was shocked to see n it like rogue from x-men,the girl from waterboy,one of the guys who live with seth rogan in knocked up and i think thats all. ... More

Posted by JohnPaul1996 at 12:53, 06 July 2008 | Report This Post

Luminous

Cameron Crowe's autobiographical story about young William Miller (Patrick Fugit) and his journey around America with the (ficitional) band Stillwater is a homeage to rock and roll's hedonistic period in the 1970's. There are probably a few groups out there who watch this (along with This Is Spinal Tap) and think " Oh my god, this happen's to other people?". The cast are spot on, with Billy Crudup, Jason Lee and Kate Hudson shining. The soundtrack is as you would expect for a Crowe f... More

Posted by Leightwinst at 11:19, 05 October 2007 | Report This Post

RE: Almost Famous

A great movie that captures the 70s brillantly,the music the clothes and the culture of the time.Well directed and a great sound track,you can see how much Cameron Crowe loved that period of time,with his attion to detail and how well the sound tracks work in every scene.EXCELLENTpy34.gif]py34.gif] ... More

Posted by evil bill at 09:53, 18 November 2006 | Report This Post

RE: Almost Famous

L: Funkyrae ]iny Dancer remains one of the best scenes in any film. The lines are memorable and as with pretty much all Cameron Crowe films the soundtrack is excellent. Almoust Famous shows every director out there how to actually link music to a film and use it correctly rather than just as background. "I am a golden god!"ote]   ]Agree with this & how good the movie is, but Mr Crowe also got it totally wrong with Elizabethtown where it seemed that the soundtrack was the... More

Posted by felix sore foot at 08:51, 18 November 2006 | Report This Post

RE: Almost Famous

Saw the dn the other day and loved it. A really nice, feel-good film with a great cast and fantastic script. "I'M ON DRUGS!!" ... More

Posted by Zatoichi at 20:15, 17 November 2006 | Report This Post

RE: Almost Famous

] with you young man with your dirty talk like that! Almost Famous is a brilliant film, excellent casting, humour, warmth. It's wonderful! Billy Crudup is as gorgeoous as ever and Jason Lee does an amazing job playing the egocentric but jealous singer. Tiny Dancer remains one of the best scenes in any film. The lines are memorable and as with pretty much all Cameron Crowe films the soundtrack is excellent. Almoust Famous shows every director out there how to actually link music to a... More

Posted by Funkyrae at 08:51, 08 February 2006 | Report This Post

RE: Almost Famous

A very good film although i do think it's slightly over-rated though! ... More

Posted by BobaJango at 10:17, 04 February 2006 | Report This Post

RE: Almost Famous

Totally love this movie, already do since the first time I saw it. Love the relaxed atmosphere that the biggest part of the movie has. Love the soundtrack (especially love the part when they are all together in the touring bus singing Elton John`s Tiny Dancer  Hudson is awesome. One of those movies I gotta watch every once in a while and one that everyone should love! ... More

Posted by TheGodfather at 18:59, 03 February 2006 | Report This Post

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