Almost Famous - The Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Amazon.com

Almost Famous is the movie Cameron Crowe has been waiting a lifetime to tell. The fictionalization of Crowe's days as a teenage reporter for Creem and Rolling Stone has all the well-written characters and wonderful "movie moments" that we expect from Crowe (Jerry Maguire), but the film has an intangible something extra--an insider's touch that will turn the film into the ode to '70s rock & roll for years to come. We are introduced to Crowe's alter ego, William Miller (Patrick Fugit), at home, where his progressive mom (Frances McDormand, just superb) has outlawed rock music and sister Anita (Zooey Deschanel) has slipped him LPs that will "set his mind free." Following the wisdom of Creem's disheveled editor, Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman in an instant-classic performance), Miller gets on the inside with the up-and-coming band Stillwater (a fictionalized mixture of the Allman Brothers, Led Zeppelin, and others). A simple visit with the band turns into a three-week, life-altering odyssey into the heyday of American rock. Of the characters he meets on the road, the two most important are groupie extraordinaire Penny Lane (Kate Hudson in a star-making performance) and Stillwater's enigmatic lead guitarist (Billy Crudup), who keeps stringing Miller along for an interview. From the handwritten credits (done by Crowe) to the bittersweet finale, Crowe's comedic valentine is an indelible, heartbreaking romance of music, women, and the privilege of youth. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews:

More features.......2007-09-05

There is actually a lot of back story to this movie and I was hopping they would be on the DVD but no.

An unexpected insight into a female character.......2007-09-04

This is a well-done movie about an almost-famous rock
band touring in the seventies as seen through the eyes
of an almost-employed young journalist who's been hired
to follow them.
Most of the characters are expectable if not exactly pre-
dictable. The surprise-and for me, the delight-of this movie
is the depiction of the young, drifting groupie. Kate Hudson
pulls off the perfect combination of toughness, vulnerability
and romantic dreaminess.
In the very masculine world of rock movies, this depiction of
a young woman stands out not just for its rarity but for the
contrast of her many-layered humanity with the testosterone-
fueled excess of the rest of the cast.

In the very best sense, this is a superb chick flick about a
remarkable woman.

--Lynn Hoffman, author of THE NEW SHORT COURSE IN WINE and
the novel bang BANG. ISBN 9781601640005

Great Era,Music HORRIBLE Film!!.......2007-08-30

I went into this film with the highest expectations ever. I was aware of the backstory about Cameron Crowe and his travails with Led Zep circa 1973. This film disappoints horribly. Maybe those of us who appreciates Crowes contributions to film and print expect anything the man poops out to be worthwhile, MAYBE the true story wasn't so interesting after all.

*Pluses (few)

SOUNDTRACK-Iggy Pop,Free,Deep Purple, Neil Young.

*Minuses (many)

Implausibly crappy "hit" band "Stillwater". You've got to hear "Fever Dog" to apperciate how bad it is.

Wasted role for Fairuza Balk who usually plays an interesting wildeyed psycho chickie.Stupid non-sequiter line-"Does anyone remember laughter?" a quote from a live Led Zep album that is perhaps intended as a "shoutout" to Zep fans.FIRE her agent NOW!!

Overrated Kate Hudson, not as cute as mama Goldie, her free-spirit hippie role is predictable and boring, even from the eyes of the naive 16 year old protaganist just figuring life and her out.

The band, roadies and hangers-on all singing "Tiny Dancer" together on a tour bus. Cloying and unenjoyable, even by those who tolerate Elton John. WHY??

Worth it in spades.......2007-08-22

If you love this film, you'll love the unedited version...deepens the experience. The VO commentary with Crowe and his mom rocks.

Original, believable characters. Good Stuff........2007-08-10

There aren't many movies that truly sell the characters. To be quiet honest most characters in movies are either one dimensional or a characature of real people. I love it that the lead guitar player of StillWater is egocentric and self-centered yet is still a pretty good guy. All the characters on this movie have that real, flawed, and multidimensional quality.
The story is also original and doesn't try to be anything more than what it is. The plot is solid but still loose enough for the characters to drive the movie. Really brings the 70's alive without parodying it. Great movie, great soundtrack.
This movie is the antidote to the big budget summer blockbuster crap that has choked the movie industry particularly in the last 10 years. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves character driven movies.

Average customer rating:

Haha Awsome
A Heartwarming Comedy Disguised As A College Film
Jack Black, Mike White and Orange County
Wow....
one of THE most underrated comedies.

