No. 31 - Almost Famous (2000)

From the writer / director of "Jerry Maguire"

Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance-age 13) for language, sexual situations

Director and Writer: Cameron Crowe

Starring: Patrick Fugit, Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup, Jason Lee, Frances McDormand, Anna Paquin, Fairuza Balk, Philip S. Hoffman, Zooey Deschanel, Noah Taylor

Movie Introduction: Set in 1973, this film chronicles the funny and often poignant coming-of-age of 15-year-old William Miller (Fugit), a dedicated music fan who inspires to become a rock and roll journalist. His determination lands him an assignment from Rolling Stone magazine to interview the up-and-coming band Stillwater, fronted by lead guitar player Russell Hammond (Crudup) and lead singer Jeff Bebe (Lee). With the help of groupie Penny Lane (Hudson), William earns the trust of the band. With his high school graduation looming, he embarks on an eye-opening journey with the band's raucous and party-filled tour, despite the objections of his protective, and very worried, mother Elaine (McDormand).   

Defining Moment: onstage with Stillwater

Fledgling rock journalist William Miller is denied access backstage to his first concert assignment. A bus pulls up, and the band Stillwater spills out. William is able to convince the band that he wants to write their story. He quickly befriends the band and blonde groupie, Penny Lane. He interviews band members, and chats it up with Penny. A few seconds before show time, the lights go down, the band joins arms, sings a little pre-jam ditty and heads up the stairs to the darkened stage. William and Penny follow. As they reach the backstage area, lead guitarist Reggie Hammond, asks William and Penny to "stand over there.", just off stage. The band then rips into "Fever Dog" as the two young enthusiasts occasionally glance at each other, nodding in agreement at how lucky they are. This one scene encapsulates what it meant to be a rock 'n' roller in the 1970’s. (Watch it on YouTube)

Something subtle you might have missed:  spin that vinyl, baby

This film takes place at a time where there were only three ways to get access to cool music: Radio. Live. And Records. If you were lucky, there was one AM rock station in your area. This was way before Sirius radio and a thousand channels. Live was great, but only if your parents let you go to concerts - Mine, of course, did not. Rock and Roll apparently was the devil’s work. Plus I never had that kind of money.

This left us with black plastic records pressed into vinyl to satisfy our rabid quest for the loud, raunchy music we craved. But Long Plays (LPs) weren’t without issues. Their sound could be great, but the regular kid’s record player was often a K-Mart piece of junk, where the needle was always breaking or your beat-up record skipped during the best part of a song. Still, somehow we managed.

In this film, William’s older sister, when she leaves home, bequeaths her record collection to him, passing the torch of cool, conveying mind-altering possibilities. When William meets Lester Bangs, we see the famous Rock journalist’s hallowed temple of well-worn vinyl LPs. Records, and their awesome album covers, meant everything.  

Memorable Quotes:

"Aw, man. You made friends with them. See, friendship is the booze they feed you. They want you to get drunk on feeling like you belong.” - Lester Bangs

"We are not groupies. Groupies sleep with rock stars because they want to be near someone famous. We are here because of the music, we inspire the music. We are Band Aids." - Penny Lane

"All she ever did was love your band, and you threw her away! She almost died last night while you were with Bob Dylan. You guys are always talking about the fans, the fans, the fans. She was your biggest fan! And you threw her away! And if you can't see that, then that's your biggest problem." - William Miller

Dad's Review:

"I know, it's only rock and roll, but I like it, like it, yes I do!" - Mick

Up to a point, I liked country music and Elvis. That music meshed pretty well with folks, including my Mom, and my Uncle whom I worked for during the summers on the ranch in Texas. This wonderful country man loved country music from waaay back. 

The summer between 8th grade and my Freshman year, Mom agreed to let me take advantage of the Columbia House magazine ad that promised "Buy 10 LP's or 8-Tracks for ONE PENNY" (the catch - provided you purchase 8 at full price over the next 3 years). It was a great deal! So I taped my copper cent to the form, opted for the newer technology of the 8-track, and sent it in.

To my credit, I decided to try two selections that were outside of my usual musical preference. My thinking was, "Let's just see what all the hubbub is about. If I don't like it, I've only wasted 2/10ths of a penny." The risky two selections were KISS: Destroyer and Aerosmith: Rocks. I had no idea how this simple decision would affect my life.

"Rockstars have kidnapped my son." - Elaine Miller

From that point on, I was a ROCKER. To the dusty back of my closet went recordings by George Jones, Lynn Anderson, Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty and the like. Even Elvis had to go. They were dead to me. I ushered in a whole new genre of music: Rush, Led Zeppelin, Heart, Van Halen, AC/DC, Styx, Foreigner, Foghat, Nazareth. I ran to the local bookshelves and begged Mom to buy me Cream, Circus and Hit Parader magazines. She thought I was losing my mind. My new heroes were Robert Plant, Alice Cooper, Pat Benatar, Gene Simmons, Angus Young, and Ozzy Osborne - you know, upstanding people in the eyes of conservative America.

After about a year, my mom had purchased ear plugs and my Texas Uncle made the statement below about rock and roll, and it kinda sums it up perfectly...

"It's just a bunch of bangin' and a beatin' and a hollerin'. I don't understand it." - C. T. Straley, my country-music lovin' uncle

Rock 'n' Roll, in its heyday, is the beating heart of Almost Famous. The film is a semi-biography of its creator, Cameron Crowe. His life has a lot of "Rock" connections, including his wife, the talented Nancy Wilson of the band Heart. He was also a teenage writer for Rolling Stone magazine, like young William in the film.   

Almost Famous follows wanna-be writer William Miller, as he gains access to an up-and-coming band, Stillwater. They initially don't like him because, well, he is the review-writing press. They even give him the nickname "The enemy". However, due to his innocence and honesty, they warm to him quickly and ask him tour with the band.

William forms a bond with groupie Penny Lane, who is in love with the band's handsome lead guitarist, Russell Hammond.

The audience gets to experience all the ups and down on the road of a rock band tour: the long days and nights, management issues, worried parents, drug overdoses, and broken hearts and friendships.

Of course, I love the performance by Frances McDormond as William's single mom, Elaine. She reminds me of my Mom, at war with the rebellious culture of the day, but always staying true to her children, despite their failings. This film also introduced the world to Billy Crudup and the adorable Kate Hudson (the daughter of Jim Hudson and Goldie Hawn) - they will leave a lasting impression on you.  

Onto No. 32... A Yankee Lycanthrope in the Big Smoke Court