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Almost Famous
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| Almost Famous | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Cameron Crowe |
| Written by | Cameron Crowe |
| Produced by | Cameron Crowe Ian Bryce |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | John Toll |
| Edited by | Joe Hutshing Saar Klein |
| Music by | Nancy Wilson |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by |
|
Release dates |
|
Running time | 122 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $60 million[1] |
| Box office | $47.4 million[1] |
Almost Famous is a 2000 American comedy drama film written and directed by Cameron Crowe, starring Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Kate Hudson, Patrick Fugit, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. It tells the story of a teenage journalist, played by Fugit, writing for Rolling Stone magazine in the early 1970s, touring with the fictitious rock band Stillwater, and writing his first cover story on the band. The film is semi-autobiographical, based on Crowe's experiences as a teenage writer for Rolling Stone.[2]
The film performed poorly in theaters, grossing $47.4 million against a $60 million budget.[3] It was widely acclaimed by critics and earned four Academy Award nominations, including a win for Best Original Screenplay. It also won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media. Roger Ebert hailed it as the best film of the year and the ninth-best film of the 2000s. The film also won two Golden Globe Awards, one for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and another for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture for Hudson.
The film is regarded by some as a cult classic and in a 2016 international poll conducted by the BBC, Almost Famous was ranked the 79th-greatest film since 2000, while it was ranked as the 47th-best film of the 21st century in a 2025 poll by The New York Times.[4][5][6] In a Hollywood Reporter 2014 list voted on by "studio chiefs, Oscar winners and TV royalty", Almost Famous was ranked the 71st-greatest film of all time.[7] A stage musical adaptation of the film opened on Broadway in November 2022.[8]
Plot
[edit]In San Diego 1969, child prodigy William Miller struggles to fit in with his peers. His life is further complicated by learning that his widowed college professor mother Elaine has falsely led him to believe he is 13 years old when he is only 11. Strong-willed Elaine's strict ban on rock music and her fear of pop culture have a lasting effect on her children, finally driving William's 18-year-old sister Anita to move to San Francisco and become a flight attendant.
In 1973, William, now 15 and influenced by Anita's secret cache of rock albums, aspires to be a rock journalist, writing freelance articles for underground papers. Impressed by William's writing, rock journalist Lester Bangs gives him a $35 assignment to review a Black Sabbath concert. William is barred from meeting the band backstage until the opening band Stillwater arrives, and William flatters his way in. Lead guitarist Russell Hammond takes a liking to William, as does groupie Penny Lane, who has taken William under her wing. Penny insists she and her friends are not really groupies but actually "band aides", a term she invented to describe female fans who follow bands more for the music than for the rock stars themselves.
On seeing William's article on Black Sabbath, Rolling Stone editor Ben Fong-Torres hires him to write an article about Stillwater and sends him on the road with the band aboard "Doris", Stillwater's aging but beloved bus. William interviews the other band members, but guitarist Russell Hammond avoids him. Tensions between Hammond and lead singer Jeff Bebe become evident when the band's first T-shirt is produced, featuring Hammond in full view while the rest of the band is in the shadows. As a journalist, William is jokingly called "the enemy" by the band, but he eventually becomes integrated into their inner circle.
The record label hires professional manager Dennis Hope to handle problems with venues and promoters. Penny has to leave before the band reaches New York, where Russell's girlfriend Leslie will join them. Penny and her three protégée band aids are gambled away to another band in a poker game; Penny acts nonchalant but is devastated. Meanwhile, Dennis charters a small plane so the band can play more gigs.
Penny shows up uninvited at a party at a New York restaurant where William reveals to the group that they are to be featured on the cover of Rolling Stone. Penny leaves after her attempts to get Russell's attention become disruptive. William follows her to her hotel, where he saves her from overdosing on quaaludes. A plane hired by the band encounters severe weather on a flight the next day. Fearing that the plane will crash, everyone aboard confesses long concealed secrets to the group while the simmering conflict between Jeff and Russell erupts. William confesses his love for Penny after Jeff insults her. The plane lands safely in Tupelo, leaving everyone to ponder the changed atmosphere.
William later arrives at the Rolling Stone office in San Francisco but has difficulty finishing the article. Seeking help, William calls Bangs again, who notes that the boy's perceived friendships with band members are illusions and advises him to "be honest... and unmerciful." The magazine's editors at first enthuse over William's completed article, but Russell lies to the magazine's fact-checker, claiming most of the piece is false. Rolling Stone kills the article, crushing William. Anita encounters William at the airport and offers to take him anywhere; he chooses for them to go back to San Diego, where their mother Elaine is glad to see them both.
Sapphire, one of the protégée "Band Aides", chastises Russell for betraying William. Russell then calls Penny, wanting to meet with her, but she tricks him by giving him William's address instead of her own. Russell arrives and finds himself face to face with William's mother, who during the tour had scolded him over the phone for his behavior. Russell apologizes to William and finally gives him an interview. Russell also verifies the accuracy of the article to Rolling Stone, which runs it as a cover feature. Penny fulfills her long-standing fantasy of going to Morocco while Stillwater tours again by bus.