Orange County
Starring: Colin Hanks , Jack Black , Schuyler Fisk , Kyle Howard , and Bret Harrison
Director: Jake Kasdan
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000065U36
Release Date: 2002-06-18

Amazon.com

While it invites charges of Hollywood nepotism, Orange County overcomes that stigma with a delightful cast of newcomers and veterans alike. It's no better or worse than many teen comedies, but director Jake Kasdan (son of director Lawrence Kasdan) astutely combines teen-flick staples (stoner gags, raucous parties) with a biting undercurrent of southern California absurdity. This comedic texture helps Colin Hanks (son of Tom) and Schuyler Fisk (daughter of Sissy Spacek) to prove their big-screen promise. They play (respectively) an Orange County teen and aspiring writer named Shaun who yearns for admission to Stanford, and his sensible girlfriend who knows just how to nurture his dreams. Much of the comedy arises from the foibles of Shaun's dysfunctional family (played to perfection by Jack Black, Catherine O'Hara, and John Lithgow), while unbilled cameos by Ben Stiller and Kevin Kline add zest to a movie that tries to be different, and mostly succeeds. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Haha Awsome.......2007-02-09

This movie I'd bet is totally under-rated. It is really funny and on top of that it has a real good story line and plot, get on this movie.

A Heartwarming Comedy Disguised As A College Film.......2007-01-30

Inspiration comes in many different forms. Some people see a painting and are inspired to become artists. For some the right song could give them the courage to ask a girl they love out on a date. Or if you're name is Shaun Brumder (Colin Hanks, and yes, he's the son of Tom Hanks) you find inspiration in a book lying in the sand on the beach. This book, written by famous author Marcus Skinner (who does not appear to have an official website according to Google), gives Shaun the inspiration he needs to drop his surfboard and become a famous author. Keep in mind, this jolt of inspiration comes to him after the fact that he grew up in Orange County (a hick town), after the fact that he's been living with his deranged mother, crippled step dad, and doped up brother (Jack Black, who plays the kind of brother you wish were a poster boy for birth control), and AFTER the fact that one of his surfing buddies dies while riding the "Ultimate Wave!"

After showing his counselor a copy of his story "Orange County," Shaun gets a rude surprise when it's discovered that the counselor sent in his story with someone else's school records to Stanford, which is the only school Shaun applied for (kids, may this be a lesson to you to listen to your parents when they tell you to have a back-up school ready). After this bit of information Shaun asks the counselor "What are you stupid?" Yes Shaun, she is stupid. Pretty much everyone in this movie is stupid. They have to be, I suppose, or else the movie wouldn't be funny. Take for example, Shaun's tree hugger for a girlfriend Ashley (Schuyler Fisk), who secretly prayed that Shaun wouldn't get into Stanford. The last thing you want is a girlfriend who can't pray for you properly. When worse comes to worse though, Shaun's brother Lance suggests that the three of them go to Stanford and demand that they let Shaun in.

Thankfully, this is not a road trip movie. It's not even a buddy movie. It's about finding inspiration in the right places, and having to follow your dreams despite the really, really annoying people you have to deal with on a daily basis. Movies about college kids who are stupid and do stupid things normally aren't very good. There are many reasons for this, not the least of which is that these movies are normally about, well...stupid kids that do stupid things. There's only so much stupid you can take before you want to rip someone's heads off. I see stupid people do stupid things in real life. For free. But "Orange County" is more then a movie about stupid people. Well...okay, no it's not. This IS a film about stupid people, it just happens to be a good one! The storyline is over-the-top, the characters do things that no sane person would do in public, and farting is on the menu.

And yet...there is something genuine and sweet about the characters and their relationships with each other. I couldn't for the life of me explain why I liked these people as much as I did, but I found it within a monolog by Kevin Kline near the end of the film. Without spoiling the speech (and maybe the end of the movie), the secret behind this movies appeal is likely that everyone cares for each other. They may have their own odd ways of showing it, but care for each other they do. The friendship is real and the love is real. The movie is also kind towards the characters, not mocking them like most stupid kid movies do, but laughing with the bad deck of cards they are dealt. This movie was made by MTV, which means it was probably an accident that this movie turned out as good as it did.

That said, I must give them credit for this. The movie also inspired me in some silly, non-meaning sense that I decided to write a review for a movie that is five years old. Yes, I guess inspiration truly does come from the strangest of places.

Rating: *** and a half stars

Jack Black, Mike White and Orange County.......2007-01-08

I remember seeing the trailers for Orange County back when it was out in theatres, and when it was fresh on DVD. It's actually a lot more thoughtful than it looked.

Shaun Brumder is a writer, who lives in Orange County, California. He wants to apply to Standford University so he can work with Marcus Skinner, tha author who inspired him to write. Trouble is, the application got mixed up, so someone else got to Stanford thanks to Shaun's hard work, and his family scared some connections away who came for dinner, vowing that Shaun would never go to Stanford ever. Shaun's brother, Lance (Jack Black) has an idea. They can all drive to Stanford and talk to the admissions Dean (Harold Ramis, Egon from Ghostbusters). He'll understand the mixup and the troubles when he sees Shaun's real SAT scores. Trouble follows though, and Shaun's hopes for college go up in smoke, almost literally. Will he be able to be a writer?

