00s Movie Review - Almost Famous

Director: Cameron Crowe
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 122 minutes
Year: 2000
Starring: Patrick Fugit, Billy Crudup, Kate Hudson, Frances McDormand, Jason Lee, Zooey Deschanel, Anna Paquin, Fairuza Balk, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bijou Philips, Jimmy Fallon

Description: A high school boy (Patrick Fugit) in the early 1970s is given the chance to write a story for Rollin Stone magazine about an up-and-coming rock band as he accompanies them on their concert tour.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 49: A MOVIE ABOUT A MUSICIAN
 
Review: It’s 1973. Fifteen-year-old William Miller lives in San Diego and dreams of becoming the best rock journalist ever. His great love of music was born from a collection of records his sister left him four years earlier when she left home. William writes articles for local magazines and also sends them to a rock and roll magazine. The editor of this magazine, Lester Bangs, is in San Diego and William seeks him out. He manages to get an assignment from Lester to write about Black Sabbath who are performing in San Diego. When William is trying to get in, he meets a few groupies, including the mysterious Penny Lane. Moments later, Stillwater’s band members arrive. Partly because of his contact with Penny, William gets in touch with this band, who actually, because he is a journalist, consider him the enemy.

Some time later, William is approached by Rolling Stone Magazine, to write an extensive tour report of Stillwater. And so William, leaving behind a very distressed mother, travels with the band along with Penny.

“Almost Famous” a good film about music. The film describes director Cameron Crowe’s own life as a rock journalist and he says that this film is a love letter to music. Even though the film isn’t very realistic, it does have many layers. The search for success and happiness, the loss of youthful innocence, it’s about love and passion.  

“Almost Famous” is considered to be one of the best film of 2000. I personally wouldn’t go that far, but it’s strong enough to be memorable.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Battle: (500) Days of Summer Vs. Ruby Sparks

I’m not a very big fan of romantic comedies, unless they are a bit unconventional. The two I can think of are going to battle it out in today’s movie battle: “(500) Days of Summer” Vs. “Ruby Sparks”

ACTORS

(500) Days of Summer: This was one of the films that brought us back Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who is now one of the more successful actors in Hollywood. Together with Zooey Deschanel he forms an amazing couple. Their performances are amazing.

Ruby Sparks: Paul Dano is an extraordinary actor, I really like him. He does a great job in “Ruby Sparks”. And Zoe Kazan, as Ruby Sparks, is amazing! Fun supporting roles by Annette Bening, Antonio Banderas, Chris Messina and Steve Coogan.

STORY

(500) Days of Summer: When Tom meets Summer, he falls far her immediately. Summer doesn’t believe true love exists, Tom does. We see the 500 days Summer is in Tom’s life. It sounds like your average rom com, but it’s anything but that.

Ruby Sparks: The story doesn’t sound straight forward and isn’t. It’s about a struggling writer, who writes about a woman who can love him and actually coming to life. It’s an original story (written by Zoe Kazan) and executed very well.

EFFECTS

(500) Days of Summer: The cinematography of “(500) Days of Summer” is magnificent. First off, the story isn’t told chronologically, but there are also some great effects used. Like the split screen, where we see Tom’s expectations and reality of a moment.

Ruby Sparks: The film looks beautiful, but more straight forward then “(500) Days of Summer”.

WINNER

Although I really loved “Ruby Sparks”, “(500) Days of Summer” has been one of my all-time favorites ever since I first saw it

Top 5 Thursday: TV Gal Pals

Well, sisters before misters. I have the two best girlfriends in the world, but what about our favorite friends on TV, the best gal pals? Here is my pick, my five favorite TV gal pals.

5. Robin Sherbatsky & Lily Aldrin (“How I Met Your Mother”)

Lily and Robin are both not the mother in the title, but they are still best friends. As fans we have gotten to see their friendship grow. While Lily has been in a long term relationship with Marshall and Robin has had a couple of boyfriends, the two always leaned on each other.

 

 

4. Brooke Davis & Peyton Sawyer (“One Tree Hill”)

From the beginning, Brooke and Peyton have been best friends. Brooke is a popular cheerleader and Peyton started out that way too. But there is more to both of them. Both have artistic qualities, Peyton with music and her art and Brooke in fashion. Although very different from each other in how they look at life, both have relied on each other.

 

 

3. Jess Day & Cece Parekh (“New Girl”)

Cece and Jess met as children. They always stayed friends, even when they both chose a complete different path in life. Cece and Jess have been through plenty together and they are overprotective over each other. Cece would never let any guy hurt Jess and Jess helps Cece always making her feel great about herself.

 

 

2. Meredith Grey & Cristina Yang (“Grey’s Anatomy”)

Meredith and Cristina have been friends since the first episode. They are each other’s ‘person’. This started when Cristina needed to fill out her medical release forms and she put Meredith down as her emergency contact. There are not mushy about their friendship, but they will always be there for each other.

 

 

1. Monica Gellar, Rachel Green and Phoebe Buffay (“Friends”)

This is actually a group of six,, but just the girls it’s three. And many people say that three is a bad number in a friendship, but I disagree. I also am part of a group of three and it’s perfect. And Monica, Rachel and Phoebe proof it too. All so different, but understanding towards each other and always there for one another.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Ann Perkins & Leslie Knope (“Parks & Recreation), Penny, Amy & Bernadetta (“The Big Bang Theory”), Aria, Emily, Hanna & Spencer (“Pretty Little Liars”)

Movie Favorites: "(500) Days of Summer"

Synopsis: After it looks as if she's left his life for good this time, Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) reflects back on the just over one year that he knew Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel). Despite being physically average in almost every respect, Summer had always attracted the attention of men, Tom included. For Tom, it was love at first sight when she walked into the greeting card company where he worked, she the new administrative assistant. Soon, Tom knew that Summer was the woman with whom he wanted to spend the rest of his life. Although Summer did not believe in relationships or boyfriends - in her assertion, real life will always ultimately get in the way - Tom and Summer became more than just friends.

