Almost Famous - 2000

William Miller is a very precocious boy. His mother skipped him past first grade and lied to him about his real age. When he was 11 his older sister left the house because of a dispute over rock and roll. She left William her record collection and set his future in place. By the age of 15 (1973) he became an aspiring rock and roll journalist. He has also met a groupie, though she'd furiously deny it, named Penny Lane.
Rolling Stone magazine doesn't realize how young he is and offers him a chance to write an article for them. All he has to do is go on the road with an up and coming band called Stillwater. His mother reluctantly allows him to go.
William desperately tries to interview them, especially their star guitar play but has great difficulty maintaining any kind of journalistic distance. To make it worse, the guitar player is sleeping with Penny whom William has fallen for. Loyalties are questioned and torn.
This is a great movie and I'd never seen it before. The tone and timing are perfect. The acting, especially Kate Hudson, is excellent. The story is interesting and feels authentic. The only weak part was the live music from Stillwater. 'Almost Famous' has been touted as one of the best movies of the decade and it lives up to that reputation.

Next up: Cast Away