Almost Famous Entertains and Inspires

If you love music, you will love this this film.

Almost Famous is one of those timeless coming-of-age movies that will continue be a crowd-pleaser for decades to come. Unassuming hilarity, witty quips, and fully-developed characters from a star-studded cast will carry you through the exciting and intense world of 1970s era rock stars, rock journalists, and life on the road.

Best of all, Almost Famous is based on real-life events surrounding Cameron Crowe's life. What could be more captivating?

In true Wall Street fashion, a determined young man sends a multitude of articles written for his high school newspaper to Creem Magazine Editor, Lester Bangs. Played by the phenomenal Philip Seymour Hoffman, this character is based on the late real-life Gonzo Journalist and rock critic of the same name.

In a truly believable portrayal of William Miller, an ambitious 15-year-old high school senior, Patrick Fugit is utterly charming and will no doubt win your heart.

Armed with an exceptional record collection passed down from his sister (played by the exquisite Zooey Deschanel) and quite possible "genius" IQ, William sets out to become the "next great rock journalist."

Stemming from a catalytic meeting with his idol, Lester Bangs, the wide-eyed prodigy will soon find himself immersed in the glamorous world of "sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll," as he takes his first professional assignment for CREEM Magazine.

The real-life Lester Bangs used to say that he would begin an interview by asking the most insulting question he could imagine. Immortalized in film, the legend's character guides William with words of wisdom from years of gonzo journalism experience, instructing him to make a reputation "on being honest and unmerciful."

"If you get into a jam, call me. I stay up late," his new mentor tells William. Viewers will be delighted to see the series of amusing phone calls between the two writers continue throughout the movie, almost in narrative style.

"Don't take drugs!" his mother calls out to the him from the car. Giggles pervade the crowded concert lot, as the green teenager blushes.

Shunned immediately at the backstage door, our hero is told to wait with "the girls" who are several feet away.

This is where William Miller meets the incomparable Penny Lane, named after the famous Beatles song, who is a legend of sorts in the musical touring world. Kate Hudson's dazzling work in this film will take your breath away.

"We are not groupies," she cooes, in that brilliant way only Hudson can, "Groupies sleep with rockstars because they want to be near someone famous. We're here for the music; we are band-aids."

The chemistry between the two is undeniable despite the age difference. The ongoing theme of escape leads into conversations about running away to Morocco together, and the idea that where they are now is not "the real world," but something much bigger, more fantastical, and nearly impossible to leave.

The real meat of the film begins when the up-and-coming band, Stillwater, arrives on the scene.

William is able to finagle his way backstage by addressing the rockers by name and complimenting their music. He even goes so far as to call the guitar sound of Russell Hammond, played by Billy Crudup, "incendiary."

Jason Lee shines as always, playing the lead singer of Stillwater. The "My Name is Earl" star gives a rock solid character performance, wrought with laughs and highly creative line delivery.

A wild ride ensues, upping the ante until the once small Creem Magazine article explodes into a cover of Rolling Stone Magazine.

"Just make us look cool," Russell tells the young writer.

However, the band makes one paramount mistake: they see William as a fan, and therefore forget the rule where journalists are "the enemy," then catapulting the movie through the ups and downs of life in show business, drama between band members vying for the spotlight, and more music than you can handle... all in plain sight of a serious journalist.

Not without a love story, Almost Famous depicts William in competition for the love of Kate Hudson's character, who is a sassy, one-in-a-million type of girl. She is in love with Russell Hammond, the lead guitarist of the band she cherishes, and it is clear that they have been seeing each other for quite some time, despite the fact that Russell has a girlfriend waiting for him at home.

The passion and authenticity of Fugit and Hudson's performances are simply spellbinding, drawing the viewer in as tension mounts, culminating in a most exciting climax you will not want to miss.

I can't end this review without mentioning the spectacular music in this cult classic. There is a particular scene on the tour bus in which the characters literally burst out into song, just like in a Broadway Musical. The song is Tiny Dancer, by Sir Elton John, and it is positively moving.

The Almost Famous soundtrack is, in a word, perfection. There are not enough words to describe the effulgent melodies and compositions from legendary artists such as Simon & Garfunkel, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Cat Stevens, The Beach Boys, and countless other greats listed at the end of this article.

Almost Famous even includes a can't-miss cameo role by Jimmy Fallon, host of NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and of Saturday Night Live fame.

Our heroine, Penny Lane, always tells her "band-aids" in training, "If you ever get lonely, go to the record store and visit your friends."

