Almost Famous is a 2000 comedy-drama film written, co-produced, and directed by Cameron Crowe, telling the coming-of-age story of a teenage journalist writing for Rolling Stone magazine while on the road with a fictitious 1970s rock band named Stillwater. The film is semi-autobiographical, Crowe himself having been a teenage writer for Rolling Stone.
The film received positive reviews, and received four Oscar nominations, with Crowe winning one for best original screenplay. It also earned the 2001 Grammy Award Best Compilation Soundtrack Album. Renowned film critic Roger Ebert hailed it the best film of the year.
The film is based on Cameron Crowe’s experiences touring with rock bands Poco, The Allman Brothers Band, Led Zeppelin, Eagles, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. In a Rolling Stone article, he talks about how he lost his virginity, fell in love, and met his heroes, experiences that are shared by William, the main character in the film.
Crowe compiled an alternate version of the film for home video called Almost Famous: Untitled, which was a compilation of both released footage and his favorite deleted scenes. It runs for about forty minutes longer than the theatrical release and was subtitled “The Bootleg Cut“.
Cast
Patrick Fugit as William Miller
Michael Angarano as Young William
Billy Crudup as Russell Hammond
Frances McDormand as Elaine Miller
Kate Hudson as Penny Lane
Jason Lee as Jeff Bebe
Zooey Deschanel as Anita Miller
Anna Paquin as Polexia Aphrodisia
Fairuza Balk as Sapphire
Bijou Phillips as Estrella Starr
Noah Taylor as Dick Roswell
Philip Seymour Hoffman as Lester Bangs
Jay Baruchel as Vic Munoz
Jimmy Fallon as Dennis Hope
Rainn Wilson as David Felton
Mark Kozelek as Larry Fellows
Liz Stauber as Leslie Hammond
John Fedevich as Ed Vallencourt
Eric Stonestreet as Sheldon the Desk Clerk
Almost Famous – A Film by Cameron Crowe