Almost Famous - retro review
August 27th 2007 06:57
'Almost Famous' by Cameron Crowe-
I have seen this 2001 film on several occasions before; but I enjoy it so much that I watched it again on TV recently. It's both a great rock and roll movie, and a great coming of age/love story. Featuring an absolutely awesome period soundtrack which reads like a veritable who’s who of the early 1970s (Led Zeppelin, The Who, MC5, Iggy And The Stooges, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Elton John, Black Sabbath, and a particularly moving use of Yes’s prog rock epic ‘Your Move’ when our young protagonist meets his love interest, Penny Lane)
I know I wasn't born until nine years after the events of this movie (it's set in '73), but I felt all nostalgic watching it. The story concerns an intelligent young boy, William, who is encouraged by his rebellious older sister (Zoe Deschanel) to listen to rock music. He develops a real passion for the subject, and eventually lands a reporting gig for Lester Bangs of Creem magazine who asks him to write a review of Black Sabbath, who are currently touring his city. He befriends a (fictional) up-and-coming rock group, Stillwater (whose guitarist, manager, and lead singer are portrayed by Billy Crudup, Noah Taylor, and My Name Is Earl’s Jason Lee respectively), and ends up accompanying them on their US tour as a reporter for Rolling Stone magazine. Innocent but eager to please, William falls in love with groupie or ‘Band Aid’, Penny Lane (Kate Hudson, in one of her defining roles).
The script is well-written (its based upon the real-life experiences of director Crowe as he travelled with big name musical groups like Skynyrd and Zeppelin as a teenage reporter for Rolling Stone), the acting is impressive (especially Oscar-winning actors Phillip Seymour Hoffman, here playing real-life rock critic Lester Bangs; and Frances McDormand as William’s nagging, protective mother), the attention to period detail is spot on (I want that 'The Crunge' T-shirt that the crazed Zep fan is wearing that says 'Have you seen the bridge?'). What more could you want?
I've never tried listening to the Who’s classic album 'Tommy' whilst burning a candle, though. The movie says that doing so will allow you to 'see your entire future'. When the kid pulls out his sister's collection of albums that will make him 'cool', most of the ones he looks at are indeed very cool. 'Blonde on Blonde'(Bob Dylan), 'Axis: Bold As Love'(The Jimi Hendrix Experience), 'Pet Sounds' (The Beach Boys), 'Tommy' (The Who), 'Wheels Of Fire'(Cream), 'Led Zeppelin II', etc.
I noticed a blooper in the film, though, because I'm a geek. There are five Zeppelin songs that may be heard in the movie: That's The Way, Misty Mountain Hop, Bron Yr Aur, The Rain Song, and Tangerine (very underrated, and one of my favourite ballads from the band). But the film is set in 1973. The instrumental piece 'Bron Yr Aur' was released on 'Physical Graffiti' in 1975! I suppose it was a leftover from the Zep III sessions, though, in 1970, so I guess I'll let that one slide...
Anyone who digs great rock and roll (for me, the years 1967 through to about 1975 represented the true golden age of the genre. I mean, just think about how many fantastic albums came out in that time period), this movie is for you. Anyone who has been painfully in love with someone they cannot have (who hasn’t?), this movie is for you, too.
A great sex, drugs, and rock n roll movie, with a heart and soul. 9 out of 10
I have seen this 2001 film on several occasions before; but I enjoy it so much that I watched it again on TV recently. It's both a great rock and roll movie, and a great coming of age/love story. Featuring an absolutely awesome period soundtrack which reads like a veritable who’s who of the early 1970s (Led Zeppelin, The Who, MC5, Iggy And The Stooges, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Elton John, Black Sabbath, and a particularly moving use of Yes’s prog rock epic ‘Your Move’ when our young protagonist meets his love interest, Penny Lane)
The script is well-written (its based upon the real-life experiences of director Crowe as he travelled with big name musical groups like Skynyrd and Zeppelin as a teenage reporter for Rolling Stone), the acting is impressive (especially Oscar-winning actors Phillip Seymour Hoffman, here playing real-life rock critic Lester Bangs; and Frances McDormand as William’s nagging, protective mother), the attention to period detail is spot on (I want that 'The Crunge' T-shirt that the crazed Zep fan is wearing that says 'Have you seen the bridge?'). What more could you want?
I've never tried listening to the Who’s classic album 'Tommy' whilst burning a candle, though. The movie says that doing so will allow you to 'see your entire future'. When the kid pulls out his sister's collection of albums that will make him 'cool', most of the ones he looks at are indeed very cool. 'Blonde on Blonde'(Bob Dylan), 'Axis: Bold As Love'(The Jimi Hendrix Experience), 'Pet Sounds' (The Beach Boys), 'Tommy' (The Who), 'Wheels Of Fire'(Cream), 'Led Zeppelin II', etc.
I noticed a blooper in the film, though, because I'm a geek. There are five Zeppelin songs that may be heard in the movie: That's The Way, Misty Mountain Hop, Bron Yr Aur, The Rain Song, and Tangerine (very underrated, and one of my favourite ballads from the band). But the film is set in 1973. The instrumental piece 'Bron Yr Aur' was released on 'Physical Graffiti' in 1975! I suppose it was a leftover from the Zep III sessions, though, in 1970, so I guess I'll let that one slide...
Anyone who digs great rock and roll (for me, the years 1967 through to about 1975 represented the true golden age of the genre. I mean, just think about how many fantastic albums came out in that time period), this movie is for you. Anyone who has been painfully in love with someone they cannot have (who hasn’t?), this movie is for you, too.
A great sex, drugs, and rock n roll movie, with a heart and soul. 9 out of 10
| 59 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog