Almost famous film analysis

Its the story of a 15yearold kid, smart and terrifyingly earnest, who through luck and pluck gets assigned by rolling stone magazine to do a profile of a rising rock band. Penny lane lived on the road, spending nights in the tour bus or a smokefilled. This is an excelent movie, with a awesome soundtrack if you like early 70s rock. William is an extremely proficient writer with a love for the music of his time. Marcin kulakowski took this great photo of lukasz zal and polish friends getting the unusual oscar news. The film is semiautobiographical, as crowe himself was a teenage writer for rolling stone. She almost died last night while you were with bob dylan.

Almost famous movie analysis posted on february 4, 2012 by nikokyri besides this being a great movie, you quickly forget about all the moral lessons and intrinsic values that are shown, and not to mention the problem with trying to find yourself and going about it in all the wrong ways. And like all great soundtracks, music journalists will probably hate it. Heres a nice breakdown of the script along with camerons comments where william eats lunch with lester courtesy of ew. The other source of optimism almost famous shows me is through the music and the characters attitudes towards it. Almost famous analysis american studies media culture. Almost famous is a 2000 american comedydrama film written and directed by cameron crowe and starring billy crudup, frances mcdormand, kate hudson, and patrick fugit. Pennie lane the almost famous character of penny lane. William is given the opportunity to write a story for rolling stone magazine.

Why do some stories last forever while others fade the moment the curtain falls. The heros journey in cameron crowes film almost famous essay the heros journey in cameron crowes film almost famous almost famous 2000 is a dramatization of writerdirector cameron crowes reallife experiences as a teenage rock reporter for rolling stone. His autobiographical almost famous 2000 was set backstage at rock concerts, a much different world than the seattle of say anything, but the characters played by patrick fugit and john cusack could be twins in the way they earnestly try to be true to themselves. In 2002 he continued his collaboration with anderson in punch drunk love and drew praise for his work in spike lees 25th hour. Through the character of william, almost famous makes a moving gesture that being a fan and having a true passion for music is as important as fame and celebrity. Obviously cinematography nominations almost always go to englishlanguage films. But the movie always paints them as just that excesses. Almost famous, with its great ensemble performances and story, is a. Almost famous is crowes semiautobiographical account of a young man taking the fast lane to adulthood on the tour bus with a rising rock and roll band. Its got the music but whats happened to the sex and drugs in cameron crowes 1970s rock tribute, asks peter bradshaw. Frances mcdormand fills every syllable with meanings upon meanings in her delivery of this brief monologue from cameron crowes autobiographical movie almost famous. The story takes place in 1973, one of the most prominent decades for rock n roll music and culture. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing almost famous near you. He dreams of becoming a lawyer but little does he know, his life is about to change.

In case its been a while since youve seen it let me recap whats going on leading into the. Fandango fanalert sign up for a fanalert and be the first to know when tickets and other exclusives are available in your area. There is this boundless enthusiasm that permeates the movie, the feeling from all the characters you meet that good music, really. Kate hudson was supposed to play a different role in almost. In addition to the storyform, youll also find any additional analysis or media related to the story in question more analysis amadeus. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. I believe that they should go the other way, and augment the number of best cinematography nominees to 10, and perhaps the asc should too. Cameron crowes semiautobiographical almost famous 1999 may just be one of hollywoods most enjoyable and rewarding films of the. Almost famous production notes the uncool the official. Jun 24, 2011 the bottom picture is the official poster for almost famous. And william miller is an elevenyearold kid growing up in san diego. A mise en scene analysis is the analysis of a film, image or scene of a film.

And like all great soundtracks, music journalists will. Almost famous is a 2000 comingofage film directed by cameron crowe, loosely based on crowes own teenage years as a music critic set in the 70s, the film follows the experiences of author avatar william miller patrick fugit, an aspiring teenage rock journalist who gets sucked headfirst into the world of rock when he goes on tour with a band named stillwater. From which you can tell that this is a mainstream film. May 11, 2012 writer and director cameron crowes experiences as a teenage rock journalist he was a regular contributor to rolling stone while still in high school inspired this comingofage story about a 15. In the movie almost famous, cameron crowe portrays the life of a highschool boy named william. Almost famous is one of those few magical movies for me. Set in 1973, it chronicles the funny and often poignant coming of age of 15yearold william patrick fugit, an unabashed music fan who is inspired by the seminal bands of the time. Like his young protagonist, crowe had gotten his start as a rock journalist at the age of 15. Almost famous simultaneously berates the rock culture for its carnal indulgences and seduces viewers with its glamour and excitement. You guys, youre always talking about the fans, the fans, the fans. Sep 30, 2016 actress kate hudson tells howard stern how she almost wasnt even considered for the part of penny lane in cameron crowes almost famous. In the movie almost famous, a young boy is brought up in the period of rock n roll. The above could be referring to william miller, the boy whose coming of age is at the heart of almost famous, or it could be a page out of the life of the films creator cameron crowe. And so it takes the entire film for it to catch up with william for what he was ready for all along a truthful and honest rap about the music.