There's a lot of guest appearances in this film, which is good for a film all about characters, I thought. John Lithgow, Ben Stiller, Kevin Kline. It was interesting seeing Harold Ramis again. I don't see him in a lot of films these days, and I'm a big Ghostbusters fan. It's funny the way the characters of Orange County are done. They do some pretty silly things, and yet its just the things they do that are ridiculous, there's a heart to each of the characters, I thought. The actors seem to love playing them, and they're memorable and well written, and its not done in a malicious way. The Californian scenery went well with everything that was going on too, I thought.

Special features include deleted scenes and little promotional extras with unique material in them. There's also an audio commentary.

Worth a look if you're interested. Four and a half stars

Wow...........2005-11-24

I avoided seeing this movie like the plague. In fact, I only watched it for the first time because I was extremely, extremely bored and had lots of time to kill. Why did I avoid seeing this film? Because it had all the marks of a teen comedy, and let's face it, the teen comedy is the most shameful of movie genres. It manages to inspire the laziest and lamest contributions to the film industry possible.

But enough of that.

You should see Orange County. Immediately. Why? Because it's not like most teen comedies in that is smart, insightful, and witty. It even makes slap-stick comedy feel more cerebral (okay, perhaps I'm exaggerating, but you get the gist). Sure it has some of the ubiquitous potty humor, but overall, it's just well-crafted and plain hilarious, even for a more refined taste. The end, I guess, is an appeal to the sappy and sentimental, but generally the film has so many moments of genius I feel passing up on it is just too great a mistake.

So watch it!

one of THE most underrated comedies........2005-11-05

I hate that this movie isn't considered at least a classic for its genre. This is my favorite comedy that came out this year and it has a bit more depth than the usual teen comedy, a bit more absurdity and a lot more laughs. Truly the best cast i've seen together in a comedy.. I just don't get it. This movie is hilarious. Great performances and great laughs that are never cheap. Love it.

Average customer rating:

only got to see half
Another film that is usually hard to watch
This Is Education At Its Best
Too much Hollywood added, but understandable
Tragic history, great story.

Rosewood
Starring: Jon Voight , Ving Rhames , Don Cheadle , Bruce McGill , and Loren Dean
Director: John Singleton
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 0790732211
Release Date: 1997-09-10

Amazon.com

A shameful chapter in American history is powerfully dramatized in Rosewood, but moviegoers in 1997 may not have been ready for the African American equivalent of Schindler's List. And while the massacre that occurred in the nearly all-black town of Rosewood, Florida, in 1922 cannot compare in scale to the Nazi holocaust, it potently illustrates the same issues of racism and inherited intolerance that percolate at every level of human existence. An estimated 40 to 150 blacks were killed in Rosewood by an all-white lynch mob from the neighboring town of Sumner, where a white woman falsely claimed she'd been assaulted by a black man. The resulting mayhem ignited a tinderbox of resentment toward the flourishing citizens of Rosewood, and those few who survived were so traumatized that they remained silent until the truth was revealed by an investigative journalist in 1982.

The film is blessed with richly authentic production design, lush cinematography, and a subtly effective John Williams score, and director John Singleton and screenwriter Gregory Poirier embellish the truth of Rosewood with a fictional hero named Mann (Ving Rhames), who arrives to buy a five-acre plot coveted by Rosewood's white grocer (John Voight). The emerging trust between these two characters--and the fate of an extended family led by a defiant father (Don Cheadle)--gives shape to the movie's devastating depiction of racism and the courage of those who opposed the lynch mob's brutality. Singleton and Poirier fall prey to some bad dialogue and a broadly unbalanced depiction of bloodthirsty hayseeds, but the film's passion is maintained by its superb cast and the timeless echoes of history. --Jeff Shannon

Description

In 1982 a reporter visiting Levy County in Florida noticed a lack of black residents. So he asked questions and a long-ago tragedy came to light. John Singleton directs Jon Voight and Ving Rhames in this powerful true drama. It is January 1, 1923 in Rosewood, but in this largely black town built on family, faith and hard work, hopes for the new year abruptly end. In a few harrowing nights, a white mob razes Rosewood into oblivion. As the rampage gains cataclysmic force, a heroic World War I veteran (Rhames) and a shopkeeper (Voight) join forces. Dozens of terrified women and children have fled into nearby swamps. Somehow they must be led to safety.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary
Production Notes
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

only got to see half.......2007-05-07

I purchased this dvd abouth a month ago. I went to finally watch it this weekend. I only got to watch half of it, due to the fact of the movie stops 1hr and 10 minutes into it. I tried 3 different dvd players and the movie stopped 1hr and 10 minutes later. Needless to say i was very disappointed. From what I did see it is a very good movie. I can only give it 3 stars cause i didn't get to see the rest.

