Crowe makes 'Almost Famous' almost great

By Michael Watanabe
Daily Forty-Niner

"Almost Famous," scheduled to be released on Friday, captures the awe and mystery of a rock band in the 1970s by depicting the ups and downs of the music industry.

The story follows William Miller played by Patrick Fugit, a 15-year-old innocent young boy and aspiring journalist.

Miller has a love for rock music that inspires him to write. He started with his school paper, but moved up to a mid-level music magazine.  Eventually, he gets the chance to do a Rolling Stone interview with up-and-coming band Stillwater.

During his journey through the world of rock-and-roll, Miller gets involved in the band's circle.  As things get more intense, Miller and the band members must decide who they really are. "Almost Famous" is a smart movie with a great story.

The characters are funny and loveable.  The story never forgets who we are.

Writer and director Cameron Crowe did an exceptional job writing such a witty and funny script.

Crowe got into Miller's mind and successfully showed an experience from Miller's 15-year-old perspective. Other characters react to Miller's genuine approach.

The actors deserve accolades for their performances. From the first scene, the chemistry between the characters grows. The great acting only heightened Crowe's writing style.

Despite the above, Crowe almost missed his mark in providing a too playful atmosphere that didn't let the situations sink in. Even when the movie got serious, it was hard to take it seriously.

Starring Francis McDorm-and, Kate Hudson, Jason Lee, Patrick Fugit, Anna Paquin, Fairuza Balk, Nod Taylor and Philip Seymour Hoffman.