Cast
[edit]- Billy Crudup as Russell Hammond
- Frances McDormand as Elaine Miller
- Kate Hudson as Penny Lane (Lady Goodman)
- Jason Lee as Jeff Bebe
- Patrick Fugit as William Miller
- Michael Angarano as young William
- Anna Paquin as Polexia Aphrodisia
- Fairuza Balk as Sapphire
- Noah Taylor as Dick Roswell
- Philip Seymour Hoffman as Lester Bangs
- Zooey Deschanel as Anita Miller
- Jimmy Fallon as Dennis Hope
- Bijou Phillips as Estrella Starr
- Terry Chen as Ben Fong-Torres
- Jay Baruchel as Vic Munoz
- Rainn Wilson as David Felton
- Mark Kozelek as Larry Fellows
- Liz Stauber as Leslie Hammond
- Zack Ward as the Legendary Red Dog
- John Fedevich as Ed Vallencourt
- Pauley Perrette as Alice Wisdom
- Eric Stonestreet as Sheldon the desk clerk
- Marc Maron as angry promoter
- Jann Wenner as taxi passenger
- Peter Frampton as Reg
- Mitch Hedberg as Eagles road manager
Production
[edit]Cameron Crowe used a composite of the bands he had known to create Stillwater, the emerging group that welcomes the young journalist into its sphere, then becomes wary of his intentions. "Stillwater" was the name of a real band signed to Macon, Georgia's Capricorn Records label, which required the film's producers to obtain permission to use the name. In an interview, real Stillwater guitarist Bobby Golden said, "They could have probably done it without permission but they probably would have had a bunch of different lawsuits. Our lawyer got in touch with them. They wanted us to do it for free and I said, 'No we're not doing it for free.' So we got a little bit of change out of it."[9] Seventies rocker Peter Frampton served as a technical consultant on the film. Crowe and his then-wife, musician Nancy Wilson of Heart, co-wrote three of the five Stillwater songs in the film, and Frampton wrote the other two, with Mike McCready of Pearl Jam playing lead guitar on all of the Stillwater songs.[10][11]
Patrick Fugit, then "a complete unknown from Salt Lake City, Utah", was cast late in the process after Crowe and casting director Gail Levin watched Fugit's self-taped audition.[12]
The character of Russell Hammond was originally set to be played by Brad Pitt. However, during rehearsal prior to filming, Crowe and Pitt mutually decided that it was "not the right fit", and Pitt dropped out of the project. The line "I am a golden god!" in the pool-jumping sequence, as well as numerous references to Russell Hammond being unusually good looking, were written for Pitt but remained in the script after Billy Crudup was cast.[13] In a 2020 interview with The New York Times, Crowe confirmed that the "golden god" scene was inspired by Led Zeppelin lead singer Robert Plant, who had uttered the sentence on a "Riot House" balcony.[14]
Jack Black and Jon Favreau auditioned for the role of Lester Bangs.[15]
Crowe based the character of Penny Lane on the real-life Pennie Lane Trumbull and her group of female promoters who called themselves the "Flying Garter Girls Group".[16] Though they were not in the Flying Garter Girls group, various other women have been described as Crowe's inspiration, for instance Pamela Des Barres[17] and Bebe Buell.[18] Sarah Polley was originally cast as Penny Lane, but, when Brad Pitt dropped out, she dropped out as well and was replaced with Kate Hudson. Natalie Portman was also considered.[19]
The character of William Miller's mother (played by Frances McDormand) was based on Crowe's own mother, who even showed up on the set to keep an eye on him while he worked. Although he asked his mother not to bother McDormand, the two women ended up getting along well.[20] Meryl Streep was also considered for the role.[19]
Alice in Chains' guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell was Crowe's first choice for the role of Stillwater bass player Larry Fellows. Cantrell is friends with Crowe and had previously appeared in two films directed by him, Singles (1992) and Jerry Maguire (1996). Cantrell was busy writing the songs for his solo album Degradation Trip and had to turn the role down. Mark Kozelek was cast instead.[21]
Crowe took a copy of the film to London for a special screening with Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page and Plant. After the screening, Led Zeppelin granted Crowe the right to use one of their songs on the soundtrack—the first time they had ever consented to this since allowing Crowe to use "Kashmir" in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)—and also gave him rights to four of their other songs in the movie itself, although they did not grant him the rights to "Stairway to Heaven" for an intended scene (on the special "Bootleg" edition DVD, the scene is included as an extra, sans the song, where the viewer is instructed by a watermark to begin playing it).[22][23]
In his 2012 memoir My Cross to Bear, Gregg Allman writes that several aspects of the movie are based on Crowe's time spent with the Allman Brothers Band. The scene in which Russell jumps from the top of the Topeka party house into a pool was based on something Duane Allman did: "the jumping off the roof into the pool, that was Duane—from the third floor of a place called the Travelodge in San Francisco. My brother wanted to do it again, but the cat who owned the place came out shaking his fist, yelling at him. We told that story all the time, and I have no doubt that Cameron was around for it." He also confirms that he and Dickey Betts played a joke on Crowe by claiming clauses in their contract did not allow his story to be published—just before he was to deliver it to Rolling Stone.[24]
Filming of the movie lasted 92 days.[25] Some of the filming locations include Ocean Beach, San Diego and Sunset Cliffs.[26]
Soundtrack
[edit]The Almost Famous soundtrack album was released by DreamWorks Records on September 12, 2000. It was awarded the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.
