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Almost Famous
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Almost Famous (2000) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
8.0/10   84,417 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 13% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Cameron Crowe
Writer (WGA):
Cameron Crowe (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Almost Famous on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
13 September 2000 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Music more
Tagline:
Experience it. Enjoy it. Just don't fall for it.
Plot:
A high-school boy is given the chance to write a story for Rolling Stone Magazine about an up-and-coming rock band as he accompanies it on their concert tour. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 44 wins & 76 nominations more
User Comments:
One of my favourite movies of all-time more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Something Real (USA) (working title)
Stillwater (USA) (working title)
The Uncool (USA) (working title)
Untitled Cameron Crowe Project (USA) (working title)
Untitled: Almost Famous the Bootleg Cut (USA) (director's cut (DVD title))
more
MPAA:
Rated R for language, drug content and brief nudity.
Runtime:
122 min | USA:162 min (director's cut) | Croatia:152 min (DVD extended cut)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS
Certification:
Brazil:12 | Italy:T | Ireland:15 | Philippines:R-18 | Norway:15 (video rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA (original rating) | Australia:M (re-rating on appeal) | Canada:14A | Canada:G (Québec) | Chile:14 | Denmark:7 | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 | Iceland:12 | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:18 | Spain:7 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #37614) | USA:Unrated (director's cut) | Singapore:R(A) (censored version) (original rating) | Singapore:M18 (cut) (re-rating)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
According to Cameron Crowe, he had sent the script around town to see if he could get anyone to respond to it, including Dreamworks Studio where one of its principal founders is director Steven Spielberg. Spielberg had read Crowe's 172-page script over the weekend and called Crowe on Monday saying, "Direct every word". Crowe has stated that he did film almost all of the script. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: In the final concert, as the band walks onto the stage, several modern intelligent lights (MAC600s) are visible. The lights were first released in 1997. In other scenes, the instruments lighting the band are halogen and metal halide lamps, which also didn't exist in the 1970s. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Elaine Miller: I can't believe you wanna be Atticus Finch. Oh, that makes me feel so good.
Young William: I like him.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Cazuza - O Tempo Não Pára (2004) more
Soundtrack:
That's the Way more

FAQ

Is the film based on a true story?
Is Stillwater a real band?
What is Penny Lane's real name?
more
132 out of 148 people found the following comment useful:-
One of my favourite movies of all-time, 5 February 2005
10/10
Author: segacs from Montreal, Canada

Finally, a movie worth the full price of a ticket! Almost Famous is Cameron Crowe's semi-autobigraphical story of an aspiring rock journalist who goes on tour with a band in the 1970's. If it sounds familiar, it's probably because the story is hardly new. There have been dozens of movies made about the rock and roll lifestyle: the drugs, the sex, the fights, and all the bumps on the road to success.

So what sets Almost Famous apart? The acting, for one. Frances McDormand was brilliant as William's (newcomer Patrick Fugit) well-meaning but overbearing mother. Fugit, for his part, had a convincing performance as the shy, awkward teenager struggling to be a journalist but at the same time aching to belong. Kate Hudson, in her breakout role as groupie "Penny Lane", gave her character depth beyond what might have been a limiting role. And Billy Crudup, as band Stillwater's charismatic lead guitarist, shines. Jason Lee is always good, and as Stillwater's lead singer, this role is no exception. And I can't review this film without giving a shout-out to the chronically and criminally-underrated Philip Seymour Hoffman, who steals every scene he's in with his portrayal of legendary rock journalist Lester Bangs.

The writing in the film also contributes to its effect. Many of the great lines belong to McDormand but there are plenty of others to go around. In addition, the music of the era can't be beat. Everything from Simon and Garfunkle to Alvin and the Chipmunks shows up at some point in the movie's extensive musical score.

The plot may not be particularly original, but it rings true. I of course am approaching this review as a music fan and someone interested in the industry. Nonetheless, I believe that even people who couldn't care less about rock music will enjoy this movie, since it's not so much about the music as it is about life. A central theme is the conflict of William: Should he remain a detached but lonely outsider so as to be an impartial journalist, or allow himself to make friends with these people and feel like he belongs? Aside from bringing up questions of journalistic ethics, this dilemma mirrors much of what people in all wakes of life deal with daily.

Almost Famous is realistic, funny, touching, and one of those rare movies that makes you feel like you've gained something just for having seen it. It's too bad that they say rock and roll is dead, cause we could sure use more movies like this one!

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Almost Famous (2000)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Penny Lane on the plane lilcomanchegrl
OT: What are the 10 Saddest Songs of All Time? raven434
whats the most influential song/artist for you? dandy_vision
Great Rock Bands Today mels_6989
song Question sammycakes1979
Almost Famous Montage. Tears_in_Rain
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