Another film that is usually hard to watch.......2007-02-16

Director John Singleton, of "Boyz N the Hood" fame, does a top-notch job throughout this two and a half hour film of conveying the building and inevitable terror of what is to come, and of then sustaining that terror. Visually, he's a master storyteller. The trigger was a white woman, beaten black and blue by her lover. To explain the bruises to her husband, she claims that a black intruder worked her over. Never mind that her housekeepers saw perfectly well who did it. And that he wasn't black. Forget due process. In short order, strange fruit was hanging high and blood lust for more was in the air. When one of the housekeepers finally stepped forward to try to quell the tide of violence by telling what she saw, well, suffice to say that no good deed goes unpunished. Ultimately, Rosewood was reduced to ashes.

I consider this film one of those that you might not necessarily want to see, but you need to. Because it's that necessary harsh kind of art, another example of which that readily leaps to mind is Alice Walker's book, Possessing the Secret of Joy. Based on a true story, this is Singleton's intrepid of the destruction of Rosewood, an all-black town in Florida. The incident occurred in 1923 and the film gets kudos all the way around. First of all, the script by Poirier is dead-on, giving you characters that have significant depth to them. Singleton directs the material well, helping to make you care about these people before the insanity begins. And the good news is that the cast is superb and definitely up to the challenge. Rhames, always an SDI favorite, shows that he can carry a leading role as the enigmatic Mann, a veteran who shows up just in time to try to facilitate some of Rosewood's citizens surviving the onslaught. Voight is in fine form as well as a store owner in Rosewood who is uncertain where his loyalties lie when the bullets start flying. Cheadle gets points as well as the proud Sylvester who knows when it's time to stop talking. The strength of this film is that it's brutally honest about the intrepid that it's providing.

The inhumanity is not glamorized or backed away from, it's put in front of you with the understanding that you're there to witness it and learn. It also provides an important lesson in racism, and how the belief system functions, by being passed down from generation to generation. Excellent filmmaking on the part of Singleton and unfortunately lost once Oscar-time rolled around.

This Is Education At Its Best.......2007-02-15

So much is unknown about the valid attempts African-Americans made to build their own society's, during the 18th century, forward. This story tells of how they were thwarted and destroyed for 'just trying to live in America as free, productive, people.' My classes sat with eyes glued to the screen. It was a horrific awakening for many of my students. They were fed the lies and propaganda throughout their educations and lives, that African-Americans were a useless species. Well, they now know the truth. African-Americans were very diligent in building businesses, places of worship, homes, etc., which frightened the Cacausion people of that era, so they were destroyed - and much hope with them.

Too much Hollywood added, but understandable.......2006-04-25

The event this movie was based on was so despicable that John Singleton (Director) had to add in fictional characters so it wouldn't look as shameful as Rosewood really was.
Some fictitious elements were...

1. Mann's (Ving Rhames) character was 200% fiction. Not even loosely BASED on any historical person. So the ending, when Mann was shooting at the mob from the train...never happened.
2. The emotional distraught of the racist Duke's (Bruce McGill) son, Emmit, was fictional and not based on anything historic. Added for dramatic purposes obviously.
3. Sylvester (Don Cheatle) died in real life during the shootout and did not return heroically on a horse beside the train to pick Mann up.

As far as I know, the rest if pretty accurate..

In reality, during massacres like Rosewood, the heroes like Mann and Sylvester were the first to die. But I knew when I saw him escape the lynching, cutting himself down, and shooting at mob when he was escaping on the train that his character was based on "some" fiction. But then I found out his WHOLE character was fictional. Singleton had to create a hero, or else Black folks would be killing people when the movie was over. I wouldn't blame them. I remember I could hardly sleep the night I saw the movie. And during events like this, not one person faced any charges. Not one!

Jon Voight, as always, gave a hell of a performance. His character, John Wright, is obviously racist, but not a bigot. But when he witnesses the lynching of folks he's known for years in his face, he has a change of heart and arranges his friends who owns the train that passes Rosewood to pick up the Black women and children.

Michael Rooker, as Sheriff Walker, did a great job as the law who could not control his town. He, too, was racist, but still wanted order.

The Black Preacher in the movie was the typical religious Uncle Tom. Proving Karl Marx's theory of religion's role in oppressive societies correct (as being the drug to keep oppressed people satisfied with a belief of an after-life).

Read about Black Wallstreet too. I'd like to see a Director make a movie about that.

Anton Batey

Tragic history, great story........2005-09-17

Based on a true story of a historic outbreak of racist violence, "Rosewood" is a compelling movie even without the social significance. The storyline is basically that a white woman falsely accuses a black man of rape, causing a whole town to go nuts. Certain of the white citizens form a mob to administer "justice" and end up on a rampage, while 2 men try to hide the black citizens of the town and help them escape.