Personnel
[edit]"Stillwater"
[edit]- Jason Lee ("Jeff Bebe") - vocals
- Billy Crudup ("Russell Hammond") - guitar
- Mark Kozelek ("Larry Fellows") - bass guitar
- John Fedevich ("Ed Vallencourt") - drums
Other personnel
[edit]- Nancy Wilson
- Peter Frampton
- Mike McCready
- Jon Bayless
- Ben Smith
- Gordon Kennedy
- Marti Frederiksen – vocals
Songs on the soundtrack
[edit]- Simon & Garfunkel: "America" – 3:37
- The Who: "Sparks" – 3:48
- Todd Rundgren: "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference" – 3:51
- Yes: "Your Move" – 3:33
- The Beach Boys: "Feel Flows" – 4:43
- Stillwater: "Fever Dog" – 3:09
- Rod Stewart: "Every Picture Tells a Story" – 5:54
- The Seeds: "Mr Farmer" – 2:51
- The Allman Brothers Band: "One Way Out" – 4:58
- Lynyrd Skynyrd: "Simple Man" – 5:56
- Led Zeppelin: "That's the Way" – 5:36
- Elton John: "Tiny Dancer" – 6:14
- Nancy Wilson: "Lucky Trumble" – 2:41
- David Bowie: "I'm Waiting for the Man" – 4:39
- Cat Stevens: "The Wind" – 1:40
- Clarence Carter: "Slip Away" – 2:31
- Thunderclap Newman: "Something in the Air" – 3:53
Reception
[edit]Box office
[edit]Almost Famous had its premiere at the 2000 Toronto International Film Festival.[27] It was subsequently given a limited release on September 15, 2000, in 131 theaters where it grossed $2.3 million on its first weekend. It was given a wider release on September 22, 2000, in 1,193 theaters where it grossed $6.9 million on its opening weekend. The film went on to make $31.7 million in North America and $14.8 million in the rest of the world for a worldwide total of $47.4 million against a $60 million budget.[1][25]
Critical response
[edit]Almost Famous was acclaimed by a number of critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 91% approval rating, based on 227 reviews, with an average rating of 8/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Almost Famous, with its great ensemble performances and story, is a well-crafted, warm-hearted movie that successfully draws you into its era."[28] On Metacritic it has a score of 90 out of 100, based on 38 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[29] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.[30]
Film critic Roger Ebert gave the film four out of four stars, naming it the best film of 2000, and described it as "funny and touching in so many different ways."[31] In his review for The New York Times, A.O. Scott wrote, "The movie's real pleasures are to be found not in its story but in its profusion of funny, offbeat scenes. It's the kind of picture that invites you to go back and savor your favorite moments like choice album cuts."[32] Richard Corliss of Time praised the film's screenplay for "giving each character his reasons, making everyone in the emotional debate charming and compelling, creating fictional people who breathe in a story with an organic life."[33]
In her review for the L.A. Weekly, Manohla Dargis wrote that "the film shimmers with the irresistible pleasures that define Hollywood at its best—it's polished like glass, funny, knowing and bright, and filled with characters whose lives are invariably sexier and more purposeful than our own."[34] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone wrote, "Not since A Hard Day's Night has a movie caught the thrumming exuberance of going where the music takes you."[35]
In his review for Newsweek, David Ansen wrote, "Character-driven, it relies on chemistry, camaraderie, a sharp eye for detail and good casting."[36] Entertainment Weekly put it on its end-of-the-decade, "best-of" list, saying, "Every Cameron Crowe film is, in one way or another, about romance, rock & roll, and his romance with rock & roll. This power ballad of a movie, from 2000, also happens to be Crowe's greatest (and most personal) film thanks to the golden gods of Stillwater and their biggest fan, Kate Hudson's incomparable Penny Lane."[37]
Entertainment Weekly gave the film an "A−" rating and Owen Gleiberman praised Crowe for depicting the 1970s as "an era that found its purpose in having no purpose. Crowe, staying close to his memories, has gotten it, for perhaps the first time, onto the screen."[38] In his review for the Los Angeles Times, Kenneth Turan praised Philip Seymour Hoffman's portrayal of Lester Bangs: "Superbly played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, more and more the most gifted and inspired character actor working in film, what could have been the clichéd portrait of an older mentor who speaks the straight truth blossoms into a marvelous personality."[39] However, in his review for The New York Observer, Andrew Sarris felt that "none of the non-musical components on the screen matched the excitement of the music. For whatever reason, too much of the dark side has been left out."[40] Desson Howe, in his review for The Washington Post, found it "very hard to see these long-haired kids as products of the 1970s instead of dressed up actors from the Seattle-Starbucks era. I couldn't help wondering how many of these performers had to buy a CD copy of the song and study it for the first time."[41]