 

Unique Selling Point: When you thought “(500) Days of Summer” was just another rom-com, you’re wrong. The way this story is told is unique and that makes it inventive, funny and true.

Most Valuable Player: Screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, for this originally told story.

Best Moment: The expectations versus reality scene, with the split screen, is nothing like I’ve ever seen. It’s amazing.

Movie Moments: "(500) Days of Summer"

The reason I love "(500) Days of Summer" so much is because it's fresh and original and not standard. It isn't standard in every way of the word. It's told in an extremely original way and you can't predict one second of the film. Just perfect. Here are my favorite moments in the movie, in the order the appear in the film.

Moment # 1: I love Summer
Tom realizes he is in love with Summer and starts to name things he loves about her. Her smile, her hair, her knees, the way she licks her lips before she talks, her heart-shaped birthmark on her neck, when she sleeps.

Moment # 2: Karaoke
Tom and Mackenzie go to a karaokebar with some co-workers and Summer also joins them. She starts singing “Sugertown” by Nancy Sinatra and later Tom sings “Here Comes Your Man” by The Pixies.

Moment # 3: Ikea
Tom and Summer are looking for coasters in Ikea and start pretending that it’s their home. Joining each other in a kitchen, were the sink doesn’t work. Then ending up in a bedroom, where they kiss each other on the bed. And then Tom telling Summer that there’s a Chinese family in their bathroom.

Moment # 4: Hall & Oates musical number
After spending the night with Summer, Tom feels great. He starts dancing with the people in the park, who are all dressed in blue. It sort of describes what Tom is feeling on that moment.

Moment # 5: Arm drawing
Tom shows Summer his favorite spot, because he loves the buildings. He says people don’t notice the beauty of it and if it were him he would make them notice. When Summer asks him how, he wants to draw it but doesn't have any paper. Tom starts drawing it on Summer's arm.

Moment # 6: Summer's appartement
Summer invites Tom over in her appartement, which means letting him in to her life. She starts telling Tom stories and it appears they are all stories she never told anyone else.

Moment # 7: Penis!!!
Tom and Summer are in the park together. They start saying the word penis, but everyime a little bit louder. Making it into a game of who dares to go further, eventually screaming the word penis in a park that also has children in it.

Moment # 8: I hate Summer
Everything Tom used to love about Summer, he now hates. Her crooked teeth, her 1960s haircut, her knobby knees, her cockroach-shaped splotch in her neck, the way she smack her lips before she talks, the sound of her laugh.

Moment # 9: Train
Tom meets Summer again on the train, on their way to a wedding, where they start talking and seem to have a lot of fun. On the way home, Summer falls a sleep and rests her head on Tom’s shoulder. Because Summer invited him to her party, he thinks he still has a shot.

Moment # 10: Expectations vs. reality
Tom attends a party hosted by Summer. We see his expectations on the left and reality on the right. They are different from each other. He finds out Summer is engaged and he will not have a future with her.

Moment # 11: Wall drawing
Tom feels inspired and starts drawing on his chalkboard.

Moment # 12: Bench
Tom is sitting in his favorite spot, where Summer meets up with him. Tom doesn’t understand why she never wanted him as a boyfriend and now married another guy. Summer: “I just woke up one day and I knew”. Tom: “Knew what”? Summer: “What I was never sure of with you”.

Moment # 13: Meeting Autumn
Tom is on his way to a job interview and meets a girl, who also applied for the job. They start talking and find out they share the same favorite spot. When Tom is called in, he returns and asks her out for a cup of coffee. First she declines but just a second later she says yes. He introduces himself and she tells him her name is Autumn.

Favorite moment: # 10: Expectations vs. reality

So Zooey

I made a new wallpaper, starring the lovely Zooey Deschanel. I loved her in "(500) Days of Summer", especially in combination with Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Here's the wallpaper I made.

As always, feelfree to use it on your own desktop.

Movie Tip #39 - (500) Days of Summer

Director: Marc Webb

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel

Description: After it looks as if she's left his life for good this time, Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) reflects back on the just over one year that he knew Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel). Despite being physically average in almost every respect, Summer had always attracted the attention of men, Tom included. For Tom, it was love at first sight when she walked into the greeting card company where he worked. Soon, Tom knew that Summer was the woman with whom he wanted to spend the rest of his life. Although Summer did not believe in relationships or boyfriends. Tom and Summer became more than just friends, or didn't they?

Review: I wanted to see this movie for a long time and now I finally saw it I'm so overjoyed. This is so much more then your typical boy-girl story. It's told in a very unusual way. Tom wants what Summer doesn't want. The story has some unexpected twists and the movie is filmed in a very creative way. Especially the scene where we see a split screen: on the left we see Tom's expectations and on the right we see Tom's reality. Absolutely brilliant! Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are an awesome movie couple with amazing chemistry. I also have to say that they made a great choice of music, that fits this film perfectly. Like Tom fell head over heals with Summer, I'm head over heals with this movie. IT ROCKS!!

I also made a wallpaper for the film: