Almost Famous (2000)

The Long Review:

Have you ever come out of a movie going Huh?! Whu?! What happened?? Well, you definitely won't be doing that after you go see Almost Famous. This movie finishes everything it starts. It's a complete movie. No questions unanswered. No leaves unturned. No kidding. True to his line from Jerry Maguire, You complete me, Cameron Crowe makes damn sure that the presentation of Almost Famous is complete down to the last note. It's one of those movies after which you can go pat your tummy and say Aaaaah, just like you do after you've chowed down on a hefty meal. Hey, you may even be compelled to burp.

Set in 1973, this hit is about a 15 year-old social retard (Patrick Fugit) who also happens to be a very talented music review writer. He's brave enough to send articles to a certain Creem Magazine and he lands an assignment: to write an article about a band called Black Sabbath. While trying to fulfill his journalist duties (translation: While being refused entrance to the backstage), he meets and impresses an almost famous band, Stillwater. The band takes him under their wing for the night and he sends a review of them to Creem. Well, the rock magazine of all rock magazines sees his article and gives him a call. And before he can say Rock on, he finds himself traveling with Stillwater across the country to write an article about them on Rolling Stone, surrounded by loud music, sexy groupies (who call themselves band-aids because they're much more devoted and um…don't compromise their decency by sleeping with band members), and every possible vice in the book.

Sounds groovy, huh? It is! This movie has it all: comedy, drama, romance, an awesome soundtrack…and those trippy 70's outfits! And let's not forget the sex, drugs, and alcohol. The good stuff. Hehehe. The characters in this film are so well-developed, you don't know who it is that you can most relate to: William, the uncool virgin who feels he belongs only when he's hundreds of miles from home; Russell (Billy Crudup), the intense lead guitarist whose blind ambition makes him quirky ala John Lennon; or Penny Lane (Kate Hudson), a band-aid (she's a groupie, we tell ya!) who goes against her own motto (no more sex with band members, just blowjobs) and falls in love with Russell. And although these people may seem totally different from one another, the movie manages to show they have a whole lot in common. Now that's good storytelling.

It's a great time learning these people's stories throughout the course of the movie. In a sorta cliched way, we see that this band, although wild and hard outside, is soft and insecure inside (Now why does that sentence sound so kinky??) But we forgive the cliché because the story is told to us so damn well. We laugh, we (almost) cry, and we gasp sometimes from shock. And most important of all, we are entertained. It's hard for this movie to lose, with its great dialogue, cool costumes, and awesome acting.

The actors do a really good job transporting us from the millennium to the pandemonium of the 70's. Think of it as Wonder Years, only William is a gazillion times more talented and a gazillion times less annoying than Fred Savage. Hmmm…Come to think of it, there is a striking similarity between Wonder Years and Almost Famous: The stars of these shows both have hot sisters! Moving on…Patrick Fugit does a good job tugging at your heartstrings. How can you not feel for this kid?? How would you like it if your mom yelled to you, Don't take drugs!! while you're among people much, much cooler than you?? Billy Crudup is very convincing as a misunderstood musician/cold heartbreaker. And Frances McDormand as William's doting mother is plain hilarious. Yeah, she's the one who yells Don't take drugs! embarrassingly loud and clear. She brings a few laughs to this movie. But the real rising star of this film is Kate Hudson. Her portrayal of a brokenhearted band-aid is touching and refreshing. She's a cool girl. And males are sure to appreciate her good looks and even better body. You'll see what we mean.

Immersed in all this heavy stuff, you don't notice the time pass by. You get so caught up in these people's lives, you forget you're just watching them on the big screen. The fact that your ass is numb may alert you that you've been sitting still for way too long but you don't mind. You're watching something good. And this movie is goooood. It's worth seeing at full ticket prices and you won't regret it. Because you'll get the full package. Guaranteed.

Ebert's satisfaction:

ebert says	moviegurus say
Great swatches of Almost Famous are constructed, indeed, out of generic expectations. But the stuff in outer space is unexpected, the surprise waiting out there is genuine, and meanwhile, there's an abundance of charm and screen presence from the four veteran actors.	We agree that the four veteran actors had charm and presence. And that big chunks of the movie were built on generic expectations. But unlike you, we weren't surprised about any of the outer space stuff. Been there, seen that. We're surprised you haven't. We thought you've been around a while?!
The actors know where the laughs and thrills are and respect them.	Yup, it's a good thing that these big-name actors didn't overact to prove that they're still worthy. And they actually made us chuckle a couple of times!
We leave the theater with grave doubts that the scene depicted in the final feel-good shot is even remotely possible, but what the hell; it makes us smile.	Yeah, it made us smile because it was just so unbelievable. Oh, well. It was a good effort.