Publication of Rolling Stone article
[edit]In 2021, Rolling Stone published the article “Stillwater Runs Deep!” by "William Miller," backdated to August 30, 1973.[42][43]
Accolades
[edit]Home media
[edit]Almost Famous was released on DVD and VHS by DreamWorks Home Entertainment on March 13, 2001.[44] In December 2001, an extended cut of the film, also known as the "Bootleg" or "Untitled" version, was released on DVD.[45][46] The extended version has about 40 minutes of additional footage.[47]
In February 2006, Viacom (now known as Paramount Skydance) acquired the domestic rights to Almost Famous, along with the rights to all 58 other live-action films DreamWorks had released since 1997, following its $1.6 billion acquisition of the company's live-action film assets and television assets.[48][49] A remastered Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray of both versions was released by Paramount Home Entertainment on July 13, 2021.[50]
Stage musical adaptation
[edit]In 2018, Crowe said he was working on a stage musical adaptation of the film, in which he would pen the stage libretto and write the musical numbers with Tom Kitt.[22] It premiered in San Diego at The Old Globe in 2019 and creative work continued during the COVID-19 pandemic. In June 2022, the musical announced that it will transfer to Broadway, with previews beginning September 13 and opening night scheduled for October 11, 2022. The cast of the production, directed by Jeremy Herrin, included newcomer Casey Likes (in his Broadway acting debut) as William Miller, Chris Wood as Russell Hammond, Anika Larsen as Elaine Miller, Solea Pfeiffer as Penny Lane, Drew Gehling as Jeff Bebe, Emily Schultheis as Anita Miller, Jana Djenne Jackson as Polexia Aphrodisia, Katie Ladner as Sapphire, Gerard Canonico as Dick Roswell and Rob Colletti as Lester Bangs.[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Almost Famous (2000)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 10, 2009.
- ^ "Biography," The Uncool: The Official Website for Everything Cameron Crowe. Accessed Dec. 14, 2014.
- ^ "Box-Office Fizzle of 'Almost Famous' Stirs Bad Blood". Los Angeles Times. October 13, 2000.
- ^ "The 21st century's 100 greatest films". BBC. August 23, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
- ^ "Cameron Crowe on the 20th Anniversary of 'Almost Famous': 'It's Never Been as Popular as It is Now'". Rolling Stone. 20 August 2020.
- ^ "The 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century". June 23, 2025.
- ^ "Hollywood's 100 Favorite Films". The Hollywood Reporter. June 25, 2014. Archived from the original on August 28, 2016.
- ^ a b Huston, Caitlin (June 2, 2022). "'Almost Famous' Musical Sets Broadway Run". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- ^ Golden, Bobby. "Stillwater Interview". Phantom Photography. Archived from the original on May 18, 2017.
- ^ "Stillwater Secrets & Lies". TheUncool.com. Archived from the original on November 14, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- ^ "Nancy Wilson On Teaching Billy Crudup About LSD For 'Almost Famous'". UPROXX. 13 August 2021. Archived from the original on August 13, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- ^ Sennett, Shae (December 30, 2022). "How A 16-Year-Old Patrick Fugit Landed His Part In Almost Famous". /Film. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ^ "Almost Famous Nearly Starred Brad Pitt, Meryl Streep, Natalie Portman". Collider. July 14, 2020.
- ^ Kaplan, Ilana (July 23, 2020). "'Almost Famous': The Oral History of a Golden God's Acid Trip". The New York Times. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ "The Lost Roles of Jack Black". Vulture. January 24, 2013. Archived from the original on October 15, 2018.
- ^ Ammann, Ana (September 7, 2012). "Will the real Penny Lane please stand up?". Oregon Music News. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015.
- ^ Lecaro, Lina (December 15, 2010). "Zooey Deschanel to Play Original '60s Groupie Pamela "I'm With the Band" Des Barres in HBO Series (NSFW)". LA Weekly.
- ^ "Wild Things: Cameron Crowe and Bebe Buell". Talk. March 2001.
- ^ a b Martoccio, Angie (July 15, 2020). "'Almost Famous' Podcast: 10 Things We Learned". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020.
- ^ Goldstein, Patrick (August 27, 2000). "This Time, It's Personal A '70s rock film co-starring...Mom? It's Cameron Crowe's life story, and he's tried to tell it for years," Los Angeles Times — via The Uncool.com.
