Almost Famous

"Almost Famous" is another music movie that leaves us amazed and satisfied.

William - a 15-year-old unapologetic music aficionado who is influenced by the era's pioneering bands - comes of age in humorous and sometimes heartbreaking ways in this 1973-set movie. When his passion for music earns him a job from Rolling Stone to meet the up-and-coming group Stillwater — headed by lead vocalist Jeff Bebe and lead guitarist Russell Hammond - he is ecstatic. William goes on an enlightening adventure with the group's tour, despite his mother's concerns.

In the movie "Almost Famous," his greatest personal film, director Crowe reflects on this defining event of his life and adapts it into a charming coming-of-age comedy. Even if acid is picked up, groupies are traded like poker chips, and rock star egos explode like pyrotechnics, the relative purity of that age still shines through, in which rock music had not yet completely surrendered to the spirit of capitalism.

"Almost Famous" is imbued with a tenderness that belongs to both the director and his alter ego, William, whose intelligent yet awestruck eyes are treasured by the viewers. William aches for a groupie named Penny Lane - portrayed by Kate Hudson - the daughter of Goldie Hawn. He shouts, "I'm not sweet!" at her. "I am strange and ominous." Aren't these descriptions suited to most boys that age?

Year of Release: 2000

Stars: Billy Crudup, Kate Hudson

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%