Almost Famous (2000)

Director:

Cameron Crowe

Writer (WGA):

Cameron Crowe (written by)

Release Date:

13 September 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

Experience it. Enjoy it. Just don't fall for it.

Plot:

A high-school boy is given the chance to write a story for Rolling Stone Magazine about an up-and-coming rock band as he accompanies it on their concert tour.

Plot Keywords:

Tour | Rolling Stone Magazine | Rock Band | Coming Of Age | High School

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 44 wins & 76 nominations

Cast

Billy Crudup	...	Russell Hammond
Frances McDormand	...	Elaine Miller
Kate Hudson	...	Penny Lane
Jason Lee	...	Jeff Bebe
Patrick Fugit	...	William Miller
Zooey Deschanel	...	Anita Miller
Michael Angarano	...	Young William
Anna Paquin	...	Polexia Aphrodisia
Fairuza Balk	...	Sapphire
Noah Taylor	...	Dick Roswell
John Fedevich	...	Ed Vallencourt
Mark Kozelek	...	Larry Fellows
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Lester Bangs
Liz Stauber	...	Leslie
Jimmy Fallon	...	Dennis Hope
Olivia Rosewood	...	Beth from Denver
Bijou Phillips	...	Estrella Starr
Alice Marie Crowe	...	Mrs. Deegan
J.J. Cohen	...	Roadie Scully
Gary Kohn	...	Roadie Gregg (as Gary Douglas Kohn)
Ray Porter	...	Roadie Mick
Mark Pellington	...	Freddy
Eion Bailey	...	Jann Wenner
Terry Chen	...	Ben Fong-Torres
Rainn Wilson	...	David Felton
Erin Foley	...	Alison the Fact Checker
Jesse Caron	...	Darryl
Charles Walker	...	Principal
Jay Baruchel	...	Vic Munoz
Pauley Perrette	...	Alice Wisdom
Peter Frampton	...	Reg
Zack Ward	...	The Legendary Red Dog
Mitch Hedberg	...	Eagles Road Manager
Devin Corey	...	The Who Road Manager
Pete Droge	...	Hyatt Singer
Elaine Summers	...	Hyatt Singer
Eric Stonestreet	...	Sheldon the Desk Clerk
Marc Maron	...	Angry Promoter
Shane Willard	...	Ticket Scalper
Chris McElprang	...	Aaron Amedori
John Patrick Amedori	...	Himself
Kate Peckham	...	Quiet Girl
Julia Decker	...	Waving Girl (as Julia Schuler)
Brian Vaughan	...	Real Topeka Kid
Anthony Martelli	...	Poolside Provocateur
Zach Clairville	...	Acid Kid
Ian Ridgeway	...	Topeka Partier
Isaac Curtiss	...	Topeka Partier
Chris Lennon Davis	...	Topeka Partier
Scott N. Stevens	...	Co-Pilot
Kevin Sussman	...	Lenny
Reathel Bean	...	Warwick Hotel Clerk
Tom Riis Farrell	...	Plaza Doctor
Laura Bastianelli	...	Nurse
Samuel Aaron Roberson	...	High School Band
Brian Andreasen	...	High School Band
Jared Hren	...	High School Band
Mary Dragicevich	...	High School Band
Aura Barr	...	High School Band
Daniel Wilson	...	Journalism Teacher
William Barillaro	...	Bus Driver
Holly Maples	...	Flight Attendant
Matt Griesser	...	PSA Co-Pilot
Susan Yeagley	...	Have a Nice Day Stewardess
Nicole Spector	...	Hippie Girl at Airport
Patrick Irmen	...	Wanna Get High Guy
Nick Swardson	...	Insane Bowie Fan
Cindy Weber	...	Shocked Elevator Family
Kris Weber	...	Shocked Elevator Family
Kaitlyn Weber	...	Shocked Elevator Family
Kimberly Weber	...	Shocked Elevator Family
Kristin Weber	...	Shocked Elevator Family
Samer Sourakli	...	Mustache Boy
Michelle Moretti	...	Swingo's Desk Clerk
Ana Maria Quintana	...	Arizona Housekeeper
Lisa Buchignani	...	Arizona Housekeeper
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sarah Kozer	...	Extra (unconfirmed)
William Mapother	...	Bartender (scenes deleted)
Tammy Blue	...	Groupie (uncredited)
Mark Cirillo	...	Bowie Groupie (director's cut only) (uncredited)
Emmy Collins	...	Hotel Loadie (uncredited)
Wayne Doba	...	Leonard Barr (director's cut only) (uncredited)
Bodhi Elfman	...	Alice's Manager (director's cut only) (uncredited)
Mark J. Ferreri	...	Micheal Creamer (uncredited)
David C. Fisher	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Kyle Gass	...	Quince Allen (director's cut only) (uncredited)
Melissa Gastgaber	...	Groupie (uncredited)
Eric Rosenberg	...	David Bowie's Manager (uncredited)
Shannon Saint Ryan	...	Musician (director's cut only) (uncredited)
Abe Smith	...	Rocker (uncredited)
Christine Vienna	...	Groupie (uncredited)
Jann Wenner	...	Legend in Cab (uncredited)
Patrick Williams	...	Roadie (uncredited)

Directed by
Cameron Crowe

Writing credits (WGA)
Cameron Crowe		(written by)

Produced by
Ian Bryce	....	producer
Cameron Crowe	....	producer
Marty P. Ewing	....	associate producer (as Martin P. Ewing)
Scott M. Martin	....	associate producer
Steven P. Saeta	....	associate producer
Lisa Stewart	....	co-producer
Jerry Ziesmer	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Nancy Wilson

Cinematography by
John Toll		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Joe Hutshing
Saar Klein

Casting by
Gail Levin

Art Direction by
Clay A. Griffith
Clayton Hartley		(as Clayton R. Hartley)
Virginia L. Randolph		(as Virginia Randolph-Weaver)

Set Decoration by
Robert Greenfield

Costume Design by
Betsy Heimann

Makeup Department
Audrey L. Anzures	....	hair stylist (as Audrey Anzures)
Kathryn Blondell	....	hair department head
Lois Burwell	....	makeup department head
Carolyn Elias	....	hair stylist (as Carolyn L. Elias)
Michael Germain	....	key makeup artist
Marina Hart	....	hair stylist
Kim Messina	....	hair stylist (as Kimi Messina)
Maggie Myer	....	makeup artist
Donna Cicatelli-Lewis	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Maggie Fung	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Linda Grimes	....	makeup department head: New York (uncredited)
Timothy A. Miguel	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Jennifer Saeta	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Carla Corwin	....	unit manager: additional photography
Marty P. Ewing	....	production manager (as Martin P. Ewing)
Amy Herman	....	unit production manager: New York
Lisa Dennis Kennedy	....	post-production supervisor
Steven P. Saeta	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carla Corwin	....	first assistant director: additional photography
Stephen V. Johnson	....	dga trainee
David Kelley	....	second assistant director
Amy Lynn	....	second assistant director: New York
Jill Southern	....	second assistant director
Andrew Ward	....	second assistant director: additional photography (as Andrew M. Ward)
Laurie Webb	....	second second assistant director
Eric Yellin	....	second second assistant director: New York
Jerry Ziesmer	....	first assistant director
Jason Roberts	....	additional second second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Ruben Abacara	....	drapery foreman (as Ruben Abarca)
David H. Allen	....	property master
Doreen Austria	....	graphic designer
Conny Boettger	....	set designer (as Conny Boettger-Marinos)
Steve Borgese	....	greens foreman
Charisse Cardenas	....	set designer
Larry Guy Clause	....	general foreman (as Larry Clause)
Cece Destefano	....	art department coordinator (as Cecele M. De Stefano)
John R. Elliott	....	construction coordinator (as John Elliott)
David Fanderlik	....	propmaker foreman
Melissa Feinberg	....	property assistant (as Melissa A. Feinberg)
Jeannine Fenton	....	set dresser
Pete Gikas	....	set dresser (as Peter Gikas)
Carmine Goglia	....	stand-by painter
Tim Gomes	....	paint foreman
Rod Gregory	....	set dresser
Glen E. Hawbecker	....	propmaker foreman
Lee J. Jashinsky	....	paint foreman
Lisa M. Kittredge	....	construction auditor (as Lisa M. Brooks)
Mark Kusy	....	property assistant
Kim Lincoln	....	graphic designer
John Hammer Maxwell	....	on-set dresser (as John H. Maxwell)
Mike Medina	....	labor foreman (as Michael Medina)
Michael Molen	....	propmaker foreman
Chris Peterson	....	set dresser
Bart Rees	....	plasterer foreman
Eric Rosenberg	....	assistant art director
Michael Ruby	....	supervising signwriter
Dominic Sandfrey	....	labor foreman
Shana Sigmond	....	production buyer
Tim Snowber	....	lead person
Mindy R. Toback	....	set designer (as Mindi R. Toback)
Joe Viau	....	set dresser
Adam L. Barker	....	plasterer (uncredited)
David L. Bell	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Philip Canfield	....	lead man (uncredited)
Vincent D'Aquino	....	greensman (uncredited)
Guillaume DeLouche	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Brendan C. Fenton	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Alex Hill	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Al Hobbs	....	set designer (uncredited)
Byron K. Lovelace	....	props (uncredited)
Bryan McBrien	....	stand-by greens (uncredited)
Jeffrey Rollins	....	props (uncredited)
Eddie Ros	....	property assistant (uncredited)
Chris Samp	....	stand-by painter: reshoots (uncredited)