- ^ "Alice in Chains' Jerry Cantrell almost starred in the movie 'Almost Famous'". YouTube. November 12, 2017. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
- ^ a b Martoccio, Angie (August 20, 2020). "Cameron Crowe on the 20th Anniversary of 'Almost Famous': 'It's Never Been as Popular as It Is Now'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 20, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- ^ "This Time Cameron Crowe Gets Zeppelin for Movie Soundtrack". Rolling Stone. August 10, 2000. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- ^ Allman, Gregg; Light, Alan (2012). My Cross to Bear. William Morrow. pp. 242–43. ISBN 978-0062112033.
- ^ a b Eller, Claudia (October 13, 2000). "Box-Office Fizzle of 'Almost Famous' Stirs Bad Blood". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 29, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
- ^ Sklar, Debbie L. (April 4, 2025). "'Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!' and 9 other off-the-wall movies filmed in San Diego". Times of San Diego. Archived from the original on April 5, 2025. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
- ^ Kehr, Dave (August 25, 2000). "Organic Growth In Toronto". The New York Times. Retrieved March 31, 2009.
- ^ "Almost Famous (2000)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
- ^ "Almost Famous Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
- ^ "Home". CinemaScore. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
- ^ Ebert, Roger (September 15, 2000). "Almost Famous". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
- ^ Scott, A.O (September 15, 2000). "Almost Famous". The New York Times. Retrieved March 31, 2009.
- ^ Corliss, Richard (September 10, 2000). "Absolutely Fabulous". Time. Archived from the original on February 10, 2001. Retrieved March 31, 2009.
- ^ Dargis, Manohla (September 13, 2000). "Gonna Make You Groove". L.A. Weekly. Retrieved March 31, 2009.
- ^ Travers, Peter (December 10, 2000). "Almost Famous". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 11, 2007. Retrieved March 31, 2009.
- ^ Ansen, David (September 18, 2000). "He's With The Band". Newsweek. Retrieved March 31, 2009.
- ^ Geier, Thom; Jensen, Jeff; Jordan, Tina; Lyons, Margaret; Markovitz, Adam; Nashawaty, Chris; Pastorek, Whitney; Rice, Lynette; Rottenberg, Josh; Schwartz, Missy; Slezak, Michael; Snierson, Dan; Stack, Tim; Stroup, Kate; Tucker, Ken; Vary, Adam B.; Vozick-Levinson, Simon; Ward, Kate (December 11, 2009), "The 100 Greatest Movies, Tv Shows, Albums, Books, Characters, Scenes, Episodes, Songs, Dresses, Music Videos, And Trends That Entertained Us Over The Past 10 Years". Entertainment Weekly. (1079/1080):74-84
- ^ Gleiberman, Owen (September 15, 2000). "Almost Famous". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 31, 2009.
- ^ Turan, Kenneth (September 13, 2000). "Almost Famous". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 11, 2009. Retrieved March 31, 2009.
- ^ Sarris, Andrew (September 17, 2000). "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll-Where Are the Sex and Drugs?". The New York Observer. Archived from the original on February 25, 2008. Retrieved March 31, 2009.
- ^ Howe, Desson (September 22, 2000). "Almost Poignant". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 31, 2009.
- ^ Miller, William (August 30, 1973) [August 2021]. "Stillwater Runs Deep!". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 20, 2021.
- ^ Rosenbaum, Marty (August 20, 2021). "'Rolling Stone' just published the 'actual' Stillwater article from 'Almost Famous'". Audacy.
- ^ Harwell, Shawn (March 16, 2001). "Almost Famous". DVD Review & High Definition. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ Kate Erbland (July 12, 2021). "'Almost Famous': Patrick Fugit Reveals His Preferred Cut and the Penny Lane Ending You Didn't See". IndieWire.com. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
- ^ "Almost Famous". www.movie-censorship.com.
Comparison: Theatrical Version, Extended Version
- ^ ManaByte (December 5, 2001). "Almost Famous: Untitled - The Bootleg Cut". IGN. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ "Paramount-Dreamworks deal finalised". ABC News. February 2, 2006 – via www.abc.net.au.
- ^ "Complete Library | Theatrical Library | Paramount Pictures". www.paramount.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2012.
