IMDb > Almost Famous (2000)
Almost Famous
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Overview

User Rating:
8.0/10   89,793 votes
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Up 9% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer (WGA):
Cameron Crowe (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Almost Famous on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
13 September 2000 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Experience it. Enjoy it. Just don't fall for it.
Plot:
A high-school boy is given the chance to write a story for Rolling Stone Magazine about an up-and-coming rock band as he accompanies it on their concert tour. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 44 wins & 76 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(232 articles)
Zooey Deschanel to be a Groupie on HBO
 (From Collider.com. 3 February 2010, 9:36 AM, PST)

Zooey Deschanel Gets to Finally Be a Groupie on TV
 (From Cinematical. 3 February 2010, 6:03 AM, PST)

User Reviews:
One of my favourite movies of all-time more (752 total)


Additional Details

Also Known As:
Something Real (USA) (working title)
Stillwater (USA) (working title)
The Uncool (USA) (working title)
Untitled Cameron Crowe Project (USA) (working title)
Untitled: Almost Famous the Bootleg Cut (USA) (director's cut (DVD title))
more
MPAA:
Rated R for language, drug content and brief nudity.
Runtime:
122 min | USA:162 min (director's cut) | Croatia:152 min (DVD extended cut)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Brazil:12 | Italy:T | Ireland:15 | Philippines:R-18 | Norway:15 (video rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA (original rating) | Australia:M (re-rating on appeal) | Canada:14A | Canada:G (Québec) | Chile:14 | Denmark:7 | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 | Iceland:12 | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:18 | Spain:7 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #37614) | USA:Unrated (director's cut) | Singapore:R(A) (censored version) (original rating) | Singapore:M18 (cut) (re-rating)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The opening credit sequence is a homage to the one in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), one of director Cameron Crowe's all-time favorite films. Immediately after the opening credits, William Miller and his mother are having a discussion about Atticus Finch, the protagonist of "To Kill a Mockingbird". more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: When William is typing his first article, the words, "And it's not about popularity" are appearing on the paper, but he is typing T G U G H M R and N. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Elaine Miller: I can't believe you wanna be Atticus Finch. Oh, that makes me feel so good.
Young William: I like him.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Under the Influence (2008) more
Soundtrack:
Misty Mountain Hop more

FAQ

What were the songs I heard in Almost Famous?
Is there a real Penny Lane?
Is Stillwater a real band?
more
146 out of 163 people found the following review useful.
One of my favourite movies of all-time, 5 February 2005
10/10
Author: segacs from Montreal, Canada

Finally, a movie worth the full price of a ticket! Almost Famous is Cameron Crowe's semi-autobigraphical story of an aspiring rock journalist who goes on tour with a band in the 1970's. If it sounds familiar, it's probably because the story is hardly new. There have been dozens of movies made about the rock and roll lifestyle: the drugs, the sex, the fights, and all the bumps on the road to success.

So what sets Almost Famous apart? The acting, for one. Frances McDormand was brilliant as William's (newcomer Patrick Fugit) well-meaning but overbearing mother. Fugit, for his part, had a convincing performance as the shy, awkward teenager struggling to be a journalist but at the same time aching to belong. Kate Hudson, in her breakout role as groupie "Penny Lane", gave her character depth beyond what might have been a limiting role. And Billy Crudup, as band Stillwater's charismatic lead guitarist, shines. Jason Lee is always good, and as Stillwater's lead singer, this role is no exception. And I can't review this film without giving a shout-out to the chronically and criminally-underrated Philip Seymour Hoffman, who steals every scene he's in with his portrayal of legendary rock journalist Lester Bangs.

The writing in the film also contributes to its effect. Many of the great lines belong to McDormand but there are plenty of others to go around. In addition, the music of the era can't be beat. Everything from Simon and Garfunkle to Alvin and the Chipmunks shows up at some point in the movie's extensive musical score.

The plot may not be particularly original, but it rings true. I of course am approaching this review as a music fan and someone interested in the industry. Nonetheless, I believe that even people who couldn't care less about rock music will enjoy this movie, since it's not so much about the music as it is about life. A central theme is the conflict of William: Should he remain a detached but lonely outsider so as to be an impartial journalist, or allow himself to make friends with these people and feel like he belongs? Aside from bringing up questions of journalistic ethics, this dilemma mirrors much of what people in all wakes of life deal with daily.

Almost Famous is realistic, funny, touching, and one of those rare movies that makes you feel like you've gained something just for having seen it. It's too bad that they say rock and roll is dead, cause we could sure use more movies like this one!

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Was Russell married to.... parks8321
My favorite scene of the whole movie sonoruslupin22
Please help me try to figure out this song kristen1234
Tangerine the_essence
Great Rock Bands Today mels_6989
Another reason why Penny Lane might be older than 16... kristen1234
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