Sound Department
Robert Batha	....	first assistant sound editor
Kerry Ann Carmean	....	foley editor (as Kerry Carmean)
Don Coufal	....	boom operator
Dino Dimuro	....	sound effects editor
Nerses Gezalyan	....	foley mixer
Tim Gomillion	....	sound recordist
Laura Graham	....	adr editor
Laura R. Harris	....	dialogue editor (as Laura Harris)
Doug Hemphill	....	sound re-recording mixer (as D.M. Hemphill)
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tony Lamberti	....	sound effects editor
Lee W. Lebaigue	....	digital assistant (as Lee Lebaigue)
Kimaree Long	....	dialogue editor
Paul Massey	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tim McColm	....	re-recording stage engineer
Daniel Mendez	....	recording consultant (as Daniel Mendes)
James Moriana	....	foley artist (as Jimmy Moriana)
Scott Olson	....	recording consultant
Kelly Oxford	....	adr supervisor
LaNessa Phearson	....	cable person (as Lanessa Phearson)
Dennis Rogers	....	sound recordist
Scott Sanders	....	sound effects editor
Branden Spencer	....	adr assistant (as Brandon Spencer)
Frederick H. Stahly	....	foley editor (as Fred Stahly)
David Stanke	....	digital assistant
Wylie Stateman	....	additional sound
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Jon Title	....	sound effects editor
Jeff Wexler	....	production sound mixer
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley artist (as Jeff Wilhoit)
Michael D. Wilhoit	....	supervising sound editor (as Mike Wilhoit)
Scott Wolf	....	sound effects editor
Greg Zimmerman	....	foley recordist
Mark Choi	....	sound conforming editor (uncredited)
Rob Disner	....	utility sound (uncredited)
Sean England	....	sound re-recordist (uncredited)
Scott Jason Farr	....	utility sound (uncredited)
Jeff Glueck	....	sound engineer (uncredited)
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John Frazier	....	special effects supervisor
Jim Jolly	....	effects technician (as Jim Jolley)
James D. Schwalm	....	special effects coordinator (as Jim Schwalm)
Steve Riley	....	special effects foreman (uncredited)
J.D. Schwalm	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Patrick Ballin	....	visual effects editor: MVFX
Travis Baumann	....	compositor: MVFX
John Cassella	....	3D artist: MVFX (as John Cassella Jr.)
Robert Chapin	....	3D artist: MVFX
Nicolle Cornute	....	paint/roto artist: MVFX
John 'D.J.' Des Jardin	....	3D supervisor: MVFX (as John Desjardin)
Matt Dessero	....	compositor: MVFX
Phillip Feiner	....	production executive: Pacific Title Digital (as Phil Feiner)
Donald Fly	....	general manager: MVFX (as Don Fly)
Chris Flynn	....	digital compositor: Pacific Title Digital
Fortunato Frattasio	....	compositor: MVFX
Mark Freund	....	digital effects supervisor: Pacific Title Digital
Gary George	....	technical assistant: MVFX
Gilbert Gonzales	....	paint/roto artist: MVFX
Tom Gorey	....	imaging supervisor: Pacific Title Digital
Nicolle Gray	....	technical assistant: MVFX
Maureen Healy	....	digital painter: Pacific Title Digital
Rob Hodgson	....	visual effects supervisor: MVFX
Heather Hoyland	....	lead digital compositor: Pacific Title Digital
Ed Jones	....	visual effects supervisor
David Lee	....	technical assistant: MVFX (as Dave Lee)
Mark Leo Perry	....	3D artist: MVFX
Matt Magnolia	....	visual effects production coordinator: MVFX
Diana Miao	....	3D artist: MVFX
Rodney Montague	....	digital effects producer: Pacific Title Digital
Devorah Petty	....	3D artist: MVFX
Sheldon Ramones	....	technical assistant: MVFX
John E. Sasaki	....	compositor: MVFX
Jonathan F. Styrlund	....	visual effects producer: MVFX
Daniel Sunwoo	....	3D artist: MVFX
Sean White	....	runner: MVFX
Chris Wood	....	paint/roto artist: MVFX
Roger Dorney	....	visual effects supervisor: Pacific Title Digital (uncredited)