- ^ "'Almost Famous' Celebrates its Anniversary with Newly Remastered 4K Ultra Steelbook". FilmSpeak. July 13, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
External links
[edit]Almost Famous
View on GrokipediaNarrative and Characters
Plot
In 1969, eleven-year-old William Miller lives in San Diego with his strict mother, Elaine, a college professor who views rock music as the devil's work, and his older sister, Anita, who secretly introduces him to rock albums by bands like Led Zeppelin and The Who.[6] When Anita leaves home for a job as a stewardess, she gifts William her record collection, igniting his passion for music and journalism.[7] Four years later, in 1973, the fifteen-year-old William, now a high school student and aspiring writer, writes freelance music reviews under the guidance of rock critic Lester Bangs, who advises him to be honest and "be a person."[8] William attends a Black Sabbath concert in San Diego, where he meets the up-and-coming rock band Stillwater and their entourage of "Band-Aids"—young women who travel with bands for companionship without exchanging sex for status, as one of them, Penny Lane, explains.[9] Impressed by William's enthusiasm, Stillwater's guitarist Russell Hammond invites him backstage, and Penny takes him under her wing, showing him the band's world.[7] Soon after, Rolling Stone editor Ben Fong-Torres assigns William to cover Stillwater's first major tour across the American Southwest, unaware of his youth; William's mother reluctantly allows it but calls frequently, expressing worry about his safety and exposure to the rock lifestyle.[8] As the tour begins by bus, William bonds with the band—guitarist Russell, lead singer Jeff Bebe, bassist Larry Fellows, and drummer Ed Vallencourt—while navigating their egos and dynamics. Jeff resents Russell's growing spotlight, particularly over a band T-shirt design that favors the guitarist, highlighting early tensions in their friendship.[7] Penny, who is secretly in love with Russell, befriends William deeply, sharing intimate moments like dancing to music in hotel rooms, but William develops unrequited feelings for her. The group experiences minor successes, including radio play for their single "Fever Dog," but chaos ensues at a house party in Topeka, where drugs flow freely, and Penny sleeps with Russell, complicating William's emotions.[9] The tour escalates when Stillwater's new manager, Dennis, charters a plane for efficiency, allowing more gigs. Severe turbulence causes panic, prompting raw confessions: Jeff admits his jealousy of Russell, Larry reveals he has a wife and child, and William declares his love for Penny, while Russell vaguely acknowledges his affection for her amid the fear of crashing.[8][10] The plane lands safely in Tupelo, Mississippi, but the incident exposes fractures. In New York, Stillwater performs at a radio station and attends a lavish party, where Russell jumps off a hotel roof into the pool shouting "I am a golden god!"—a euphoric moment of rock stardom—before being interviewed by famed DJ Humphrey Zapf.[7] However, at a subsequent dinner, Russell's girlfriend Leslie forces Penny to leave the group; later, Russell trades her to Humble Pie in a poker game for $50 and a case of beer, despite her plans to go to Morocco, leaving her heartbroken and alone in New York.[9][11] Devastated, Penny overdoses on quaaludes in her hotel room, but William finds her in time and calls for help, staying by her side as she recovers in the hospital. Elaine arrives, furious, and takes William home briefly, but he returns to the tour, determined to finish his article.[8] Band conflicts intensify: Stillwater's debut album climbs the charts, but Jeff and Russell feud over creative control and fame, culminating in Jeff punching Russell during a confrontation. William, torn between friendship and objectivity, struggles to write an honest piece, heeding Lester's earlier advice.[7] In the climax, after a final show, Russell initially tells Rolling Stone that William's coverage is inaccurate to protect the band's image, stranding William. However, reflecting on his experiences, Russell later verifies the story's truth, allowing it to be published as the magazine's cover feature, "The Real Thing."[9] Stillwater's internal rifts intensify, culminating in Jeff punching Russell, but they later reconcile and return to touring by bus, symbolizing a return to roots. Penny departs for Morocco to escape the scene, while William reunites with his family; Anita returns home, and Elaine embraces her son's growth. Russell visits William at his graduation, apologizing and inviting him to join future adventures, affirming their unlikely friendship. The film draws from the fictionalized 1970s rock scene, capturing the era's energy and pitfalls.[8][9]Cast
The ensemble cast of Almost Famous (2000) effectively captures the vibrant, chaotic energy of the 1970s rock scene, blending established performers with emerging talents to portray journalists, musicians, and groupies.[12] The principal roles highlight interpersonal dynamics central to the film's exploration of music fandom and ambition, while supporting characters add depth to the touring band's entourage.[13]| Actor | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Billy Crudup | Russell Hammond | Lead guitarist of the fictional band Stillwater, a charismatic and talented musician who embodies the era's rock star allure.[12] |
| Frances McDormand | Elaine Miller | William's protective and opinionated mother, a former free spirit who enforces strict rules on her family.[12] |
| Kate Hudson | Penny Lane | A free-spirited "band aid," a devoted groupie who travels with rock bands for companionship and adventure rather than payment.[12] |
| Patrick Fugit | William Miller | A 15-year-old aspiring rock journalist and avid music enthusiast navigating the adult world of the music industry.[12] |
| Jason Lee | Jeff Bebe | Lead singer of Stillwater, an ambitious and image-conscious frontman focused on the band's rising success.[12] |
