Movies

Cameron Crowe's first film since his Academy Award nominated hit Jerry Maguire captures a pivotol time in the history of rock and roll. Set in 1973, it chronicles the funny and often poignant coming of age of 15-year-old William (Patrick Fugit), an unabashed music fan who is inspired by the seminal bands of the time.

When his love of music lands him an assignment from Rolling Stone magazine to interview the up-and-coming band Stillwater--fronted by lead guitar Russell (Billy Crudup) and lead singer Jeff Bebe (Jason Lee)--William embarks on an eye-opening journey with the band, despite the objections of his protective morhter (Frances McDormmand). With the help of the lovely "band aid" Penny lane (Kate Hudson), William finds himself in a circle. But as he becomes less an observer and more a participant in the band's dynamics, the fledgling reporter loses the objectivity to tell his story honestly, and learns a life-changing lesson about the importance of family-the ones we inherit, and the ones we create.

Brilliantly written, Almost Famous is a feel good movie you can sink your teeth into. From the incredible soundtrack to the all-star cast, the movie is enjoyable from every perspective. If you are a movie watcher who likes to enjoy film as entertainment, but also as a form of art, you may enjoy the scene on the tour bus as Elton John's Tiny Dancer plays. Moments like that can be very powerful in a movie in which it is not necessarily expected. I am not generally a Philip Seymour Hoffman fan, but his role as mentor to young William was a great role. He summed up life towards the end of the movie, "The only true currency in this bankrupt world... is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."

Check out this movie. This is one of the good ones.

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