Stunts
Joey Box	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Charles Croughwell	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Thomas DuPont	....	stunts (uncredited)
David Loitz	....	precision driver (uncredited)
Gregg Sargeant	....	stunts (uncredited)
Sonny Tipton	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
Mark Aaron Wagner	....	stunt double: Billy Crudup (uncredited)
Darlene Ava Williams	....	stunt double: Kate Hudson (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Sal Alvarez	....	camera loader
Dustin Ault	....	grip
Herb Ault	....	key grip
Rick Avotte	....	grip (as Rick Ayotte)
James Barrett	....	camera operator
Erik Bernstein	....	assistant chief lighting technician
John S. Beyers	....	electrician (as Johnny Beyers)
Kyle Carden	....	grip
Billy Craft	....	electrician (as Billy F. Craft Jr.)
Jerry DeBlau	....	chief lighting technician: New York (as Jerry Dablau)
Dhamarata Dhiensuwana	....	key rigging grip (as Dhamarata G. Dhiensuwana)
Jeff Durling	....	electrician
Raymond Gonzalez	....	electrician
Chris Haarhoff	....	camera operator
Kim Heath	....	best boy grip
Danny Jimenez	....	dolly grip (as Daniel S. Jiminez)
Tommy Klines	....	first assistant camera
Mitchell Andrew Lillian	....	key grip: New York (as Mitch Lillian)
Charles Minsky	....	director of photography: second unit, additional photography
Chris Napolitano	....	rigging gaffer (as Christopher Napolitano)
Neal Preston	....	still photographer
Sean Smith	....	electrician (as Sean M. Smith)
Mark Suveg	....	video assist operator
Mike Thomas	....	camera operator
Chris Toll	....	first assistant camera
Renee Treyball	....	second assistant camera (as Reneé Treyball)
Jeffrey L. Wilson	....	grip
Randy Woodside	....	chief lighting technician
Adam Barth	....	video assist operator (uncredited)
Chuck Cohen	....	director of photography: opening and closing title sequence (uncredited)
Sean P. Fickert	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Raymond Gonzales	....	electrician (uncredited)
Matt Jackson	....	grip (uncredited)
Nils Johnson	....	video assist operator: New York (uncredited)
Eric Kieweg	....	electrician (uncredited)
Mark R. Leins	....	aerial assistant camera (uncredited)
Rick Marroquin	....	dolly grip: New York (uncredited)
Stan McClain	....	director of photography: aerial unit (uncredited)
Morten Petersen	....	set electrician (uncredited)
Lee Rose	....	lighting designer (uncredited)
Joel A. Ruiz	....	electrician (uncredited)
Vich Thiensuwana	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Steven J. Winslow	....	assistant camera: Wescam (uncredited)
Steven J. Winslow	....	camera technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Andrew S. Brown	....	casting associate
Rich King	....	extras casting
Rudy Quintanilla	....	local extras casting
Niki Boyle	....	extras casting (uncredited)
Tina Real	....	extras casting: local (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Alice S. Awad	....	seamstress
Betty Besio	....	cutter/fitter (as Elizabeth Besio)
Melissa Binder	....	costumer (as Melissa F. Binder)
Lisa Buchignani	....	costumer
Brian Callahan	....	costumer
Michael Dennison	....	costume supervisor
Jorge J. González	....	costumer (as Jorge J. Gonzalez)
Linda Henrikson	....	key costumer
Nisa Kellner	....	costumer
Francisco Mares	....	tailor
Leslie Miller	....	cutter/fitter
Jonny Pray	....	costumer
Patia Prouty	....	costumer
Nava R. Sadan	....	costumer (as Nava Sadan)
D. Barak Stribling	....	cutter/fitter
James P. Cullen	....	costumer (uncredited)
Erin Lenk	....	assistant to costume designer (uncredited)
Nancy Smytka	....	set costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Martin Cohen	....	post-production executive
Richard Conkling	....	assistant editor (as Rich Conkling)
Daniel Fair	....	editorial assistant
Heather Goodwin	....	apprentice editor
Cecilia Hyoun	....	first assistant editor: avid
Mark Livolsi	....	associate editor
David Orr	....	color timer
Lisa Marie Serra	....	post-production coordinator
Ofe Yi	....	first assistant film editor (as Ofelia Jimenez)

