Almost Famous/American Beauty

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Almost Famous
Almost Famous is the movie Cameron Crowe has been waiting a lifetime to tell. The fictionalization 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 fictionalized 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. --Doug Thomas

American Beauty
From its first gliding aerial shot of a generic suburban street, American Beauty moves with a mesmerizing confidence and acuity epitomized by Kevin Spacey's calm narration. Spacey is Lester Burnham, a harried Everyman whose midlife awakening is the spine of the story, and his very first lines hook us with their teasing fatalism. It's an audacious start for a film that justifies that audacity. Weaving social satire, domestic tragedy, and whodunit into a single package, Alan Ball's first theatrical script dares to blur generic lines and keep us off balance, winking seamlessly from dark, scabrous comedy to deeply moving drama. The Burnham family joins the cinematic short list of great dysfunctional American families, as Lester is pitted against his manic, materialistic realtor wife, Carolyn (Annette Bening, making the most of a mostly unsympathetic role) and his sullen, contemptuous teenaged daughter, Jane (Thora Birch, utterly convincing in her edgy balance of self-absorption and wistful longing). Into their lives come two catalytic outsiders. A young cheerleader (Mena Suvari) jolts Lester into a sexual epiphany that blooms into a second adolescence. And an eerily calm young neighbor (Wes Bentley) transforms both Lester and Jane with his canny influence. Credit another big-screen newcomer, English theatrical director Sam Mendes, with expertly juggling these potentially disjunctive elements into a superb ensemble piece that achieves a stylized pace without lapsing into transparent self-indulgence. Mendes has shrewdly insured his success with a solid crew of stage veterans, yet he's also made an inspired discovery in Bentley, whose Ricky Fitts becomes a fulcrum for both plot and theme. Cinematographer Conrad Hall's sumptuous visual design further elevates the film, infusing the beige interiors of the Burnhams' lives with vivid bursts of deep crimson, the color of roses--and of blood. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

You should deffinently check out both these films........2006-04-18

Almost famous and American beauty were both films I had ordered from Amazon ages ago, both films on their own are unique and wondrefull and both have great performances from their cast especialy Kevin Spacey's oscar winning performace which is a very memerobale role he definnently deserved to win.
Almost famous tells the story of a rock band in the 70's and all the people involved it also gives us a glimpse of the life of a young reporter William Miller played by Patrick Fugit when he turns fifteen he manages to get a writing assignment with Creem and then with rolling stone magazine for the rising band called sillwater.

Despite having a discouraging and overprotective mother (Frances McDormand who was fantastic) he gets the assignment and packs his bags to leave home, William soon observes the behaviour of this particular band from everything they go through like drugs, sex and basicly the whole rock and roll lifestyle he also meets up with the groupies or "band aids" including Penny Lane excellently played by Kate Hudson she also shows the downsides of this lifestyle when she attempts to kill her self but soon gets her stomach pumped after consuming alot of alchohol, there is sort of a romance developing between Penny Lane and William but its more sweet and innocent as they both have two completely different lives. The film is somewhat based on director Cameron Crowe's life as a teen and it was wonderfully directed by him and I also think its one of his best films and no I'm not a big fan of his. This film deserves 5/5 stars and I highly recomend this especialy if your looking for a coming of age drama/comedy.

American Beauty was directed by Sam Mendes, the film is a realistic look at the darker side of the American suburban life ofcourse not all suburban life is like this duh! but in this film it tells us how realy dysfuntional this family can get under the circumstances, each family member is cold and distant with each other. Lester (Kevin Spacey) has to deal with his manic materialistic realtor wife, Carolyn (Annette Bening) who is rather unsympathetic and kind of annoying and his daughter (Thora Birch) is the typical teenager always moody, depressed and full of angst and is constantly irratated by her parents.
Lester is going through a midlife crisis but soon everything changes when he meets his daughters friend a young cheerleader from school (Mena Suvari) he emidiately changes his life by quiting his job, working out more, smocking pot ect. both his wife and daughter are not phased by this sudden change infact his wife only gets worse by having an affair, the daughter gets involved with the wierd teen that lives next door (Wes Bentley) who has a cam-corder and likes taking pictures and has a millitary father that might be gay or in the closet nobody knows. Lester also begins to lust after his daughter's friend and starts having fantasies including the famous scene with the red rose petals, this great film has many layers to it and you begin to see that maybe there might be some inner beauty in all of us, the film is a great example of a very dark comedy and drama its good but I didn't like it that much I would give it 4/5 stars although it doesn't show an extremely dysfunctional family like in Todd Solondz Happiness or Takashi Miikes Visitor Q which I also recomend but only if you have a strong stomach.

Rock and Roll Heaven And A Suburban Reality Check.......2006-04-16

"Almost Famous" ...5 stars
Watching this film is like being in Rock and Roll Heaven! It is filled with young bright shining stars, under the superb direction of Cameron Crowe(Jerry Maguire). The music is like a trip down memory lane, and is very much a part of this great ensemble.

