Episode 62 : Almost Famous

ALMOST FAMOUS has not aged a day since its release in 2000. Writer/director/producer Cameron Crowe is known for films which speak to romantic or nostalgic sensibilities. ALMOST FAMOUS gave him the opportunity to tell an unconventional & endearing story from his youth. This cinematically poetic love letter to music shepherds a coming of age story on the road with a touring band & a teenager clinging to his morals while carving his path into journalism. Timeless & inspiring, this story is alllllmost completely true. ▶️Synopsis: In 1973, a 15-year-old music journalist went on tour with an up-and-coming rock band. While uncovering intimate truths about the music world, interpersonal & romantic relationships, he tries not to involve himself in the story, which is headed for the cover of Rolling Stone. ⏩⏩Discussions include: A brief history on Crowe’s career pre-ALMOST FAMOUS; origin of the script, influences, blurring together fact & fiction; musical guidance on songwriting & authenticity; journalism, realism, fandom & heart of the film; the vibrant cast & character breakdowns, plus casting stories & Crowe’s style of emotional manipulation, creating a mood & mixing tones; the “Bootleg Cut,” critical & box office reception, along with the film’s extreme rewatchability. **Starring Patrick Fugit, Billy Crudup, Kate Hudson, Frances McDormand. Directed by Cameron Crowe.** ▶️**PICKS OF THE WEEK** —Lindsay’s Pick, DESERT BLUE (1998): Driven by a need to posthumously complete his father’s desert waterpark, a young man falls for a stranded out-of-towner and lets her into his unfamiliar, small town world. **Starring Brendan Sexton III, Kate Hudson, Christina Ricci, Casey Affleck. Directed by Morgan J. Freeman.** —Justin’s Pick, SINGLES (1992): Set during Seattle’s grunge-era, this story follows people living in one apartment complex, all in a state of change, experiencing effects of past relationships on current ones and searching for companionship. **Starring Bridget Fonda, Campbell Scott, Kyra Sedgwick, Matt Dillon. Directed by Cameron Crowe.** ▶️MURRAYMOMENT: Firsthand details on musician Laena Geronimo’s weekend hanging out with Billy at 2010’s South By Southwest. ▶️FINAL THOUGHTS: A serendipitous moment Hudson shared with her mom, Goldie Hawn, and the awesome “Stairway to Heaven” deleted scene in ALMOST FAMOUS. ▶️EXTENDED CUT: A peek into the Laena Geronimo’s band FEELS’ second album, Post Earth, with the incendiary track, “Find a Way.” ▶️ Next Up: THE EXORCIST III!