Music Department
Jon Bayless	....	additional musician
Danny Bramson	....	music supervisor
James Eric	....	music playback operator
Peter Frampton	....	additional musician
Todd Homme	....	executive in charge of music
Carlton Kaller	....	music editor
Gordon Kennedy	....	additional musician
Mike McCready	....	additional musician
Gary Raymond	....	music playback mixer
Ben Smith	....	additional musician
Nancy Wilson	....	music producer: original songs
Peter Frampton	....	musician: Stillwater music (uncredited)
Bud Raymond	....	music playback assistant (uncredited)
Greg Townley	....	music engineer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Ted Basso	....	production van driver
Rudolf Beilecke	....	driver (as Rudolf Beilicke)
Bobby Bress	....	driver
Ronald Brown	....	driver
Rose Echeverria	....	driver
James Fanning	....	transportation captain: New York (as Jim Fanning)
Robert Garcia Jr.	....	driver
Lee Garibaldi	....	transportation captain
Ronald Hooker	....	driver
Linda Johnson	....	driver
Pete Johnson	....	driver
Sandra Powell	....	driver
George Power	....	driver
John Sullivan	....	mechanic: picture vehicles
Tommy Tancharoen	....	transportation coordinator
Tom Whelpey	....	driver (as Tom Whelpley)
John Wiser	....	picture vehicle coordinator
Kristen Dolan	....	transportation office coordinator (uncredited)
William Hogue	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Rachel Aberly	....	unit publicist
Edward Allen	....	assistant accountant
Lori Ashcraft	....	researcher
Mary Brunner	....	production secretary
Domingo A. Bustamante	....	production assistant
Jessica Campbell	....	stand-in
Jill S. Coverdale	....	production assistant
Ricky Cuevas	....	assistant accountant
Kelly Curtis	....	technical consultant
Renee D. Czarapata	....	payroll accountant
George Davis	....	production assistant
Maria DeVane	....	post-production accountant
Andrew Fischer	....	assistant: Cameron Crowe
Peter Frampton	....	technical consultant
Lannie Franklin	....	production assistant (as Lannie Franklin III)
Heidi Fugeman	....	assistant: Ian Bryce
Josh Gilman	....	stand-in
Michele Giordano	....	production coordinator: New York
Rhona Gordon	....	studio teacher
Noelle Green	....	production coordinator (as Noelle Chapin-Green)
Joie Gregory	....	location manager: New York
Danny Jacob	....	guitar coach
Michael Kehoe	....	craft service
Danika Kohler	....	production secretary
Meti Kusari	....	craft service
Maryjane Layani	....	controller
Stevie Lazo	....	production accountant
Scott E. Logic	....	head chef (as Scott E. Logie)
Shannon Maguire	....	production assistant
Jonas C. Matz	....	first aid
James McCabe	....	supervising location manager (as Jim McCabe)
Walter M. McCormick	....	projectionist (as Walter R. McCormick Jr.)
Troy McGatlin	....	assistant accountant
Brandy Menefee	....	production assistant
Belita Moreno	....	acting coach
Danny Mormino	....	production assistant
Kristen O'Neill	....	executive: Vinyl Films
Diogo Picchi	....	stand-in
Ana Maria Quintana	....	script supervisor
Julien Reedhead	....	production assistant
Kathy Rivkin	....	production assistant
Marci Rosenberg	....	assistant production coordinator
Charles Saldana IV	....	production assistant (as Charles Saldaña)
Michael Schumacher	....	assistant location manager (as Michael A. Schumacher)
Athena Shlien	....	production assistant
Ed Sienkaniec	....	catering manager (as Bubba Sienkaniec)
Jim Stevens	....	assistant: Billy Crudup
David Thornsberry	....	additional location manager
Jocelyn Towne	....	stand-in
Jay Traynor	....	location manager
Jim Turner	....	production controller
Kristan Wagner	....	location manager
Suzanne Ziesmer	....	production assistant
David Brotsky	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Francie Brown	....	dialect coach: Anna Pacquin (uncredited)
Kevin A. Canamar	....	construction medic (uncredited)
Sean Carville	....	accounting assistant (uncredited)
James Coffey	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Derek Decelles	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Gabe de Kelaita	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Louis Farah	....	medic (uncredited)
Vanessa Grayson	....	stand-in: Frances McDormand (uncredited)
Glenn Grimes	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
McJoel Hamilton	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Susan Hegarty	....	dialect coach: Anna Paquin (uncredited)
Jack E. Herman	....	extras set coordinator (uncredited)
Lora Hingst	....	set production assistant: second unit (uncredited)
Steve Hinton	....	pilot (uncredited)
Justin Kelly	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Adrienne King	....	looping voices (uncredited)
Antonio Manriquez	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Karen Mattingly	....	script supervisor: second unit, Tuscon (uncredited)
Steven R. Molen	....	production executive (uncredited)
Christie Moreau	....	adr loop group (uncredited)
Nancy Neumann	....	studio teacher (uncredited)
Shaun O'Banion	....	set production assistant: second unit (uncredited)
Sarah Ogletree	....	assistant to director (uncredited)
Greg Outcalt	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Randy Peters	....	aerial coordinator (uncredited)
Demian Resnick	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)
Eva M. Schroeder	....	location manager: second unit (uncredited)
Andy Steinlen	....	adr voice (uncredited)
Scott Stravitz	....	set medic (uncredited)
Nadia Venesse	....	additional dialect coach (uncredited)

