Great drama (Almost Famous (DVD))

Member Name: shaneo632

Product:	Almost Famous (DVD)
Date:	22/07/09 (7 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great cast and writing

Disadvantages: None

Cameron Crowe is known for his teen dramedies such as Say Anything, and whilst he does sometimes saunter into melodramatic excess, he does have a hand for how teens think, as well as capturing a sense of time and place. No better has he done this than in the Oscar-nominated Almost Famous, which won Crowe an Academy Award for the screenplay he wrote, which was based on his own experienced as a teenager touring with The Allman Brothers Band, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, and Lynyrd Skynyrd, and writing for Rolling Stone magazine.

William Miller (Patrick Fugit) is a young boy aspiring to be a rock music journalist, whilst trying to contend with his hugely conservative and overbearing mother Elaine (Frances McDormand). Miraculously, he scores a job with Rolling Stone magazine, to write an article about the hand Stillwater, with the potential of his article making it to the front page. Along the way, he comes across a girl who calls herself Penny Lane (Kate Hudson), a girl who seems to have no life outside of the groupie culture.

It's a sweet and sincere film that boasts a great ensemble cast, and some great songs throughout. It's intimate and involving, and Crowe's normal hand for humanism shines through in spades.

A potent dramedy about the rock and roll lifestyle that initially appears very simple but hides a more nuanced story about responsibility and coming of age. Cameron Crowe's clever screenplay and a great soundtrack make this worth a watch.

Summary: A winning drama