This semi-autobiographical coming of age story, takes a young journalist on the journey of a lifetime. Based on actual events from Cameron Crowe's life, 15 year old William Miller lands a job with "Rolling Stone" magazine. He must go on the road with rockers "Stillwater"(a group actually put together by the filmmakers and stars),and write their story. He hangs out everywhere with them, hotels, backstage, rides with them on their bus(this poor guy, a rotten job.. but somebody had to...)and eventually becomes very close with them and the "Band-Aids"(not groupies!) that are their entourage.All this to the constant worry of his over-protective mother, who besides rock and roll is another huge influence on his life.

Follow William, the band, and the girls on a tour of a lifetime, in this deliciously funny and sometimes poignant story of learning what's important in life.All filmed beautifully, with those great outfits of the 60's and 70's and of course one killer soundtrack. All the great rock legends of this era are heard throughout the film, including Elton John, The Who, and Peter Frampton whose instruction in music makes "Stillwater" great!The film also includes original music written especially for "Stillwater" that is fabulous as well.

The casting is impeccable...William is played by newcomer Patrick Fugit with an intuitiveness that is uncanny. Billy Crudup and Jason Lee are the leads for the band and totally have that rocker image down pat. Kate Hudson is irresistible as "Penny Lane" and the other "Band-Aids", including Anna Paquin and Fairza Balk also contribute greatly. Two outstanding performances are Frances McDormand as William's mother and Phillip Seymour Hoffman as his mentor.

This outstanding film is put together in an outstanding package. The DVD(although not the more expensive edition) is a beautiful transfer in every way. The picture in widescreen, is clear, colors are vivid, and shows off the great film work. The dialogue and music both come through brilliantly.

A film to be enjoyed by anyone who loves good movies and good music!

"American Beauty"...3 stars

This film has won so many awards(nationally and internationally), Best Director, Cinematography and Actor from Oscar among them, but I would use my allotted amount of review words if I were to list them all. A much adored film by the critics and viewing audiences as well. Sooooo....I'm really going out on a limb, when I say I just didn't love this film as much as everyone else(I really wanted to). But here goes....

I did like the film and found it definitely worth the view. I found it to be beautifully photographed and very much enjoyed the immaculate performances of these well seasoned actors. Kevin Spacey, Annette Benning and Thora Birch are the very dysfunctional Burnham family. They have grown so far apart from each other that their relationships seem beyond repair. I was actually very touched by a scene with Spacey and Birch, where he is trying to make things right with his daughter. The brilliant Chris Cooper and wonderful Allison Janey are the neighbors, also with major problems, and Wes Bently is outstanding as the son who is just a bit different from everyone else. Their everyday lives begin to intertwine and their problems begin to unfold. There are some funny as well as dramatic moments.

The story just didn't grab me enough to make me want to watch it over and over. As a suburban housewife who has already been through the mid-life thing, I could not identify with any of these "suburban" characters. Almost everyone on the block was dysfunctional and seemed to have some kind of crisis or phobia going on in their lives. The only functionally normal people on the block was the gay couple portrayed wonderfully by Scott Bakula and Sam Robards.

Although entertaining, I just didn't feel like I was seeing a fresh take on a "life in suburbia" film. Maybe you will see something in it I didn't. Everyone else seems to. It should be seen at least once.

If you have not seen it you may want to rent it first and check it out. If you have seen it, you will be happy with the quality of the DVD. It is superb. It is a top-notch transfer of this 1999 Best Picture Oscar Winner. The picture clarity and colors are outstanding and whatever sound system you are set up for you'll be happy with the results.

Amazon is out of stock of this package deal at this time, and looking at the seller prices,(if you are reading this much later then the date of my review, prices may have changed, or Ammy might have it in stock), but for now the better deal seems to be to purchase these editions individually from Amazon.

Enjoy....Laurie

ALMOST FAMOUS,ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS.......2003-09-01

CAMERON CROWE TAKES HIS BIGGEST STEP FROM GOOD MOTION PICTURE DIRETOR TO SUBLIME CINEMATIC ARTIST IN THIS TRULY ENTERTAINING FILM.
EVERY CHARACTER,BE IT THE MEMBERS OF THE BAND STILLWATER,THE ROCK&ROLL GROUPIES KNOWN AS THE BANDAIDS,OR CROWES OWN ALTER EGO
WILLIAM MILLER,ARE ALL SUPERBLY WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY ALL INVOLVED.
ALMOST FAMOUS BLENDS A SPECTRUM OF EMOTIONS,FROM COMEDY,TO BITTERSWEET LONGING ,AND A SUPERIOR CLASSIC ROCK SOUNDTRACK
EFFORTLESSLY.

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