Cameron Crowe Definitely one of my favorite directors and perhaps the best in the genre. The amount of masterpieces he directed (Jerry Maguire, We Bought A Zoo, Vanilla Sky,...) created high expectations in my cinematic personality.
So, I was researching where I could (re)watch the movies I have on my watchlist when I found out that Almost Famous would be on a sunny afternoon of March 5th on AXN White. So, in my pretentious wisdom, I recorded it without knowing that I would actually enjoy it very much.
Everything is perfect. The plot is basic and linear, but appealing and well done. The excess of the time, the constant addiction to drink, drugs and partying is portrayed perfectly in the work, thus being able to reflect on a time when daydreaming was the most common method of survival.
I found it amusing to see a younger Patrick Fugit, since I had also seen him in We Bought A Zoo. Overall, very good performance for someone who was only 18 when he made this film. Russell Hammond, as a character, represents the duality of both the era and the people, who easily corrupted by the advantages of the stardom of the era perform acts that only satisfy them, not thinking of those around them. However, the character that touched me the most was, without any shadow of a doubt, Lester Bangs (played by the great Philip Seymour Hoffman, may he rest in peace). Lester is undoubtedly the character who has the greatest sense of how false appearances and friendships created in stardom are. As someone down to earth, he tries to guide and be William's passive mentor, giving him advice that allows him to distinguish the true from the nefariously false.
I must say that the revelations made in the storm scene when they are on the plane are truly hilarious. I burst out laughing when the latter says out of the blue that he is gay.
So, the plot, the atmosphere, the characters, the script and the comic scenes in the film allow me to give it a 5/5 rating.
I only watched this for Philip Seymour Hoffman
He was great, the rest not so much.
This would’ve been so much better with Richard Linklater at the helm. There are a handful of decent scenes, but so much of this feels like it belongs on the Disney Channel. Most of the acting is really bad, some parts are downright problematic and cringy to look at now (it might’ve been interesting to have a discussion about some of those issues, but instead it’s just glossed over to keep this schmaltzy, feel good tone), the cinematography and lighting are uninspired and some of the logic/character motivations/dialogue are really weird. I get that it’s meant to be heightened, but a lot of this movie feels so phony and inauthentic, I get the feeling it’s blissfully unaware of its own corniness. That’s also why I don’t buy the turn our main character makes in the third act, there’s little to no motivation behind it. Again, it all goes back to the problem that it doesn’t want to put in the work dramatically in the first two acts, but then wants to have its cake and eat it too in the third act. It keeps a decent pace, I guess, and the music is good, but I got very little out it besides that.
4/10
The actor who played William was borderline unwatchable.
“The only true currency in this bankrupt world, is what you share with someone else when you’re uncool.”
Oooooooh this is a classic
Really really good film, instantly one of my favourites, so many great performances from so many talented actors and actresses. The soundtrack is also amazing, songs like Alvin and the chipmunks and tiny dancer. The story is so good, about a kid reporter diving into the world of rock and roll. I liked every character. Really just a brilliant film from start to finish that I didn’t want to end.
"Excuse me, but didn't we all get into this to avoid responsibility?"
As someone who used to tour in a band, this movie hit the right spots for me. Oh to go back to not caring about much other than pushing our music forward. Cameron Crowe was able to capture the feelings of struggle and carelessness that a band goes through, and all through the eyes of a kid that is based on him in real life. So good.
One of my favorite of all time. If you are a music FAN, not a music listener, then this movie gets you. And you get it.
Too long? When you are so into a movie, time flies by. That's how I feel about the 2 hours and 40 minutes extended cut.
And this movie feels so real, man. Unlike most movies that try to recreate previous decades, it doesn't feel phony at all.
Fell in love with Kate Hudson in this movie. Absolutely mesmerizing and enchanting.
Really well made and brilliantly put together film.
The Extended version is the only one to watch.
Lots of great performances by a group of excellent actors.
And the singalong on the bus scene stays with you for life.
9/10
I had high hopes for this movie, but it turned out to be a boring and dull.
Great movie,realistic plot nice perfomances and keeps you in interent till the end.7.9/10
“From here on out, I am only interested in what is real. Real people, real feelings, that’s it, that’s all I'm interested in.” ❤
Excellent film! Killer soundtrack. Great for a rewatch.
One of my favourite film, so well made, so well inspiring.
It was good but too long, made a bit bored which doesnt happen frequently
Very enjoyable and one of my favorites. The film is semi-autobiographical, Cameron Crowe himself having been a teenage writer for Rolling Stone.
Love me some Kate Hudson.
Wonderful portrayal of coming of age and love shown through the 70's life style of Rock and Roll.
Great soundtrack and storytelling, the perfect combination of story and music.
The cast is very good but the person who shines the most is Kate Hudson.
Really enjoyed this.
Great movie! Would watch it again right now :)
Shout by IHateBadMovies.comVIP 8BlockedParent2020-08-16T16:16:55Z
I may have had unreal expectations coming in to this movie as I know so many people that adore it. Hell, Ebert had it as the best movie of 2005. I enjoyed it but by no means do I consider this a classic. The movie is extremely well-acted but I think that people get suckered in by how adorable the two teenagers are. Also, a lot of people seem to think that music is a big part of this film. I disagree. While there is a backdrop of bands and music rarely did these themes permeate the main story line like they did a movie like High Fidelity or Blaze. The movie was very much about the care that people took of a boy that was trying to cross over into adulthood.
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