Almost Famous was a personal project for writer, director, and producer Cameron Crowe. Like his alter ego in the film, Crowe actually was a rock journalist for Rolling Stone at the tender age of 15. Several years later, he wrote the novel and script for Fast Times at Ridgemont High, which led to even greater success in the film industry.

Crowe's stand-in is William Miller (Patrick Fugit), whose work for Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of Creem draws notice from Rolling Stone. Crowe is sent on tour with 'mid-level' 'swill merchant' band Stillwater, where he becomes more a member of their entourage than a reporter.

The groupies take a quick liking to young Miller, especially Penny Lane (Kate Hudson, a daughter of Goldie Hawn). But Miller is distrusted by the band members, who are aware that through him, Rolling Stone can either build up or deflate their careers. However, Miller is able to make a connection with guitarist Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup), as Hammond is outcast by other members of Stillwater. They are jealous of his acquired status of front man.

The script contains many references to 'The Real World,' as if the tour and its hangers-on realize that what they are experiencing will not last forever.

Ironically, I felt that they were in "The Real World," as if MTV had taken their series on tour with Stillwater. The format of the show is to take unrelated cool-looking young people, and pay them to live together for a while with the cameras rolling.

The film's focus, then, is partly on bickering between band members and groupies as they compete for a pecking order. (Naturally, a second subplot is the coming-of-age of William Miller.) We see long hair, drugs, free love, statutory rape, and showmanship, essentially every last one of the stereotypes of a rock and roll band. What we don't see is musicianship: writing songs, arranging them, rehearsing them. We don't even get to hear talk about music, because something always happens to further postpone the interviews.

It was interesting to me that Miller was so intent on interviewing Hammond that he neglected the rest of the band, their manager, the roadies (that seem to be invisible throughout), and even the groupies, all of whom must have printable stories to tell. Admittedly, Miller is only fifteen years old, but all he seems to do is gape in wonder, except for moments of responsibility or morality.

On the other hand, it is always welcome to see Philip Seymour Hoffman in a film, even when his role is disappointingly small. Lester Bangs is billed here as the world's greatest rock critic. I think the honor belongs to Robert Christgau, who instead of dying dramatically has continued to pay his dues with The Village Voice.

But Hoffman's Bang does get to discuss the nature of rock criticism for a few minutes. What he says not only makes sense, but it serves as a warning for what is to come.

During the film's pre-production, Brad Pitt was cast as Hammond and Sarah Polley was set to play Penny Lane. Both walked away from their roles, and probably now regret it. Kate Hudson was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, as was Frances McDormand as Miller's intense, intellectual, and protective mother. Almost Famous also received a not for Best Editing, and Crowe won an Oscar for its original screenplay.

A month earlier, Crowe had won the same award from the BAFTA, the British equivalent to the Academy Awards. Perhaps I would agree more with these prestigious film academies, if the script were not so self-serving to Crowe's alter ego. Despite his age, Miller acts with greater maturity than any character in the film.

It is interesting to speculate how different the film would have been if Pitt and Polley had taken the major supporting roles. Russell Hammond and Penny Lane are such nice and likable characters, even if they don't always make the right decisions. Perhaps a more moody personality would have added zest to their roles. (42/100)

k@filmsgraded.com, filmsgraded.com


Recommended:
No

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Good Date Movie
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older