Almost Famous (US)

9 / 10
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Experience it. Enjoy it. Just don`t fall for it
Certificate: R
Running Time: 123 mins
Retail Price: $26.99
Release Date:

Synopsis:
Adored by critics and audiences nationwide, Almost Famous has been hailed as "the year`s single most entertaining film!" (Roger Ebert, Ebert & Roeper and the Movies). Writer/Director Cameron Crowe takes you on a heartfelt journey into the world of rock and roll in this "delightful coming-of-age comedy" (David Ansen, Newsweek). It`s the opportunity of a lifetime when teenage reporter William Miller lands an assignment from Rolling Stone magazine. Despite the objections of his protective mother, William hits the road with an up-and-coming rock band and finds there`s a lot more to write home about than the music.

This "enormously engaging" (Jeffrey Lyons, WNBC) film boasts superb performances by Golden Globe winner Kate Hudson, Frances McDormand, Billy Crudup, Philip Seymour Hoffman and newcomer Patrick Fugit. Featuring a classic rock soundtrack with music from The Who and Elton John, Almost Famous is "an utter delight from the first frame to fade out" (Lou Lumenick, New York Post) and a must-see for every generation.

Special Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Stillwater`s "Fever Dog" Music Video
HBO Behind-the-Scenes Featurette "The Making of Almost Famous"
The Rolling Stone Articles
Theatrical Trailers
Cast and Crew Bios
Production Notes

Video Tracks:
Widescreen Anamorphic 1.85:1

Audio Tracks:
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital Surround 2.0 English
DTS 5.1 English

Subtitle Tracks:
English
CC: English

Directed By:
Cameron Crowe

Written By:

Starring:
Zooey Deschanel
Patrick Fugit
Jason Lee
Kate Hudson
Frances McDormand
Billy Crudup

Casting By:
Gail Levin

Soundtrack By:
Nancy Wilson
Robert Plant
John Paul Jones
Elton John
Peter Frampton
John Bonham

Music From:
Stevie Wonder
Bernie Taupin
Paul Simon
Shel Silverstein

Director of Photography:
John Toll

Editor:
Saar Klein
Joe Hutshing

Costume Designer:
Betsy Heimann

Production Designer:
Clayton Hartley
Clay A. Griffith

Producer:
Jerry Ziesmer
Lisa Stewart
Steven P. Saeta
Scott M. Martin
Marty P. Ewing
Cameron Crowe
Ian Bryce

Distributor:
DreamWorks Pictures


Back Cover of Almost Famous

Your Opinions and Comments

7 / 10
A hybrid of a movie. It won some awards as a comedy, but I really think it should`ve been categorized as a drama or even a semi-documentary.
The movie tells the sad story of the music industry - the groupies (or maybe "sluts who say they love music"). The acting is good. Actually, the movie is extremely irritating. Come on, just HOW DUMB these girls can get. Incredible!
The video transfer is very good. The colors are nicely saturated and there are no compression signs at all.
The DTS and DD 5.1 soundtracks are both very nice. The surrounds are mainly used to create the sound envelope for the live stage performances, but dialog scenes are also treated nicely.
The menus are all animated with music.
The extras include an almost half an hour look behind the scenes, a music video, some production notes and some "Rolling Stone" articles. Nothing too exciting.
Bottom line - definitely not a comedy, but rather a sad movie about rock n` roll stars and the way they exploit VERY dumb girls.
posted by Zvi Josef on 25/4/2001 19:14
9 / 10
William Miller(Patrick Fugit) is a misfit, he doesn't belong at school and he seems too young for his age group. His Mother (Frances McDormand) a feminist University lecturer is against the youth of the 70's, with their drugs and rock and roll. His sister is into what ever his Mother isn't, resulting in her leaving home to be a airplane stewardess and leaving her secret rock records to William when he is 11. William, 15, becomes a reporter for Creem magazine by submitting his pieces to Reporter Lester Bangs (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) and meets touring Stillwater on his first assignment. He also meets the enigmatic Band-Aid, Penny Lane (Kate Hudson), who he immediately becomes infatuated with and the befriending Lead Guitarist of Still water, Russell (Billy Crudup). And because of his article William lands an assignment with Rolling Stones to go on-road with Stillwater and their entourage, including Penny Lane. This is where William feels he finally belongs and it becomes alot more than just an assignment.

The amazing part about the movie is that it is based on a true story. Director Cameron
Crowe as a teenager actually experienced alot of situations that happened in the film. He also wrote the songs for the "fake" Stillwater - and interestingly enough by what I can work out in the featurette, the actors were the actual band who recorded the songs. Just an AWESOME film with a great soundtrack, watch out for the Elton John's "Hold me closer tiny dancer" scene on the bus. It'll bring tears to your eyes, because it's so real!
posted by Aslan on 13/3/2002 00:22