"Rosewood" has many of the same emotional elements (heroism, cowardice, hatred, loss of control vs. disciplined honor, plenty of emotional tension) of "Schindler's List" or the old version of "Titanic," "A Night to Remember." Director John Singleton keeps the action moving, by keeping the more sensitive scenes short, and actually increasing their impact by his brevity.

John Voight is very believable as a reluctant hero, playing a shopkeeper who risks losing everything to help the terrified women and children of the town. Ving Rhames does a good job as a black man returned from war who serve's as Voight's conscience and handles the action scenes.

A surprise stand-out is Bruce McGill (D-Day in Animal House, the sheriff in My Cousin Vinny) as the "leader" of the white mob. McGill is convincing as one of the most disgusting characters I've ever seen on film. He brings out the truly foul nature of hate, but manages to humanize his character by showing the personal costs of his hate as well as the social forces which led him to it. The result is that you think he actually is the character he portrays. The movie is worth it just for McGill's creepy character.

Average customer rating:

Rosewood
Starring: Paul Benjamin , Jr. Mark Boone , Akosua Busia , Don Cheadle , and Loren Dean
Director: John Singleton
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000P0J0CE
Release Date: 2007-05-15

Description

Average customer rating:

Midsummernight's hangover
Like the idea... not so much on the execution
Decent Redo
Worth seeing
Rave on

A Midsummer Night's Rave
Starring: Andrew Keegan , Lauren German , Corey Pearson , Sunny Mabrey , and Chad Lindberg
Director: Gil Cates Jr.
Manufacturer: Velocity / Thinkfilm
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ASIN: B0002KPICS
Release Date: 2004-09-14

Description

Life begins when the sun goes down for a group of party-prone friends attending an L.A. rave. The music starts and the dream begins as partygoer Puck gives them each a sample of his new "love potion". This glowing green liquid fuels their inner desires and allows the friends to connect with their long secret loves during the night of dancing, lights, and unadulterated fun. Will a drug deal gone bad ruin the evening or can the uplifting mood of the rave along with Puck's potion bring out the best in everyone? The weather is hot, the music is pounding, the mood is electric and the stakes are high in this modern adaptation of Shakespeare's most popular play.

Customer Reviews:

Midsummernight's hangover.......2007-08-31

I bought a series of movies that have something to do with nightclubbing and raving and expected to find one of the better kind when I bought this movie ... but It was a weak copy of a much better movie I saw which is 'Groove!' ... Not good, I'm sorry.

Like the idea... not so much on the execution.......2007-05-13

Well, where to begin... I wasnt a fan of any of the actors too much, but I've got to admit I like the idea of Midsummer set at a rave and ecstacy is what Puck is peddling. I needed this movie to compare with the Stanley Tucci version for a class project and I would HIGHLY reccomend the Stanley Tucci version. Its not updated, but sometimes you gotta ask yourself why update Shakespeare? Im not saying im utterly against it, but is it necessary in each case?

Decent Redo.......2006-08-10

The only real problem I had with this movie was the sound quality. The actors and acting was great. The screenplay was an interesting new twist on an old classic. Midsummer Night's Dream is one of my favorite Shakespeare comedies. The music at the rave was spotty at best. Granted this was an indie film so music was the last on the budget and the first thing cut, they did a great job. The extra features are boring but the film is great.

Worth seeing.......2006-07-24

I thought this movie was great!! I am a huge fan of groove and human traffic. this movies dulls in comparison...but I do have to say i was engrossed the entire time!! I absolutely love the music, who do i ask about releasing a soundtrack? the music just plane rocks and the storyline is good as well...however...did those peeps in the beginning ever make it to amsterdamn?????? n e wayz...i def reccommend!!!! 4 starts def!!!

Rave on.......2006-05-17

Its a movie made for a E head raver techno trance junkie. You will be entertained right until the ending credits. It is ment to be cheesy and make fun of the whole rave scene.I dont know if it was the music but there is really a lovable quality about the film. If the music doesent get you to love it you have plenty of cheesy dialouge and cheesy to the max scenes to keep you entertained. It doesent even come close to being as good as Groove but it does show a more realistic portrayal of the scene and people. All in all if your looking for a well made "rave movie" watch Groove, Human Traffic, Party Girl, or Go. But if you liked those how can you not like this?

