So Tim Burton’s 9 came out on Wednesday, which besides being a huge Burton fan, I am rather indifferent about, but Coheed’s single “Welcome Home” was in the trailer which I was SUPER EXCITED about…but it’s not in the movie, unfortunately. In other news, I am switching the blogging schedule to ONLY Monday and Friday. Mid-week is not my best time, which is why I skipped the actual 9-9-9 blog date.
Anyway, yesterday I re-watched one of my all-time top favorite movies, Almost Famous. It is basically a movie about how I wish my life would play out: a 15-year old kid who writes for local underground music magazines is hired to work for Rolling Stone and tours with a band called Stillwater. It’s a really incredible movie (with Kate Hudson and Philip Seymour Hoffman) and I never get tired of watching it. And it is also really amazing the way the music works within the story—like how his older sister (Zooey Deschanel—one of my favorite actresses—and by the way, does anyone else agree with me that she looks almost EXACTLY like Katy Perry? I swear they’re the same person) leaves home to become a stewardess and explains it by playing Simon and Garfunkel’s “America” to her family. I love that. Music is the best way to explain an emotion, sometimes. You just have to be open to listen. You can really learn a lot about a person by what they listen to or what they try to play for you.
Anyway, the music from the film (aside from including a lot of Elton John, who I can only take in low doses) is perfect. For instance, Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” pretty much sums up Kate Hudson’s character, the stunning Miss Penny Lane, sometimes-girlfriend of Stillwater’s lead guitarist Russell Hammond. I believe Ms. Hudson is really the sparkle behind all the emotion of the film, in addition to the astounding choice of music. The lyrics “Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band / Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music man” could not describe Penny Lane any better—she is in love with Russell, she is the soul of Stillwater and their biggest fan, yet taken for granted somewhat because of her groupie status. I would venture to say the movie is really as much about her as it is about William Miller, the boy journalist (played by Patrick Fugit.) The film isn’t just about William Miller’s journey across America and his adventures with the band, nor is it simply about the politics and trials of the music industry—it’s really about the undying love and loyalty of fans to their favorite bands. Long story short, I could not recommend any film more (except for High Fidelity.)
Happy watching & happy weekend!
Emily Noel
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