Cameron Crowe’sbelovedcoming-of-age rock dramaAlmost Famoushas officially landed onPluto TVthis August — and if you’ve never seen it, or it’s been a while since yourlast tour with Stillwater, there’s no better time to hop on the bus. Released in 2000,Almost Famousis widely regarded as one of thegreatest music filmsever made.Based onCrowe’s own teenage yearsas a journalist forRolling Stone, the movie follows 15-year-old William Miller (played by a wide-eyedPatrick Fugit) as he gets the assignment of a lifetime: to hit the road with a rising rock band in the early 1970s and write about it. The result is a brilliantly heartfelt, hilarious, and regularly heartbreaking look at fame, fandom, and the bittersweet nature of growing up.
Crowe, who won theOscar for Best Original Screenplay, based the story on his real-life experiencestouring with bandslikeLed ZeppelinandThe Allman Brothersas a teenage music writer. That authenticity bleeds into every frame — from the cramped tour buses to the backstage brawls, from quiet hotel room confessions to raucous arena gigs. You canfeelthat this is a story made by someone who lived it.Almost Famousalso took home the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and it’s easy to see why. It’s alove letter to rock and rollat its most raw and romantic — and a masterclass in ensemble filmmaking.
Who Is in ‘Almost Famous’?
The film’s cast is stacked with performances that defined careers and remain unforgettable.Kate Hudsonshinesas the ethereal Penny Lane, a groupie (or “Band-Aid,” as she insists) whose friendship with William adds warmth and longing to every scene.Hudson earned an Oscar nomination for the role,and she remains the emotional heart of the film.
Billy Crudupis magnetic as Russell Hammond, the mysterious, emotionally unavailable guitarist of the fictional band Stillwater.Frances McDormandbrings weight and sharp comic timing as William’s fiercely protective mother, Elaine. And then there’sPhilip Seymour Hoffman, in one of his most beloved supporting roles, as rock criticLester Bangs, who mentors William over the phone with glorious rants and painfully true advice about the music world. The ensemble also includesJason Lee,Zooey Deschanel,Noah Taylor,John Fedevich, andMark Kozelek, rounding out the Stillwater crew.
Almost Famousis streaming now, for free, on Pluto TV.
Almost Famous