Thanks
Lawrence Kasdan	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures
• DreamWorks SKG (as Dreamworks Pictures)
• Vinyl Films

Distributors

• Columbia TriStar Films (2001) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (France)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (Argentina)
• Columbia TriStar Films de España (Spain)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (retail)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (Netherlands) (VHS) (rental)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2002) (Netherlands) (VHS) (retail)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (VHS)
• DVD Service (Russia) (DVD)
• DreamWorks Distribution
• EDKO Film (Hong Kong)
• LK-TEL (Argentina) (video)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Varus Video (Russia) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Manex Visual Effects (MVFX) (special visual effects)
• Pacific Title Digital (additional digital effects)

Other Companies

• 20th Century Fox Studios  sound re-recording
• Burt Sugarman Productions  "The Midnight Special" courtesy of
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies by
• DreamWorks Records  soundtrack released by
• Falco Ink.  award campaign
• For Stars Catering  catering
• Grant Wilfley Casting  extras casting
• L.A. Mad Dogs  adr voice casting
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Rockbottom Rentals  nextel cell phone rentals
• Stepping Stone Studios  sound recording
• Studio City Productions  marketing and promotion (syndication)
• Universal City Studios  "A Foreign Affair" courtesy of
• Village Recorder, The  sound recording

Also Known As:

Something Real (USA) (working title)
Stillwater (USA) (working title)
The Uncool (USA) (working title)
Untitled Cameron Crowe Project (USA) (working title)
Untitled: Almost Famous the Bootleg Cut (USA) (director's cut (DVD title))

MPAA:

Rated R for language, drug content and brief nudity.

