Dir. Cameron Crowe (2000)
Rated R Almost Famous is a movie about a boy named William who falls in love with rock and roll and becomes a groupie/journalist for the band Stillwater. He ditches school and leaves his strict mom when he is 15 years old and starts touring with the band to get interviews for a local journalist, and then eventually The Rolling Stone. Along the way, he meets Penny Lane, who calls herself a Band Aid. She travels with a group of girls and tour with Stillwater, solely because they love the music. Penny changes William's life and he falls in love with her while touring. He also becomes friends with all of the bandmates, the number one rule that his editor told him to follow while touring with them. He was warned that the stars would just take advantage of William, but William feels like he has actually found friends in them and feels included and loved. While on tour, he learns a lot of life lessons. There are ups and downs, and at times, real danger. He is exposed to all of the crazy, illegal things that are included on a rock band's tour (earning the movie of its R rating), and William goes against everything his mom has taught him growing up by going with the band. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I loved it. It had a great soundtrack (Simon and Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell, Elton John, etc.) and a great storyline. Throughout the movie, Penny refers to life outside the tour as the 'real world', and while they are with the band it feels like a fantasy. There are no worries, just music and fun. She talks to William about how they are going to go to Morocco when they are done touring and be completely new people with new names. I definitely got the dreamy vibe that was coming off, but there are also a ton of real moments in the movie that happen while they are on tour. Penny is in love with one of the band members, Russell, but she knows they can never be together and her heartbreak is a very raw aspect. It shows real human emotions in the midst of a rock band touring, where people are devoid of all responsibilities and care for anything. SPOILERS: the ending is bittersweet; William leaves the tour and goes back home (after getting published to The Rolling Stone) and Penny leaves with a broken heart. Russell is in love with Penny, but she moves on and her last scene is in an airport buying one window seat ticket to Morocco. William finally gets his interview with Russell after he shows up at his house, and then Russell and the band are off on their new adventure. William and his mom and sister are finally reunited. It is a happy ending but isn't at the same time. This movie was amazing. It is funny, sad, romantic and real. I would highly recommend.
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AuthorCasey Land Archives
January 2018
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