Well, Almost Famous is like a big, raging party where all those friends happen to be. And Russell Hammond is on the roof, shouting, "You can tell Rolling Stone Magazine that my last words were... 'I'm on drugs!'"

Entertaining? You bet. Even better? Totally inspiring.

***

Almost Famous Soundtrack Listing:

1. Simon & Garfunkel: "America" (Paul Simon) - 3:37
2. The Who: "Sparks" (Pete Townshend) - 3:48
3. Todd Rundgren: "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference" (Rundgren)- 3:51
4. Yes: "I've Seen All Good People: Your Move" (Jon Anderson) - 3:33
5. The Beach Boys: "Feel Flows" (Carl Wilson, Jack Rieley)- 4:44
6. Stillwater: "Fever Dog" (Nancy Wilson) - 3:10
7. Rod Stewart: "Every Picture Tells a Story" (Rod Stewart, Ron Wood) - 5:55
8. The Seeds: "Mr. Farmer" (Sky Saxon) - 2:51
9. The Allman Brothers Band: "One Way Out" (Live) (Elmore James, Marshall Sehorn, Sonny Boy

Williamson II) - 4:59
10. Lynyrd Skynyrd: "Simple Man" (Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant) - 5:56
11. Led Zeppelin: "That's the Way" (Jimmy Page, Robert Plant) - 5:37
12. Elton John: "Tiny Dancer" (John, Bernie Taupin) - 6:15
13. Nancy Wilson: "Lucky Trumble" (Nancy Wilson) - 2:42
14. David Bowie: "I'm Waiting for the Man" (Live from Live In Santa Monica '72) (Lou Reed) - 5:43
15. Cat Stevens: "The Wind" (Stevens) - 1:40
16. Clarence Carter: "Slip Away" (William Armstrong, Marcus Lewis Daniel, Wilbur Terrell) - 2:32
17. Thunderclap Newman: "Something in the Air" (John Keen)

All songs from "Almost Famous" (the movie) as reported by IMDb.COM:

* "The Chipmunk Song"
Written by Ross Bagdasarian (as Ross Bagdasarian Sr.)
Performed by The Chipmunks
Courtesy of EMI Records
Under license from EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets

* "The Oogum Boogum Song"
Written by Brenton Wood (as Alfred Smith)
Performed by Brenton Wood
Exclusive owner Original Sound Records

* "America"
Written by Paul Simon
Performed by Simon & Garfunkel
Courtesy of Columbia Records
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

* "Sparks"
Written by Pete Townshend
Performed by The Who
Courtesy of MCA Records & Universal International Music, B.V.
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

* "Search and Destroy"
Written by Iggy Pop & James Williamson
Performed by The Stooges
Courtesy of Columbia Records
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

* "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference"
Written & Performed by Todd Rundgren
Courtesy of Bearsville Records
By Arrangement with Rhino Entertainment Company and Warner Special Products

* "Paranoid"
Written by Tony Iommi (as Frank Iommi), Bill Ward (as William Ward), Geezer Butler (as Terence

Butler) & Ozzy Osbourne (as John Osbourne)
Performed by Black Sabbath
Courtesy of Downlane Limited

* "Teacher"
Written by Ian Anderson
Performed by Jethro Tull
Courtesy of Chrysalis Records
Under license from EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets

* "Roundabout"
Written by Jon Anderson & Steve Howe
Performed by Yes
Courtesy of Elektra Entertainment Group
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

* "I've Seen All Good People"
Written by Jon Anderson
Performed by Yes
Courtesy of Elektra Entertainment Group
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

* "Feel Flows"
Written by John Rieley & Carl Wilson
Performed by The Beach Boys
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets

* "River"
Written & Performed by Joni Mitchell
Courtesy of Reprise Records
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

* "Sweet Leaf"
Written by Tony Iommi (as Frank Iommi), Bill Ward (as William Ward), Geezer Butler (as Terence

Butler) & Ozzy Osbourne (as John Osbourne)
Performed by Black Sabbath
Courtesy of Downlane Limited

* "Fever Dog"
Written by Russell Hammond
Performed by Stillwater

* "Every Picture Tells a Story"
Written by Rod Stewart & Ron Wood
Performed by Rod Stewart
Courtesy of The Island Def Jam Music Group
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

* "Small Time Blues"
Written & Performed by Pete Droge

* "Something In the Air"
Written by John Keen

* "Easy to Slip"
Written by Lowell George & Martin Kibbee
Performed by Little Feat
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

