A movie about a teenage boy getting to write for Rolling Stone Magazine, hang out with rock stars and groupies – what’s not to like?
By Genna Patterson
Almost Famous is set in the 1970s as the age of rock and roll is drawing to an end. Written and directed by Cameron Crowe and based on some of his own experiences writing for Rolling Stone, we see the life of a rock band touring one summer through the eyes of an impressionable ‘uncool’ teenager, William Miller.
William is an aspiring music journalist and writes for underground papers, when Rolling Stone magazine approach him to write a piece on Stillwater, “a mid-level band coming to terms with their own limitations in the vast face of stardom”.
What starts out as one interview turns into a front-page feature road trip, with William surrounded for the first time by alcohol, drugs and sex. Throw in a crush on the young, gorgeous Penny Lane (a 19-year old Kate Hudson) and he’ll never be the same again.
William consults rock journalist Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who warns him not to let the rock stars befriend him, to be “ruthless and unmerciful”. Nevertheless, William gets caught up in being part of the cool crowd for once.
The soundtrack alone would make you want to watch this movie, with classics from The Who, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Elton John and Lynrd Skynyrd amongst other rock greats.
Add to it an underrated but amazing cast of Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Jason Lee, Zooey Deschanel and Anna Paquin and you’re in for a treat.
Even if you didn’t live through the seventies, this movie will create a certain level of nostalgia for that era.
As the tag line says: “Experience it, enjoy it, just don’t fall for it”… but really… do.
