FemaleFirst.co.uk: DVD: Almost Famous [DVD] [2000]

Almost Famous [DVD] [2000]
enlarge	Director: Cameron Crowe Actors: Billy Crudup, Zooey Deschanel, Patrick Fugit, Jimmy Fallon, John Fedevich Studio: Uca Category: DVD List Price: ~~£5.99~~ Buy New: £0.98 as of 22/3/2010 01:08 GMT details You Save: £5.01 (84%) New (11) Used (6) from £0.97 Seller: film2u Rating: 46 reviews Sales Rank: 34221 Format: PAL Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over Region: 2 Number Of Discs: 1 Running Time: 118 Minutes Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2 Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6 EAN: 5050582604726 ASIN: B001MAA6NI Theatrical Release Date: 2000 Release Date: January 26, 2009 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days


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Editorial Reviews: Amazon.co.uk Review emAlmost Famous/em is the movie Cameron Crowe has been waiting a lifetime to tell. The fictionalisation of Crowe's days as a teenage reporter for Creem and Rolling Stone has all the well-written characters and wonderful "movie moments" that we expect from Crowe (Jerry Maguire), but the film has an intangible something extra--an insider's touch that will turn the film into the ode to '70s rock roll for years to come. We are introduced to Crowe's alter ego, William Miller (Patrick Fugit), at home, where his progressive mom (Frances McDormand, just superb) has outlawed rock music and sister Anita (Zooey Deschanel) has slipped him LPs that will "set his mind free." Following the wisdom of Creem's disheveled editor, Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman in an instant-classic performance), Miller gets on the inside with the up-and-coming band Stillwater (a fictionalised mixture of the Allman Brothers, Led Zeppelin, and others). A simple visit with the band turns into a three-week, life-altering odyssey into the heyday of American rock. Of the characters he meets on the road, the two most important are groupie extraordinaire Penny Lane (Kate Hudson in a star-making performance) and Stillwater's enigmatic lead guitarist (Billy Crudup), who keeps stringing Miller along for an interview. From the handwritten credits (done by Crowe) to the bittersweet finale, Crowe's comedic valentine is an indelible, heartbreaking romance of music, women, and the privilege of youth. --emDoug Thomas/em