Jason lee from kevin smith movies such as chasing amy, mallrats, and dogma moves from his typical comedic role to his wonderful dramatic performace as stillwaters lead singer in almost famous. A highschool boy is given the chance to write a story for rolling. Almost famous was released in 2000, and was hailed by critics as outstanding. Almost famous, although showcasing real musical groups of the 1960s and 1970s, focuses on a fictional rock band called stillwater.

Teens will certainly be amused by the period fashions and attitudes, but theyll also respond to the characters, who deal with issues that have always plagued young people. Feb 08, 2001 almost famous primly distinguishes between the exploited women and a higher class of girl called a band aid more like a sweetly pretty and largely platonic muse on the tour bus personified. In almost famous, a loose, affectionate look back on his earlier career as a teenage music journalist, mr. According to the mpaa, almost famous is an rrated film. A 1970s rock band is on tour when its plane is caught in a violent storm. With billy crudup, patrick fugit, kate hudson, frances mcdormand. It is from the film almost famous which was directed by cameron crowe. Another way is to examine the social and cultural forces that helped shape the music of the era. With rock n roll comes so many questionable and debatable issues. Almost famous is pushed into rough narrative coherence by the emotional triangle involving writer, groupie and star, which culminates in a rather precipitous set of.

A highschool boy is given the chance to write a story for rolling stone magazine about an upandcoming rock band as he accompanies them on their concert tour. Almost famous, with its great ensemble performances and story, is a wellcrafted, warmhearted movie that successfully draws you into its era. Almost famous pulls no punches, and is a deep insight into the dream that became an ambition, that became a harsh reality. Of course, this was the era of sex, drugs, and rock n roll, and almost famous doesnt shy away from showing the excesses of life on the road. It comes off as a stirring, concertlaced docudrama like oliver stones the doors in 1991, making you want to go home and check out the old billboard charts, convinced that the movies stillwater must be a real band and that you somehow missed it back.

In almost famous the palette director cameron crowe paints from is an autobiographical one. Almost famous had its world premiere at the 25th toronto international film festival on september 8, 2000. It goes beyond the great writing, acting, performances and directing and becomes greater than the sum of its parts. One of my favorite writerdirector filmmakers has to be cameron crowe. Loosely based on director cameron crowes own experiences as a music critic working for rolling stone magazine, the film captures. Camer on crowes almost famous now and then i like to take one of my favorite films and write an extensive blog entry where i dissect the movie. William miller is a 15 year old kid, hired by rolling stone magazine to tour with, and write about stillwater, an up and coming rock band. Every time you watch almost famous, its like returning to your family at christmas, comforting yet. Almost famous opening scenes analysis almost famous is a dreamworks picture and a vinyl films production, directed, written and produced by cameron crowe. The 1970s music scene fairly reeked with big guitars, even bigger hair, giggling groupies and casual drug use. What crowe has done in the movie is to juxtapose real and fictional characters in order to give us a sense of the time and age. Ally mcbeal almost famous production notes cameron crowes first film since his academy awardnominated hit jerry maguire captures a pivotal time in the history of rock and roll. After watching almost famous, i gained an affinity for bellbottom jeans and embroidered crop tops, but it took years of searching to find penny lanes most iconic wardrobe piece.

Both characters have career ambitions that are not respectable to become. The following mise en scene analysis is of one of the most famous movie scenes in the past twenty years. Almost famous is a cultclass 2000 film telling the comingofage story of a teenage journalist writing for rolling stone magazine while on the road with a fictitious 1970s rock band named stillwater. After watching the film, i looked over it as a really solid and strangely comforting film. Almost famous last time i discussed subtext and onthenose dialogue. In addition to the storyform, youll also find any additional analysis or media related to the story in question. The film s ecstatic atmosphere is only briefly interrupted by the sense of longing that is associated with first love and the pain that accompanies the inevitable separation between a child and a parent.

