Simply A Masterpiece

Powerful

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

There are many reasons why I love this movie, but the ultimate reason is because I watched it at a pivotal point in my life and it effected my direction ever since. I loved music, but knew I would never be a musician. I always loved writing, but never saw it as a career until I saw Almost Famous. It made me realize that this thing I did as a hobby could be turned into a fulfilling career and allowed me to be in the music industry without picking up an instrument. I went on to write for various music magazines around the world.Aside from this movie being personally impactful, it has tremendous acting, writing, directing, with a killer soundtrack. It shows the ups and downs of a emerging rock band, the struggles of growing up and just trying to find your place in this world. It's brilliant and will always hold a special place in my heart; not to mention the smile on my face whenever Tiny Dancer comes on the radio.

It's really a piece of art. I'd place it in same category as contemporary period dramas like Forrest Gump - a rich and detailed story line accentuated by its characteristic soundtrack. The plot is based on golden age of rock 'n roll - early 70s. The story line works on parallels: much like the music of that time, the young protagonist also faces some moral dilemmas early on during his adolescence - should he continue to remain a mama's boy and do as told or should he give in to the temptation of experimenting and temptation of drugs. And the movie very carefully shows us two-three parallel journeys of realization: first one, the young and fascinated teen who realizes that best place to be is at home; second one, a rock star who reconciles to reality that true companionship is most important and third, the fan girl who decides to move on in life (well, there were more but these are the top three). It's a movie well deserving of an academy award for screenplay because the director/writer actually didn't get seduced only by the music.

It's the 70s, the golden age of rock-n-roll. Bands like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple are on the rise and the genre couldn't be more relevant. Enter one William Miller (Patrick Fugit), a budding rock critic and journalist, who gets a chance from Rolling Stones magazine to tour with Stillwater, one of his favourite bands, with the idea of publishing an article about them. The only problem being that he's a bit young, only 15 years old, which is pretty young for the rocky road ahead.The biggest draw of this film is its absolutely brilliant take on the culture behind rock-n-roll in the 70s. That culture is the real star of the film. It's not even really about the music. The band Stillwater is completely fictitious, as are all of the characters. The other bands sited and the magazine are real enough, but that's about it. There aren't even that many scenes of Stillwater playing in the film. Yet this is one of the best films about music I've seen in my life. Because it takes a certain kind of person to uproot yourself, travel across the country, play and compose music. Not to mention those that travel with them with the sole purpose of supporting the phenomenon that is the band.The film explores this culture in a really great way through the eyes of William. Because he is a critic. He purposefully puts himself in an outsider's position. His self-appointed task is to observe so that he can later tell about it to others. The film would be quite different if it was told from the point of view of Russell, Stillwater's lead guitarist and the second most important character in the film.This is a great film for all lovers of rock and music in general. It's acted and shot really well, but its understanding of culture is what truly elevates it above its peers.

You have to watch this piece of class. They just don't make them anymore. But what makes this movie so great? Acting, Storyline, Direction, and most importantly how emotions & continuous search for identity in the people leads them in their journey of life. Russel says- " But… it's not what you put in, is it?It's what you leave out. Listen to… listen to Marvin Gaye…A song like "What's Going On." That single "woo" at the end of the second verse – you know that woo – that single "woo."That's what you remember. The silly things, the little things… there's only one, and it makes the song.It's what you leave out. That's rock and roll."And this movie is full of these silly little things.A simple and honest high school boy(William Miller) gets an assignment to review a band. He meets Miss Penny Lane, who is a "band-aid" (euphemism for groupie). Miss Penny Lane's constant desire to do something exciting is what leads her life, and Stillwater's music is what excites her the most. She looks like a free bird who can go anywhere, do anything. But as it turns out this very freedom restricts her from seeing the reality of life, right in front of her. On the other hand, William is just the opposite of Penny, bound by her mother's control. And when these two opposites meet, They make them see the entirety of life and its balanced beautiful nature.