* "Go All the Way"
Written by Eric Carmen
Performed by The Raspberries
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets

* "Mr. Farmer"
Written by Sky Saxon
Performed by The Seeds
Courtesy of GNP-Crescendo Records
By Arrangement with Ocean Park Music Group

* "One Way Out"
Written by Elmore James, Marshall Sehorn & Sonny Boy Williamson
Performed by The Allman Brothers Band
Courtesy of Polydor Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

* "Hour of Need"
Written by Peter Frampton, Wayne Kirkpatrick and Gordon Kennedy
Performed by Stillwater

* "Albert Flasher"
Written by Burton Cummings
Performed by The Guess Who
Courtesy of The RCA Records, Label of BMG Entertainment

* "Simple Man"
Written by Gary Rossington & Ronnie Van Zant
Performed by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Courtesy of MCA Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

* "That's the Way"
Written by Jimmy Page & Robert Plant
Performed by Led Zeppelin
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

* "Love Thing"
Written by Russell Hammond and Jeffrey Bebe
Performed by Stillwater

* "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere"
Written & Performed by Neil Young
Courtesy of Reprise Records
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

* "Future Games"
Written by Robert Welch
Performed by Fleetwood Mac
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

* "Burn"
Written by Richard Blackmore, David Coverdale, Jon Lord & Ian Paice
Performed by Deep Purple
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc. & EMI Records Ltd.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

* "You Had to Be There"
Written by Peter Frampton, Wayne Kirkpatrick & Gordon Kennedy
Performed by Stillwater

* "Tiny Dancer"
Written by Elton John & Bernie Taupin
Performed by Elton John
Courtesy of MCA Records & Universal International Music, B.V.
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

* "Dear Jill"
Written by Michael Abrahams
Performed by Blodwyn Pig
Courtesy of A&M Records & EMI Records Ltd.
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises & EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets

* "Reeling in the Years"
Written by Walter Becker & Donald Fagen
Performed by Steely Dan

* "Looking at You"
Written by Wayne Kramer, Rob Tyner, Michael Davis, Fred 'Sonic' Smith (as Fred Smith) & Dennis

Thompson
Performed by MC5
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

* "Love Comes and Goes"
Written by Russell Hammond & Jeffrey Bebe
Performed by Stillwater

* "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)"
Written & Performed by Jimi Hendrix
Courtesy of MCA Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

* "I'm Waiting for the Man"
Written by Lou Reed
Performed by David Bowie
Courtesy of RZO Music, Inc.

* "Slip Away"
Written by William Armstrong, Marcus Lewis Daniel & Wilbur Terrell
Performed by Clarence Carter
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

* "The Wind"
Written & Performed by Cat Stevens
Courtesy of A&M Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

* "Wishing Well"
Written by Johnny Bundrick, Paul Kossoff, Simon Kirke, Tetsy Yamauchi & Paul Rodgers
Performed by Free
Courtesy of A&M Records / Island Records Ltd.
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

* "Peggy Sue"
Words & Music by Jerry Allison, Norman Petty & Buddy Holly

* "Misty Mountain Hop"
Written by Jimmy Page, Robert Plant & John Paul Jones
Performed by Led Zeppelin
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

* "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters"
Written by Elton John & Bernie Taupin
Performed by Elton John
Courtesy of MCA Records & Universal International Music, B.V.
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

* "The Cover of 'Rolling Stone'"
Written by Shel Silverstein
Performed by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show

* "My Cherie Amour"
Written by Stevie Wonder, Henry Cosby & Sylvia Moy
Performed by Stevie Wonder
Courtesy of Motown Record Company, L.P.
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

* "Colour My World"
Written by James Pankow

* "Cortez the Killer"
Written & Performed by Neil Young
Courtesy of Reprise Records
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

* "The Rain Song"
Written by Jimmy Page & Robert Plant
Performed by Led Zeppelin
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

* "Bron-Y-Aur"
Written by Jimmy Page
Performed by Led Zeppelin
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

* "Tangerine"
Written by Jimmy Page
Performed by Led Zeppelin
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

* "Chance Upon You"
(only in untitled director's cut)
Written by Jeff Bebe & Russell Hammond
Performed by Stillwater
Vocals performed by Marti Frederiksen

* Additional musicians: Peter Frampton, Mike McCready, Jon Bayless, Ben Smith, Gordon Kennedy

* Original Songs Written by Cameron Crowe, Nancy Wilson, Ann Wilson

**

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