Customer Reviews: Showing reviews 1-5 of 46 1 2 3 4 5 6 ...10 Next » Almost perfect September 24, 2001 cmdearlove@aol.com (York, England) 16 out of 17 found this review helpful Crowe's partially autobiographical story about a gifted but naïve young rock journalist prematurely entering the world of his idols is moving, hilarious, thought-provoking and as good as any of his previous films. William comes of age as he deals with the rock and roll lifestyle, journalistic pressures, sex, jealousy and the questionable sincerity of his new 'friends' - all this with his over-protective mother demanding to know his every move.p The acting is fabulous - my favourite performance is the stunning (in every way) Kate Hudson as 'band-aid' Penny Lane ("not a groupie!"). Also an awesome debut from Fugit - perfectly cast and totally believable. My favourite film moment is when the characters reveal their deepest secrets on the tour plane because turbulence makes them believe they are going to die.pThe DVD offers excellent extras including a documentary and actual Rolling Stone transcripts, written by Crowe. The soundtrack is impressive but the best feature is the picture of Hudson on the cover - almost perfect. Great Version of a Great Movie November 14, 2005 Sordel (United Kingdom) 5 out of 5 found this review helpful "Almost Famous" is a truly great film about music by someone who was also a great rock journalist. If you missed it in cinemas, this is a great opportunity to pick it up for home viewing.pThe three discs here are a short CD by "Stillwater" (the fictional band from the film), a DVD of the original theatrical release and the main event: a DVD of the Director#x27;s Cut with a commentary by Cameron Crowe and his mother.pThe longer version, it should be noted, takes what was already a brilliant autobiographical film and adds some key scenes, most of which explore further the rock world of the early seventies. Crowe himself wanted to tell not merely a love story, but - more importantly - the love story between a band and its fans. The additional detail really "sells" this aspect of the film, most notably in an extraordinarily moving scene when Kate Hudson#x27;s character is thrown a birthday party by the band. If you haven#x27;t seen this version, you haven#x27;t really seen the film: it really does make that much difference.pFinally, the commentary, which is one of the most informative that I#x27;ve encountered. Crowe#x27;s mom (played to great effect in the film by Frances McDormand) provides a wonderful foil to Crowe himself as they talk about how closely events in the film tracked the actual events of his life as a journalist with Rolling Stone. If you think that the movie is inauthentic before you hear the commentary, you will have changed your mind by the end of it. Both come across as really warm, funny people as well, which is more than can be said for most commentators on DVDs.pOne niggle: there#x27;s an important scene that was deleted presumably because Crowe couldn#x27;t get permission to use "Stairway to Heaven". It#x27;s here as an extra on the disc (you have to play your own CD along with it) but isn#x27;t incorporated into the "Untitled" Director#x27;s Cut. It#x27;s a shame that in this area the copyright holder spoiled what was in every other respect a great DVD version of one of the better films of recent years. A Detailed look at Rock and Roll in the Seventies!!! December 30, 2001 Mrs. Erin Weatherstone (England) 4 out of 4 found this review helpful Almost Famous is a nostalgic look at the director Cameron Crowe's life, how he wanted to be a writer for a Rock and Roll magazine .The central Character William(newcomer Patrick Fugit) has the chance to go on the road for Rolling Stone Magazine with up and coming new Rock Band 'Stillwater',much to the disapproval of his overbearing,rock and roll hating mother(the perfectly cast Frances McDormand). Along the way he meets a number of great people, lead of the band Russell(played by Billy Crudup)and Penny Lane (played by Kate Hudson), this young writer has a huge effect on all the characters in this film as they help each other live the rock and roll life in the 70's. Cameron Crowe picked an excellent cast, young and inspiring who let you have just a taster of life on the road with a rock band. This is a film that is not to be missed.A Film for all aspiring writers and Rock Band hope to be's.brAlmost Famous more like Absolutely Fabulous! Impossible not to enjoy August 11, 2001 25 out of 28 found this review helpful This film is both a eulogy for a bygone age (the mid 70s) and an intimate portrait of aspiring journalist William Miller's coming of age, as he follows up-and-coming rock band Stillwater around the USA. The young cast is excellent - Patrick Fugit shoulders the pivotal role with unassuming ease, Billy Crudup is a convincing guitar hero, Jason Lee is engaging as ever and Kate Hudson sparkles as the head Band Aid.pMany scenes in the film are wish fulfillment writ large - the tourbus, the backstage parties, the hotel rooms and the groupies. However, the moments of abandon are tempered with displacement and loneliness for William as he tries to shake off his sheltered upbringing. Watching this process is often funny and sometimes painful, but even in its darker moments the film is shot through with warmth and affection.pAn immaculate soundtrack complements the action perfectly. From the very beginning the music works with the sets, clothes and haircuts, to transport the viewer back to the 1970s. This is the most unashamedly enjoyable film I have seen in a long time. Stellar script, soundtrack, performances, and direction will make you feel 18....well, 17....OK - 16 again. *** CROWE'S BEST YET? *** October 17, 2002 Mr. N. Carnegie (Kirkcaldy, Scotland, UK.) 9 out of 10 found this review helpful Set in the early seventies and the time of endlessly touring British and American concept rock bands and told through the eyes of high school kid and wannabe rock journalist William Miller, the movie follows the lives of the up-and-coming fictionalised rock band Stillwater and one of their most special fans, Miss Penny Lane (the excellent Kate Hudson). Whether you were around in the seventies and remember this era (I wasn't and I don't) it is hard not to be moved be this rock odyssey as the band move from town to town, squabble to squabble and we watch William grow. pThis has everything you'd expect from a movie about a rock band, girls, drink, drugs, fighting and general excessive bad behaviour but it skilfully avoids ever falling into cliché because the characters here are not just rock stars or groupies, they are real people, with human weaknesses and human strengths. Crowe's writing and direction are both subtle and beguiling and he draws extraordinary performances out of all the main leads including Billy Crudup (as lead guitarist and charismatic star of Stillwater), Kate Hudson (as Penny Lane), young Patrick Fugit (as William) and great supporting turns from the finest young character alive at this moment, Philip Seymour Hoffman (as legendary rock journo. Lester Bangs) and Frances McDormand, as William's overprotective mother. pI must admit to being a big fan of Cameron Crowe's work ever since seeing Say Anything and Jerry Maguire and unlike the, by all accounts, very disappointing Vanilla Sky, Almost Famous is up there with Crowe's finest work. Great romance, great humour and great warmth, this semi-autobiographical movie has it all in bucket loads and if this doesn't warm the cockles of your heart their aint much hope left for you I'm afraid. Showing reviews 1-5 of 46 1 2 3 4 5 6 ...10 Next »

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