I was uncool until uncool was cool (Almost Famous (DVD))

Member Name: StrongSide

Product:	Almost Famous (DVD)
Date:	09/08/09 (19 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Hoffman is legendary, entire cast is perfect, one of the best scripts I've read (dialogue mainly)

Disadvantages: None at all

Almost Famous is a film I consider one to watch before you die and is a perfect showcase of the ingredients for an extraordinary movie. You can't have anything memorable and vivid without an unconditionally believable cast who, more importantly, connect naturally. For me, Almost Famous represents what newer releases are missing. You can have the most famous, highly paid actors and actresses in the world on an infinite budget but without a script as true-to-life and touching as Almost Famous', it's wasted money.

Not only does it have some of the best dialogue, written by Cameron Crowe himself, that I've heard in a film, but the characters are subtly yet brilliantly intertwined. Billy Crudup does an outstanding job as the unpredictable lead guitarist Russell Hammond, for Stillwater, with more heart than he lets on. Frances McDormand was the most believable mother I have seen in a movie! Constantly overbearing but likeable with some fantastic lines, particularly with Russell. The most depth was given to Kate Hudson as Penny Lane who really shone throughout and gave a more than admirable performance.

However, my favourite performance was from THE most underrated actor in the history of film; Philip Seymour Hoffman as Lester Bangs. Undeniably hilarious in Along Came Polly and perennially quoted, but not praised enough. For some reason I usually enjoy the support cast more than the lead in a movie and there's usually one in particular. This time, it was Hoffman. His very small but important sub-plot with William (Patrick Fugit) was done perfectly. I thoroughly enjoyed the dialogue when they're talking on the phone near the end of the movie. He acted like a distant older brother to William, a sort of guidance to the world of music journalism and it was inspiring to see it done so well on film. He literally stole every scene he was in. That phone call is how I imagine journalists to talk; almost like poetry for film:

"See, friendship is the booze they feed you. They want you to get drunk on feeling like you belong."

"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what we share with someone else when we're uncool".

They're two great lines from Hoffman and although he had limited time and seemed unused, it was great that he was just a support character. Usually, like with Barry Pepper, I want a talented support actor to get more screen but restricting Hoffman as William's go-to-guy was so much more effective.

If you're wondering what the actual movie is about after that 400 word ramble of praise, well it basically shows a very young aspiring music journalist with an over-protective mother and rebellious sister (Zooey Deshanel who is superb as usual), who goes on tour with Stillwater to write a front page article on them in the Rolling Stones magazine. You don't have to enjoy the genre to enjoy this original and thought-provoking dramedy.

Summary: How this isn't in IMDB's Top 250, I'll never know.