‘Almost Famous’ Region 2 video
When you see a famous smile…
Already available back in March in the US, Cameron Crowe’s superb ‘Almost Famous’ is now available to buy in Europe. Complete with a new cover, the film is released on Video and Region 2 DVD today. Most of you are familiar with the film and its soundtrack, which includes the 1972 Santa Monica recording of ‘Waiting For The Man’ by Ziggy and the Spiders, and numerous references to David Bowie, including a flash of a Bowie look-a-like being bundled into a lift.
The film tells the story, (based on Crowe’s own experiences) of William Miller (Patrick Fugit), a naive 15-year-old boy who wants to write about rock music, and who ends up on the road with fictional band Stillwater, as a reporter for Rolling Stone magazine in the 1970s. Despite his mother’s best efforts, Miller’s innocence is gradually eroded by firstly, legendary Creem editor, Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman), and then groupie extraordinaire Penny Lane (Kate Hudson)…that’s her on the cover.
A most moving account and a subject clearly close to Crowe’s heart, ‘Almost Famous’ is a must-see. The video retails at around £75, but as my mate Rus says, you may be better off saving your cash toward a DVD player if you don’t already have one. The DVD retails at £19.99 but you should be able to pick it up online for as little as £15.99
On a final note we also have Mr Crowe to thank for the infamous Playboy interview with David back in 1976, not much of which is printable on a family site such as this. But here is a little insight into a 29-year-old Bowie through the eyes of a teenage Cameron Crowe:
“My talks with Bowie began as far back as early 1975. Few of our sessions were marathon affairs. No matter how stimulating the conversation, after any longer than an hour of sitting still, Bowie could barely contain himself. ‘Can we just take a short break?’ he’d blurt. Not waiting for a reply, he would then shoot to his feet and dart in another direction: sometimes to write a song or two, other times to dash off a painting. In one instance, he ended a session by asking for a random list of 20 items. I gave it to him. He studied the list for ten seconds, handed it back and recited it from memory. Backward and forward.”
Thanx again to Rus for the pointer.