Average customer rating:

Catch Me If You Can/Almost Famous
Starring: Billy Crudup , Frances McDormand , Kate Hudson , Jason Lee , and Patrick Fugit
Director: Cameron Crowe , and Steven Spielberg
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Video
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ASIN: B0000DZ3I8
Release Date: 2003-12-09

Average customer rating:

You should deffinently check out both these films.
Rock and Roll Heaven And A Suburban Reality Check
ALMOST FAMOUS,ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS

Almost Famous/American Beauty
Starring: Billy Crudup , Frances McDormand , Kate Hudson , Jason Lee , and Patrick Fugit
Director: Cameron Crowe , and Sam Mendes
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00009IB45
Release Date: 2003-07-01

Amazon.com

Almost Famous
Almost Famous is the movie Cameron Crowe has been waiting a lifetime to tell. The fictionalization of Crowe's days as a teenage reporter for Creem and Rolling Stone has all the well-written characters and wonderful "movie moments" that we expect from Crowe (Jerry Maguire), but the film has an intangible something extra--an insider's touch that will turn the film into the ode to '70s rock & roll for years to come. We are introduced to Crowe's alter ego, William Miller (Patrick Fugit), at home, where his progressive mom (Frances McDormand, just superb) has outlawed rock music and sister Anita (Zooey Deschanel) has slipped him LPs that will "set his mind free." Following the wisdom of Creem's disheveled editor, Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman in an instant-classic performance), Miller gets on the inside with the up-and-coming band Stillwater (a fictionalized mixture of the Allman Brothers, Led Zeppelin, and others). A simple visit with the band turns into a three-week, life-altering odyssey into the heyday of American rock. Of the characters he meets on the road, the two most important are groupie extraordinaire Penny Lane (Kate Hudson in a star-making performance) and Stillwater's enigmatic lead guitarist (Billy Crudup), who keeps stringing Miller along for an interview. From the handwritten credits (done by Crowe) to the bittersweet finale, Crowe's comedic valentine is an indelible, heartbreaking romance of music, women, and the privilege of youth. --Doug Thomas

American Beauty
From its first gliding aerial shot of a generic suburban street, American Beauty moves with a mesmerizing confidence and acuity epitomized by Kevin Spacey's calm narration. Spacey is Lester Burnham, a harried Everyman whose midlife awakening is the spine of the story, and his very first lines hook us with their teasing fatalism. It's an audacious start for a film that justifies that audacity. Weaving social satire, domestic tragedy, and whodunit into a single package, Alan Ball's first theatrical script dares to blur generic lines and keep us off balance, winking seamlessly from dark, scabrous comedy to deeply moving drama. The Burnham family joins the cinematic short list of great dysfunctional American families, as Lester is pitted against his manic, materialistic realtor wife, Carolyn (Annette Bening, making the most of a mostly unsympathetic role) and his sullen, contemptuous teenaged daughter, Jane (Thora Birch, utterly convincing in her edgy balance of self-absorption and wistful longing). Into their lives come two catalytic outsiders. A young cheerleader (Mena Suvari) jolts Lester into a sexual epiphany that blooms into a second adolescence. And an eerily calm young neighbor (Wes Bentley) transforms both Lester and Jane with his canny influence. Credit another big-screen newcomer, English theatrical director Sam Mendes, with expertly juggling these potentially disjunctive elements into a superb ensemble piece that achieves a stylized pace without lapsing into transparent self-indulgence. Mendes has shrewdly insured his success with a solid crew of stage veterans, yet he's also made an inspired discovery in Bentley, whose Ricky Fitts becomes a fulcrum for both plot and theme. Cinematographer Conrad Hall's sumptuous visual design further elevates the film, infusing the beige interiors of the Burnhams' lives with vivid bursts of deep crimson, the color of roses--and of blood. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

You should deffinently check out both these films........2006-04-18

Almost famous and American beauty were both films I had ordered from Amazon ages ago, both films on their own are unique and wondrefull and both have great performances from their cast especialy Kevin Spacey's oscar winning performace which is a very memerobale role he definnently deserved to win.
Almost famous tells the story of a rock band in the 70's and all the people involved it also gives us a glimpse of the life of a young reporter William Miller played by Patrick Fugit when he turns fifteen he manages to get a writing assignment with Creem and then with rolling stone magazine for the rising band called sillwater.

Despite having a discouraging and overprotective mother (Frances McDormand who was fantastic) he gets the assignment and packs his bags to leave home, William soon observes the behaviour of this particular band from everything they go through like drugs, sex and basicly the whole rock and roll lifestyle he also meets up with the groupies or "band aids" including Penny Lane excellently played by Kate Hudson she also shows the downsides of this lifestyle when she attempts to kill her self but soon gets her stomach pumped after consuming alot of alchohol, there is sort of a romance developing between Penny Lane and William but its more sweet and innocent as they both have two completely different lives. The film is somewhat based on director Cameron Crowe's life as a teen and it was wonderfully directed by him and I also think its one of his best films and no I'm not a big fan of his. This film deserves 5/5 stars and I highly recomend this especialy if your looking for a coming of age drama/comedy.