| Philip Seymour Hoffman | Lester Bangs | A veteran rock critic and mentor figure known for his blunt wisdom and passion for authentic music journalism.[12] |
| Zooey Deschanel | Anita Miller | William's older sister, a rebellious young woman who introduces him to rock music and seeks independence.[13] |
| Anna Paquin | Polexia Aphrodisia | A quirky and outspoken band aid in the group's entourage, contributing to the lively atmosphere around the band.[12] |
| Fairuza Balk | Sapphire | A tough, no-nonsense band aid who forms part of the supportive yet transient circle of groupies.[12] |
| Bijou Phillips | Estrella | A younger band aid with a romantic and idealistic view of the rock lifestyle.[13] |
| Noah Taylor | Dick Roswell | The band's enthusiastic but somewhat overwhelmed manager, handling logistics and promotion.[13] |
| John Fedevich | Ed Vallencourt | Stillwater's drummer, a reliable band member focused on the rhythm section.[13] |
| Mark Kozelek | Larry Fellows | Stillwater's bassist, providing the foundational groove for the band's sound.[13] |
Production
Development
Cameron Crowe's inspiration for Almost Famous stemmed from his own experiences as a teenage journalist for Rolling Stone magazine in 1973, when he was just 15 years old and covered major rock bands including the Allman Brothers Band and Led Zeppelin during their tours.[15][16] These formative years, marked by immersion in the rock 'n' roll world as an observer rather than a participant, directly informed the film's semi-autobiographical narrative about a young writer's coming-of-age amid band dynamics and music scene excesses.[17] The script's development began in earnest around 1997, with Crowe procrastinating for over a year before committing to the project, ultimately completing a draft by December 1998 after a year of intense writing that he described as both painful and personal.[18] Drawing from his early journalism career, including a 1992 Rolling Stone article reflecting on those experiences, the screenplay evolved into a semi-autobiographical tale that Crowe initially considered titling The Uncool, a nod to the outsiders in the rock world, though DreamWorks executives insisted on changing it.[18][19] For its release in 2000, the original screenplay earned Crowe an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 2001.[20] DreamWorks Pictures acquired the project and provided a $60 million budget, enabling Crowe to pursue his vision as writer-director while incorporating elements from his family life, such as his mother's influence on the character Elaine Miller.[21][17] Early pre-production faced significant challenges in securing music rights for iconic 1970s tracks from artists like Led Zeppelin and The Who, which ultimately consumed $3.5 million of the budget and required direct outreach to the musicians, many of whom supported the film due to its authentic portrayal of the era.[18][22]Filming
Principal photography for Almost Famous commenced on May 24, 1999, and lasted approximately five months, wrapping on October 6, 1999, with much of the work occurring during the summer in Southern California.[23] Locations primarily centered in San Diego, which stood in for San Francisco scenes, including the San Diego Sports Arena as the site of Stillwater's debut concert, and Balboa Park for exterior shots evoking the city's cultural vibe.[17] Additional California sites included Los Angeles venues like the Hollywood Palladium, which doubled as the Cleveland arena for a later concert sequence, and the restored lobby of the Hyatt House on the Sunset Strip—known as the "Riot House"—recreated to its 1973 appearance complete with original fixtures uncovered during production.[17][24] Recreating the gritty, communal atmosphere of 1970s rock tours presented significant logistical hurdles, requiring the production team to transform modern spaces into era-specific environments while capturing the chaos of band life on the road. For authenticity, director Cameron Crowe organized a "Rock School" rehearsal period led by musician Peter Frampton, allowing the cast to bond and improvise as a fictional band before principal shooting began.[17] Set design emphasized period details, such as earth-toned palettes in browns, greens, yellows, and oranges, custom-made 1970s band T-shirts, and wardrobe featuring bell-bottoms and velvet to immerse actors in the era.[17] A key challenge was constructing the airplane interior for the near-crash sequence, built using a real fuselage mounted on a hydraulic rig to simulate turbulence, which physically jostled the actors over 1.5 days of filming toward the end of production.[25] This setup induced motion sickness and hyperventilation among the cast, heightening the scene's raw tension as characters confessed secrets amid the panic.[25] Crowe employed Steadicam for dynamic, handheld-style shots to convey the disorientation, blending with cinematographer John Toll's varied techniques to mimic the handheld immediacy of documentary footage.[17][26] Improvisational moments added emotional depth, notably the "Tiny Dancer" sing-along on the tour bus, filmed in a confined real bus over two days using a single Steadicam to capture spontaneous performances.[27] Actors sang live to Elton John's track, with tensions from prior scripted conflicts fueling the cathartic group harmony, as Crowe encouraged natural reactions to build realism without multiple resets.[27] These on-set freedoms, combined with rigorous period reconstruction, underscored Crowe's commitment to evoking the euphoric yet volatile world of mid-1970s rock touring.[17]Music
Soundtrack