Runtime:

122 min | USA:162 min (director's cut) | Croatia:152 min (DVD extended cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Brazil:12 | Italy:T | Ireland:15 | Philippines:R-18 | Norway:15 (video rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA (original rating) | Australia:M (re-rating on appeal) | Canada:14A | Canada:G (Québec) | Chile:14 | Denmark:7 | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 | Iceland:12 | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:18 | Spain:7 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #37614) | USA:Unrated (director's cut) | Singapore:R(A) (censored version) (original rating) | Singapore:M18 (cut) (re-rating)

Filming Locations:

Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures

Trivia:

Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready provided the guitar track for Stillwater's songs.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When William is typing his first article, the words, "And it's not about popularity" are appearing on the paper, but he is typing T G U G H M R and N.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Elaine Miller: I can't believe you wanna be Atticus Finch. Oh, that makes me feel so good.
Young William: I like him.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Broke (2006)

Soundtrack:

Sweet Leaf

"It's all happening"

"Almost famous" is so great that I don't know where to begin. It means so much to me; personally, cinematographically, visually…It means so much when it comes to acting and wonderful performances, when it comes to fantastic original screenplays that come from a person's mind without being taken from anything we already know.

This was probably one of the first movies to ever blow me away. When I was getting and idea of what cinema meant and which where the good films; this one left me impressed for more than a week. The same occurred later with "Traffic", "The Truman Show", "Big Fish" and others. It was with this film that I understood that to like a movie it has to mean something to you; besides meaning something for the ones who did it or the ones involved in it.

It meant something for me mainly because of the music. It was during the main credits written by hand in a paper that I felt something, but then, when William's (Patrick Fugit) sister Anita (Zooey Deschanel) leaves the house to become a stewardess, and tells him: "Look under your bed; it will set you free"; I was introduced to a new world.

William's mother Elaine (an excellent Frances McDormand) raised him and her sister forbidding them to use bad words, making them go to school, making them religious, but most importantly not letting them listen to rock music. This all changes when William plays The Who's "Tommy" a the light of a candle. Some years later he is writing rock articles and he knows enough to talk with the best music critic in the United States: Lester Bangs (a brilliant and Oscar-caliber supporting performance by the great Phillip Seymour Hoffman).

They talk for a while and the critic says: "Well, I've got to go; I can't spend my whole day talking to my fans". But then, with a lot of intelligence, a camera shoots a restaurant, and they are both still talking. Bangs gives the kid an assignment: to write about Deep Purple. The kid goes to the concert in his home town and tries to enter backstage saying he's a reporter of "Creem".

His multiple attempts fail and he is called by some girls who are laughing constantly. These are the Band Aids, and that is the moment in the film during which I fell in love with Kate Hudson. She plays Penny Lane (although that's not her real name), the girl who said women should be with musicians just for the love of the music, not sex or free rides.

She plays her as an enigmatic and mysterious person who actually is lost and doesn't know or have another place to be in. And I'm talking, personally, about one of the best performances I've witnessed in my whole life. This personal list of best performances is short, and Hudson's Penny Lane is in it, and she deserved an Oscar for it; and many will agree.

Because of how life goes, William stays alone outside…Until Stillwater arrives, the kid uses his musical knowledge and he is inside backstage before he knows it. Then, before we know, he forgets about Deep Purple, he is touring with Stillwater and writing an article for Rolling Stone magazine that could be considered for the cover; and William is only 15 years old.

During the tour I felt what they called the "buzz". It was very inspiring to watch the band, each of its members, all the time with a guitar in their hands. Sometimes they were playing together; sometimes each of them was doing his own things. There were pianos and keyboards in each room they stepped foot in; there were good and bad live moments, just as good offstage moments and horrible fights; probably mended with just singing "Tiny Dancer".

Music is the main factor, as this band travels through the country. All of the members of the band we get to identify, but the one that obligatorily highlights is the guitarist Russell Hammond, played superbly by Billy Crudup. The lead singer is also important and he is played by a long-haired Jason Lee, with the guts of a rock persona.

The regretful moments we can't be without...Like Russell's party in Topeka and his last lines if he would die: "I'm on drugs"; or the plain about to crash and confessions like: "I'm gay". This was all perfectly crafted by the hand of Cameron Crowe's peaceful camera and the fantastic screenplay he wrote going back in time to his own similar experience. The man got the best from Tom Cruise, that's already a lot: and "Almost Famous" is his legacy; a gem and one of the best films I've seen in my life.