The analysis goes into complete detail to help you understand what meaning is trying to be portrayed. Almost famous 2000 set in 1973, it chronicles the funny and often poignant coming of age of 15yearold william, an unabashed music fan who is inspired by the seminal bands of the time. The specific scene is known to many as tiny dancer. When rock star russell takes advantage of his celebrity at a smalltown party, his indulgence in alcohol and drugs nearly costs him his life. Kate hudson, zooey deschanel, and billy crudup all star in this great piece. He lives with his mother, elaine, a college professor, and his older sister, anita.

Throughout the film, we follow fifteen year old william miller. Almost famous is about the world of rock, but its not a rock film, its a comingofage film, about an idealistic kid who sees the real world, witnesses its cruelties and heartbreaks, and yet finds much room for hope. View essay almost famous from english 101 at douglas anderson school of the arts. Almost famous is a 2000 comingofage film directed by cameron crowe, loosely based on crowes own teenage years as a music critic set in the 70s, the film follows the experiences of author avatar william miller patrick fugit, an aspiring teenage rock. Spinal tap set the bar very, very high for the level of humour and affectionate connoisseurship required for something like this and, in fact, almost famous often looks like spinal tap minus the gags and indeed the insight.

Performance and presentation certainly plays a role, but in the final analysis it is the existence of an identifiable storyform that truly determines the lifespan of a particular work of fiction. It tells the story of a teenage journalist writing for rolling stone in the early 1970s, his touring with the fictitious rock band stillwater, and his efforts to get his first cover story published. Set in 1973, the movie is loosely based on the formative years cameron crowe blissfully misspent roadtripping. May 04, 2014 camerons crow movie almost famous, which he both wrote and directed is first and foremost an homage to rock n roll. The academy is said to be rethinking their recent decision to up the best film nominations from 5 to 10. Almost famous is funny and touching in so many different ways. But none of these things are excessive or inserted just for the shock value. Almost famous begins with an homage to another classic film. This is surely not a definitive collection of post60s music and its proud not to be.

Good performances cant stop cameron crowes look back at the 70s rock scene from seeming a strangely pallid depiction of an era that. Packed with top class performances all round and great music score almost famous delivers, and delivers with attitude and realism that is rarely captured on film. The prospect of immenent death moves several members of the group and its entourage to selfdisclose. There is one memorable scene or moment after another. Thayer 91916 critical analysis for almost famous almost famous crowe. Almost famous script by cameron crowe untitled cameron crowe december, 1998 untitled 1 fade in 1 a closeshot of a yellow legal tablet. The critics are almost unanimous in their praise of this peek at the backstage machinations of the 1970s rock music scene. The camera sifts through a plethora of rockandroll memorabilia.

Nearly a half million young americans are congregating in upstate new york for woodstock. In the scene william miller and the band stillwater are on the bands tour bus. Lets study an example from a scene from almost famous written by cameron crowe. You might pass her on a street, in a store, or while riding your bike. A scene in which the manager shows the band the new tshirt design is practically a replica. Ally mcbeal cameron crowe misspent roadtripping with led zeppelin, yes, allman brothers. Almost famous also opened up the 44th london film festival on november 1, 2000. Destined to become a rockera classic, almost famous is an engaging, entertaining and authentic film that defines the 1970s through atmosphere and excellent characters. The critics feel that cameron crowes script and direction, combined.

Sep 17, 2015 cameron crowes oscarwinning movie almost famous was released 15 years ago this week, an anniversary worth noting for fans of crowe and of rock n roll on film and i find its. Relive the magic and music again wih the 11 best quotes from the. Youve reached the hub for any and all dramatica analysis of almost famous. Sep, 2000 before its release, almost famous was reportedly trimmed by about 40 minutes, and though i dont know what was cut i found myself wishing the movie, still an ample two hours, could be even. Almost famous will be hard to top for its sheer exuberance and high feelgood quotient. Frances mcdormand telephone monologue from almost famous. With sympathy for the devil, a rock writer finds his. Almost famous begins with an allusion to another great film. You might catch her eye in a crowded restaurant, in an art gallery, or more likely, in a small club listening to a. In the style of the 1963 classics title sequence, cameron crowe pans over a crowded desk drawer brimming with concert ticket stubs, stereo cassette tapes, and other musicrelated knick knacks.