The Almost Famous soundtrack album, released by DreamWorks Records on September 12, 2000, compiles 13 tracks of period-appropriate rock music that underscore the film's 1970s setting and themes of youthful discovery through music. Curated by director Cameron Crowe, the album features iconic songs from established artists such as Simon & Garfunkel, The Who, Led Zeppelin, and Elton John, blending folk-rock introspection with hard rock energy to mirror the era's diverse rock landscape. It includes one original track by the film's fictional band Stillwater, "Fever Dog," which integrates seamlessly with the licensed material to enhance the narrative's authenticity without overshadowing the real songs.[28][29] Securing rights for the album's songs involved an intensive licensing process, as Crowe sought to capture the authentic sound of 1970s rock radio and concert culture. The production allocated approximately $3.5 million of the film's $60 million budget to music rights—double the typical amount for a feature film—reflecting the high costs of clearing tracks from legacy artists protective of their catalogs. A notable achievement was obtaining permissions from Led Zeppelin, who rarely licensed their music at the time; Crowe leveraged his prior success using "Kashmir" in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) to secure four of their songs for the film (one of which appears on the album), reportedly paying around $1 million for those rights alone. This process not only authenticated the film's depiction of rock fandom but also highlighted the era's influential bands, many of whom embodied the countercultural spirit central to the story.[30][31][32] Commercially, the album debuted on the Billboard 200 at No. 76 and peaked at No. 43, spending a total of four weeks on the chart in late 2000. Its performance was bolstered by the film's critical acclaim and the enduring appeal of its tracks, earning a Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album in 2001. While not a blockbuster seller, the soundtrack's cultural resonance has led to reissues, including a 20th-anniversary deluxe edition in 2021 with expanded tracks.[33][34] The track listing below details each song's placement on the album, its key scene usage in the film, and its cultural significance in 1970s rock, emphasizing how these selections evoke the period's blend of melodic introspection and raw energy.| Track | Song | Artist | Scene Context | Cultural Significance in 1970s Rock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "America" | Simon & Garfunkel | Plays as Anita shares her dreams of escape with her mother, setting a tone of familial tension and wanderlust. | From 1968's Bookends, this folk-rock staple captured the era's road-trip ethos and search for identity, influencing singer-songwriters amid the Vietnam War's disillusionment.[35] |
| 2 | "Sparks" | The Who | Transitions from young William's obsession with the band to his high school life, symbolizing rock's transformative power. | The 1973 track from Quadrophenia exemplified The Who's mod-rock opera style, blending power chords with emotional depth during the glam rock shift.[35] |
| 3 | "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference" | Todd Rundgren | Accompanies Lester Bangs' diner conversation with William, advising resilience in journalism and life. | Rundgren's 1972 solo hit from Something/Anything? represented the progressive pop experimentation of the early 1970s, bridging psychedelia and heartfelt balladry.[35] |
| 4 | "I've Seen All Good People: Your Move" | Yes | Sounds during the Stillwater road crew's equipment breakdown, capturing tour chaos. | This 1971 prog-rock medley from The Yes Album highlighted the genre's intricate harmonies and Eastern influences, defining the progressive wave's complexity.[35] |
| 5 | "Feel Flows" | The Beach Boys | Plays backstage after William meets Penny Lane and in the end credits montage, evoking fleeting romance. | From 1971's Surf's Up, it showcased the band's post-psychedelic evolution toward introspective harmonies, reflecting California's laid-back yet melancholic vibe.[35] |
| 6 | "Fever Dog" | Stillwater | Performed by the fictional band during a concert scene, with William and Penny in the audience. | Original to the film, it mimics 1970s hard rock anthems like those by Aerosmith, underscoring emerging band dynamics.[35] |
| 7 | "Every Picture Tells a Story" | Rod Stewart | Features at a raucous Los Angeles hotel party, heightening the hedonistic atmosphere. | Stewart's 1971 breakout from his solo album fused blues-rock with storytelling, epitomizing the Faces-era swagger in British invasion's twilight.[35] |
| 8 | "Mr. Farmer" | The Seeds | Lester plays it during his call with William, illustrating rock criticism's passion. | This 1967 garage-rock proto-punk track from Web of Sound captured the psychedelic fringe's raw energy, influencing the punk explosion later in the decade.[35] |
| 9 | "One Way Out" | The Allman Brothers Band | Live version kicks off the tour, energizing the road journey's start. | The 1972 Eat a Peach recording embodied Southern rock's jam-band ethos, blending blues with improvisational grooves central to 1970s festival culture.[35] |
| 10 | "Simple Man" | Lynyrd Skynyrd | Heard poolside as Russell Hammond imparts life advice to William. | From 1973's debut Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd, this Southern rock ballad stressed authenticity amid the genre's rise in the post-Woodstock era.[35] |
| 11 | "That's the Way" | Led Zeppelin | Plays during the tour bus crash aftermath and a heartfelt William-Penny exchange. | The 1970 acoustic folk from Led Zeppelin III revealed the band's softer side, contrasting their hard rock dominance and influencing folk-metal hybrids.[35] |
| 12 | "Tiny Dancer" | Elton John | The band unites in song on the bus, a pivotal moment of camaraderie. | From 1971's Madman Across the Water, John's glam-pop piano ballad became a 1970s radio staple, symbolizing emotional vulnerability in rock excess.[35] |
| 13 | "The Wind" | Cat Stevens | Closes the album, echoing themes of freedom in the film's reflective coda. | Stevens' 1971 track from Teaser and the Firecat embodied the singer-songwriter movement's spiritual introspection, peaking amid folk revival's peak.[35] |