American Beauty was directed by Sam Mendes, the film is a realistic look at the darker side of the American suburban life ofcourse not all suburban life is like this duh! but in this film it tells us how realy dysfuntional this family can get under the circumstances, each family member is cold and distant with each other. Lester (Kevin Spacey) has to deal with his manic materialistic realtor wife, Carolyn (Annette Bening) who is rather unsympathetic and kind of annoying and his daughter (Thora Birch) is the typical teenager always moody, depressed and full of angst and is constantly irratated by her parents.
Lester is going through a midlife crisis but soon everything changes when he meets his daughters friend a young cheerleader from school (Mena Suvari) he emidiately changes his life by quiting his job, working out more, smocking pot ect. both his wife and daughter are not phased by this sudden change infact his wife only gets worse by having an affair, the daughter gets involved with the wierd teen that lives next door (Wes Bentley) who has a cam-corder and likes taking pictures and has a millitary father that might be gay or in the closet nobody knows. Lester also begins to lust after his daughter's friend and starts having fantasies including the famous scene with the red rose petals, this great film has many layers to it and you begin to see that maybe there might be some inner beauty in all of us, the film is a great example of a very dark comedy and drama its good but I didn't like it that much I would give it 4/5 stars although it doesn't show an extremely dysfunctional family like in Todd Solondz Happiness or Takashi Miikes Visitor Q which I also recomend but only if you have a strong stomach.

Rock and Roll Heaven And A Suburban Reality Check.......2006-04-16

"Almost Famous" ...5 stars
Watching this film is like being in Rock and Roll Heaven! It is filled with young bright shining stars, under the superb direction of Cameron Crowe(Jerry Maguire). The music is like a trip down memory lane, and is very much a part of this great ensemble.

This semi-autobiographical coming of age story, takes a young journalist on the journey of a lifetime. Based on actual events from Cameron Crowe's life, 15 year old William Miller lands a job with "Rolling Stone" magazine. He must go on the road with rockers "Stillwater"(a group actually put together by the filmmakers and stars),and write their story. He hangs out everywhere with them, hotels, backstage, rides with them on their bus(this poor guy, a rotten job.. but somebody had to...)and eventually becomes very close with them and the "Band-Aids"(not groupies!) that are their entourage.All this to the constant worry of his over-protective mother, who besides rock and roll is another huge influence on his life.

Follow William, the band, and the girls on a tour of a lifetime, in this deliciously funny and sometimes poignant story of learning what's important in life.All filmed beautifully, with those great outfits of the 60's and 70's and of course one killer soundtrack. All the great rock legends of this era are heard throughout the film, including Elton John, The Who, and Peter Frampton whose instruction in music makes "Stillwater" great!The film also includes original music written especially for "Stillwater" that is fabulous as well.

The casting is impeccable...William is played by newcomer Patrick Fugit with an intuitiveness that is uncanny. Billy Crudup and Jason Lee are the leads for the band and totally have that rocker image down pat. Kate Hudson is irresistible as "Penny Lane" and the other "Band-Aids", including Anna Paquin and Fairza Balk also contribute greatly. Two outstanding performances are Frances McDormand as William's mother and Phillip Seymour Hoffman as his mentor.

This outstanding film is put together in an outstanding package. The DVD(although not the more expensive edition) is a beautiful transfer in every way. The picture in widescreen, is clear, colors are vivid, and shows off the great film work. The dialogue and music both come through brilliantly.

A film to be enjoyed by anyone who loves good movies and good music!

"American Beauty"...3 stars

This film has won so many awards(nationally and internationally), Best Director, Cinematography and Actor from Oscar among them, but I would use my allotted amount of review words if I were to list them all. A much adored film by the critics and viewing audiences as well. Sooooo....I'm really going out on a limb, when I say I just didn't love this film as much as everyone else(I really wanted to). But here goes....

I did like the film and found it definitely worth the view. I found it to be beautifully photographed and very much enjoyed the immaculate performances of these well seasoned actors. Kevin Spacey, Annette Benning and Thora Birch are the very dysfunctional Burnham family. They have grown so far apart from each other that their relationships seem beyond repair. I was actually very touched by a scene with Spacey and Birch, where he is trying to make things right with his daughter. The brilliant Chris Cooper and wonderful Allison Janey are the neighbors, also with major problems, and Wes Bently is outstanding as the son who is just a bit different from everyone else. Their everyday lives begin to intertwine and their problems begin to unfold. There are some funny as well as dramatic moments.

The story just didn't grab me enough to make me want to watch it over and over. As a suburban housewife who has already been through the mid-life thing, I could not identify with any of these "suburban" characters. Almost everyone on the block was dysfunctional and seemed to have some kind of crisis or phobia going on in their lives. The only functionally normal people on the block was the gay couple portrayed wonderfully by Scott Bakula and Sam Robards.

