Almost Famous

It's hard to describe the feeling of being completely enveloped in a film. I won't try. I'll tell you one thing, however, if you want to feel this, go witness the art that is Almost Famous.

I also won't try to choose one single favorite moment of this film. It'd be too difficult. It'd be nearly impossible because every scene flows so smoothly into the next. It's the mark of a truly great film when the momentum never ceases for an instant, the audience never given a chance to look away. We're riveted by what we see for every minute of the running time.

The story follow the quest of William Miller (a career-making performance by Patrick Fugit) to write a story for Rolling Stone magazine. Under the mentor of big name writer Lester Bangs (played by a scene-stealing Philip Seymour Hoffman), he leaves his overbearing mother (a fantastic Frances McDormand) and embarks on a tour with the band Stillwater. Of course, the journey involves a whole lot more than the music. It's a story rich with meaning, symbolism, and unforgettable moments. Russel Hammond (Billy Crudup - will people finally realize how good this guy is?) and Jeff Bebe (another fine performance by Jason Lee) lead the band to the brink of superstardom. The band leads William into a completely different world. The tour bus is home, the hotels are places of parties and passion, and the stage is the location of love. 

Of course, tours with rock bands are not complete without the girls, and this is where the "Band-Aids" led by Penny Lane come into the picture. Penny Lane is portrayed miraculously by Kate Hudson, a beautiful, incredibly talented young actress. The camera clearly loves her and the audience loves her. She emanates youthful passion, mysterious intentions, and a compelling vulnerability. Her smile is golden, and make no mistake about it, her career from now is sure to be golden. This is one of the biggest superstar making performances I've ever seen in a film. She's that good folks. She just might be one of the most lovable characters I've seen in a movie. Ever.

Cameron Crowe wrote, produced, and directed this semi-autobiographical tale. It's got his good-natured humor amidst incredibly witty dialogue and well-developed characters. Cameron Crowe's scripts are as good as they come in the industry, but the best part of his filmmaking is perhaps his ability to direct actors. It takes an exceptional director to be able to steal a great performance out of Tom Cruise (as he did in Jerry Maguire), and he clearly has gotten even better with his latest. The performances are so good that it would be a travesty if at least one of them didn't bring home a statuette (as if those things mean anything anymore).

Almost Famous asks the audience to ponder some very important questions. It asks what it means to really love something or someone. The film wonders to what degree you're willing to take your passions. It asks you to take in the moment and enjoy every second of it. Take in the big picture, and don't busy yourself with the silly details. 

The film is so delightful and so smart that it single-handedly supplies the hope that this year might not turn out to be that bad. After all, it's easily one of the best films of the year.

On a scale of 1 to 10 groupies : 9