#almost famous

almost famous

According to actress Nancy Olson, before filming on the set of SUNSET BLVD. (‘50) in Norma Desmond’s mansion, the cameraman would rub his hands together crushing stone which created dust, then blew the dust on the camera lens, an effect, which encapsulated the ambiance of stagnant corners haunted with memories of the past. One of the most difficult tasks to execute in a retrospective period piece is to precisely immerse an audience. It takes more than vintage vehicles and costumes to fully capture the aura of an era.

Reverting to centuries ago seems an easier feat than reflecting the later years of the 20th century, perhaps because many of us can still attest to it. With most modern-day period pieces, what should be exceptional based on the subject matter alone, unfortunately resembles a costume party. A few feel-good films that readily accomplished this feat of transporting their audience include DAZED AND CONFUSED (‘93), THE SANDLOT (‘93), DETROIT ROCK CITY (‘99) and ROLL BOUNCE (2005). Although some of these films may not be hugely popular, each power-up their flux capacitor, fill the tank with plutonium and hurdle their audiences back in time. 

We don’t know what director/producer/screenwriter and Academy Award-winning Cameron Crowe sprinkled on his camera lens for ALMOST FAMOUS (2000, the film takes place in the ‘70s so take your pick). Still, the film, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2020, beams with the spirit of black lights, velvet posters, Don Kirschner’s Rock ConcertandThe Midnight Special performances. It would only stand to reason, as Crowe is an avid fan of classic film director Billy Wilder, director of SUNSET BLVD. 

Based on Crowe’s true-life experience as a teenage reporter for Rolling Stone magazine, ALMOST FAMOUS mirrored classic film by layering the correct actors, costumes, dialogue, sets and of course an exacting soundtrack. For those of us mature enough to recall the ingrained crackle of a needle against vinyl and the scraping of a lead pencil against paper (all of us know that sound), from the opening credits, Crowe utilizes simple auditory cues and visuals powerful enough to immediately engross his audience until the film’s end.

In his first feature film role, the innocence of Patrick Fugit’s portrayal is perfectly and adorably awkward. When Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman) urges William (Fugit) “to be honest and unmerciful,” the look on William’s face reveals a naive boy who is about to be eaten alive. Although not their first roles, the enchanting Kate Hudson and the fresh-faced Zooey Deschanel both shine in their breakout roles, with each demonstrating exceptional performances. And, if you ever had a doubt of which Philip Seymour Hoffman performance to watch, this may be it, or perhaps, every Philip Seymour Hoffman performance is the one to watch. 

Truly, every performance in the film is exceptional. With almost half the cast being newcomers, in theory ALMOST FAMOUS should not have worked as seamlessly as it did, but according to Hudson during a recent ALMOST FAMOUS reunion, its synergy was the result of “…a magical group of people.”

Conjuring indelible memories by adeptly fusing scenes with music, ALMOST FAMOUS leaves a lasting impression on the psyche which had to be a painstaking process since creating such powerful associations means there can only be one exacting fit. If you’ve seen the film, I’d wager that every time you hear Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer,” you recall a sunlit tour bus driving through cornfields with the occupants joining together in an impromptu sing-along, lending an entirely new appreciation for an old song, or if you happen to hear Brenton Wood’s “The Oogum Boogum Song” you recollect William dwarfed by boys supposedly his own age in the throes of puberty grooming themselves in a mirror. When Simon & Garfunkel’s “America” plays, we witness the exact moment a young boy converges with his future while running his fingers over newly discovered album covers as if taking them in by osmosis.

On the surface, ALMOST FAMOUS is about the once-in-a-lifetime adventure of a teenage journalist, but according to Crowe, and quite apparently, it’s an endearing love letter to music. You certainly don’t need to be a fan of ‘70s rock to enjoy ALMOST FAMOUS, you simply need to be a music fan period. Like revisiting an old time capsule, it’s is a film where you can easily lose yourself and even though the majority of us haven’t toured with a rock’n’roll band during the ‘70s, ALMOST FAMOUS captures its journey so succinctly, hitting every note that it’s difficult to convince yourself you weren’t actually there. Billy Wilder would approve.

Books

• Slouching Toward Bethlehem - Joan Didion (1968)
• My Life on the Road - Gloria Steinem (2015)
• The Art of Cruelty: A Reckoning - Maggie Nelson (2011)
• The Buried Giant - Kazuo Ishiguro (2015)
• Spinster: Making a Life of One’s Own - Kate Bolick (2015)

Television

• Vinyl Episodes 1-3 - Terence Winter (2016)
• It’s Always Sunny- Season 11 Episodes 5-8 - Rob McElhenney (2016)
• Better Call Saul Season 1 - Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould (2015)
• Better Call Saul Season 2 Episodes 1-3 -  Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould (2016)
• Love Season 1 - Judd Apatow and Paul Rust (2016)

Film

• The Empire Strikes Back - Irvin Kershner (1980)
  
• Spotlight - Tom McCarthy (2015)
  
• Blue Sushi (short) - Bertie Gilbert and Sammy Paul (2015)
  
• The Diary of a Teenage Girl - Marielle Heller (2015)
  
• Cruel Intentions - Roger Krumble (1999) 
• Almost Famous - Cameron Crowe (2000)
• Deadpool - Tim Miller (2016)

Music

• La Sera - Hour of the Dawn (2014)
• Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat (2006)
• Frankie Cosmos - Fit Me In EP (2015)
• Roberta Flack - Quiet Fire (1971)
• Charilift - Moth (2016)
• Kelela - Hallucinogen EP (2015)
• Nikki Lane - All of Nothin’ (2014)
• Husband Material - Cashback Rewards Program (single) (2016)
• Rapperchicks - Shitty Punk Album (2016)
• St. Vincent - Marry Me (2007)
  
• Teen - Love Yes (2016)
• Rejjie Snow - Blakkst Skn (single) (2015)
• Dave Rawlings Machine - Nashville Obsolete (2015)
• Frankie Cosmos - Zentropy (2014)
• Mitski - Bury Me at Makeout Creek (2014)
• Mitski - Your Best American Girl (single) (2016)

I like music. A lot. A lot of different kinds. And I always will.

I’ve seen one of my favourite bands 26 times in multiple states and provinces over the course of 11 years. 

And another 21 times within five years.

And another 13 (going on 16, possibly 19) times within five years. 

Am I crazy? Maybe a touch.

But mostly, I just know what I like. I like music. 

“Loving some silly little piece of music so much that it hurts.” –Almost Famous

I like exiting a concert venue with my mind blown and my heart on fire because the band just blew my god damn socks off. I like leaving a show saying, “that just made that multiple hour trip of flights across the continent worth it.” If you can see a show that makes you feel this way in your home town, more power to you. If you can’t, find it. 

I like to know lyrics.

I like to have the shit memorized so that when you see it live, you get totally lost. You can’t do that with acquaintance bands. Sure, checking out new music is fun sometimes and that is how you discover new bands that you could potentially love.

But don’t waste your time.

Music is usually like love at first sight, or sound. All of the music I love currently, I’ve always loved from the first few times I listened.

“The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what we share with someone else when we’re uncool.”  –Almost Famous

Music is meant to be an inside connection thing. You connect with the band members, the music, the people you meet because of the music, the memories you make because of the music. Don’t expect people to understand.

If you’re like me your music experiences, whatever they may be, are the opposite of cool. Uncool, in fact, as Lester Bangs in AF says. And the only people who will understand in the slightest are those who feel the same about the same music that you do and those people, you should hang on to forever.