Although entertaining, I just didn't feel like I was seeing a fresh take on a "life in suburbia" film. Maybe you will see something in it I didn't. Everyone else seems to. It should be seen at least once.

If you have not seen it you may want to rent it first and check it out. If you have seen it, you will be happy with the quality of the DVD. It is superb. It is a top-notch transfer of this 1999 Best Picture Oscar Winner. The picture clarity and colors are outstanding and whatever sound system you are set up for you'll be happy with the results.

Amazon is out of stock of this package deal at this time, and looking at the seller prices,(if you are reading this much later then the date of my review, prices may have changed, or Ammy might have it in stock), but for now the better deal seems to be to purchase these editions individually from Amazon.

Enjoy....Laurie

ALMOST FAMOUS,ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS.......2003-09-01

CAMERON CROWE TAKES HIS BIGGEST STEP FROM GOOD MOTION PICTURE DIRETOR TO SUBLIME CINEMATIC ARTIST IN THIS TRULY ENTERTAINING FILM.
EVERY CHARACTER,BE IT THE MEMBERS OF THE BAND STILLWATER,THE ROCK&ROLL GROUPIES KNOWN AS THE BANDAIDS,OR CROWES OWN ALTER EGO
WILLIAM MILLER,ARE ALL SUPERBLY WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY ALL INVOLVED.
ALMOST FAMOUS BLENDS A SPECTRUM OF EMOTIONS,FROM COMEDY,TO BITTERSWEET LONGING ,AND A SUPERIOR CLASSIC ROCK SOUNDTRACK
EFFORTLESSLY.

Average customer rating:

Rosewood & Steel
Mary Flower
Manufacturer: Bluesette
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Blues | Styles | Music

Acoustic Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Tracks:

Your Baby Gave You Nuthin' But the Blues
Midnite Blue - Mary Flower
Stomp Down Mama
Arrangement for Me Blues
Hannah's Song
Mystery Train
Pony Blues
Cock-A-Doodle Blues
Two Days Straight
Cypress Grove Blues
Can't Sleep for Dreaming
Roll on, Mississippi, Roll On
Old Guitar

Average customer rating:

Haha Awsome
A Heartwarming Comedy Disguised As A College Film
Jack Black, Mike White and Orange County
Wow....
one of THE most underrated comedies.

Orange County [Region 2]
Starring: Colin Hanks , Jack Black , Schuyler Fisk , Kyle Howard , and Bret Harrison
Director: Jake Kasdan
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( O ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B0002475XE

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Haha Awsome.......2007-02-09

This movie I'd bet is totally under-rated. It is really funny and on top of that it has a real good story line and plot, get on this movie.

A Heartwarming Comedy Disguised As A College Film.......2007-01-30

Jack Black, Mike White and Orange County.......2007-01-08

Wow...........2005-11-24

one of THE most underrated comedies........2005-11-05

Gourmet Guitars® - The Best Luthiers - DVD Series Volume 1

Average customer rating:

Gourmet Guitars® - The Best Luthiers - DVD Series Volume 1
Director: Holger M. E. Obenaus
Manufacturer: Gourmet Guitars®
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video
Product Features:

Three 50 minute documentary films
Video / 3:4 / color / stereo / 143 min
Exclusive hand-made paper Smartpack
8 page fold-out leporello

ASIN: B000JYXJG4

Product Description

Expertly directed, superbly produced, and tastefully edited, GOURMET GUITARS® documentary films unveil the core-beliefs of master guitar building. One hundred thirty breathtaking minutes of hands-on, no-holds-barred guitar building secrets show how the best of the best make their magic happen. Each DVD is an exclusive showcase for the world's most sought-after craftsmen. GOURMET GUITARS® - The Best Luthiers DVD Series ... made for guitar lovers, by guitar lovers. Teuffel Guitars- Ulrich Teuffel is THE enfant terrible of the international luthier scene. His Birdfish guitar is one of the most important guitars of the 20th Century. Ulrich invited us to the Museum of Modern Art in Bregenz, Austria to talk about the legacy of Leo Fender, the future of the electric guitar and, of course, his famous clients, Billy Gibbons, Henry Kaiser and David Torn. Pagelli Guitars- Meet the dynamic duo of Swiss lutherie. Bob Benedetto once said that Claudio Pagelli is one of the most creative guitar builders he has ever met. GOURMET GUITARS traveled to the Swiss Alps to see where the best European Spruce grows and to talk with the Pagellis about Swiss Precision, Italian Design & Intergalactic Sound. Fine Resophonics- Mike Lewis builds some of the best hand-crafted National-style guitars on the planet! Listen as he talks of his quest to capture the vintage National sound. Blues Giants like Eric Clapton, Michael Messer, Robbie McIntosh and Louisiana Red all agree on one thing - Mike Lewis makes magic when he builds Fine Resophonic guitars!

DVD:

DVD

DVD