Search - Almost Famous on DVD


Almost Famous
Almost Famous
Actors: Billy Crudup, Patrick Fugit
Genres: Drama
R     2001     2hr 2min

Audiences and critics alike are raving about this larger-than-life rock'n 'roll favorite that Roger Ebert calls "one of the best movies of the year!" The guys of Stillwater have the sound, they have the look and Rolling St...  more »
     
     

Larger Image

Movie Details

Actors: Billy Crudup, Patrick Fugit
Genres: Drama
Sub-Genres: Drama
Studio: Dreamworks Video
Format: DVD - Color,Widescreen - Closed-captioned
DVD Release Date: 03/13/2001
Original Release Date: 01/01/2000
Theatrical Release Date: 01/01/2000
Release Year: 2001
Run Time: 2hr 2min
Screens: Color,Widescreen
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Total Copies: 14
Members Wishing: 0
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Languages: English
See Also:

Similar Movies

Garden State
   R   2004   1hr 42min
   
High Fidelity
Director: Stephen Frears
   R   2009   1hr 54min
Rock Star
Director: Stephen Herek
   R   2002   1hr 45min
   
American Beauty
Widescreen Edition
Director: Sam Mendes
   R   2000   2hr 2min
   
Magnolia
Blu-ray
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
   R   2010   3hr 8min
Pirate Radio
Director: Richard Curtis
   R   2010   1hr 56min

Similarly Requested DVDs

The Notebook
   PG-13   2005   2hr 3min
   
Fargo
Special Edition
Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Jeffrey Schwarz
   R   2003   1hr 38min
   
The Holiday
Director: Nancy Meyers
   PG-13   2007   2hr 18min
   
Burn After Reading
Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
   R   2008   1hr 36min
   
Inglourious Basterds
Single-Disc Edition
   R   2009   2hr 33min
   
Up in the Air
Director: Jason Reitman
   R   2010   1hr 49min
   
Juno
Single-Disc Edition
Director: Jason Reitman
   PG-13   2008   1hr 36min
   
No Country for Old Men
Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
   R   2008   2hr 2min
   
Frailty
Director: Bill Paxton
   R   2002   1hr 40min
   
When Harry Met Sally
Director: Rob Reiner
   R   2001   1hr 36min
   
 

Member Movie Reviews

Mark H. (djmark) from MONTEREY PARK, CA
Reviewed on 10/18/2020...
All the stories and moments you wish you were there for during the hey-day of the 60's encapsulated in 1 film. Be a golden god.
Suzanne B.
Reviewed on 2/5/2011...
What a gem of a movie, perfect for fans of rock music, and a fantastic breakthrough role for both Kate Hudson and Patrick Fugit. Frances McDormand is hilarious and heartbreaking as a mom learning to let go. The members of the band, particularly Jason Lee and Billy Crudup, are totally believable as musicians on the road, literally, to fame. Fun-to-watch roles for Zoey Deschanel(a Katy Perry doppleganger)and Jimmy Fallon. Phillip Seymor Hoffman is perfect in his supporting role. Love. This. Film.
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Nancy D. from WARWICK, RI
Reviewed on 1/31/2010...
Love this movie! Have seen it before and am glad I purchased it!
0 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Movie Reviews

Outstanding Director's Cut - Powerful Story and Acting
turtlex | PA USA | 12/27/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Almost Famous Untitled: The Bootleg Cut - Director's Edition.I've decided to review the Bootleg Cut of "Almost Famous" as most of the other reviews are of the original theatrical release.This is a wonderful two-disc ( actually 3, more on this later ) DVD collection. First, the packaging. We are presented with a brown tri-fold package, much like the bootleg recordings of the seventies. Not a whole lot of artwork on the cover. Simply a small photo of Kate Hudson (Penny Lane). The first tri-fold presents us with a wonderful addition to this DVD set. Included is a STILLWATER Music CD. This music CD is only available in this collection and features songs from the film as performed by Stillwater. Four of the tracks are co written by Nancy Wilson ( of Heart ) and Cameron Crowe ( the director ). This little bonus CD is great and very appropriate to the theme of the set.I'll jump now to DISC 2 of this set which is the Original Theatrical Version of "Almost Famous". This is the academy award winning version that was released and it's great. The story is well told and very engaging.DISC 1 is "Untitled: Almost Famous : The Bootleg Cut" which is not rated. This version is a gift. Cameron Crowe has taken the time to ( lovingly ) recut his film and include an additional 36 minutes of film. The addition of these precious minutes change the film but do not deminish it's impact or watchability. The additional 36 minutes add mostly to the character of Penny Lane ( Academy Award Nominee Kate Hudson ) and expand on her history. Unlike many extended versions which add little to character development, this version of "Almost Famous" brings more insight and depth to nearly all characters. The acting is outstanding, and it's clear that the scenes not in the original release were cut strictly due to time constraints as the acting is right on. This is a great cast. Kate Hudson is a stand out, as is newcomer Patrick Fugit. Billy Crudup is wonderful as well, this is the movie which should have made him a movie star. Jason Lee ( of "Chasing Amy" and other Kevin Smith films ) is hysterical and just enough over the top to be believable. The movie, this version, rests soundly with Kate Hudson and Patrick Fugit.I would think, had this Bootleg version been released theatrically, then perhaps Kate Hudson would have actually won the Academy Award rahter than just being nominated. She's done a wonderful job with this complex character. The director's commentary is priceless, much like attending a film school seminar as conducted by Cameron Crowe.This two disc set is a must have for any film fan. Even if you've got the original DVD release ( rather than this special edition set ), this is still more than worth the purchase price.I would recommend this set. Strongly.Best Regards,
turtlexPS - if you've enjoyed this review, feel free to add me to your favorite people list as I try to write reviews frequently.Thanks for reading."
"Almost Famous" DVDeserves This Loving "Uncut" Treatment
Mike Stone | 07/17/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"There's a moment early on in "Untitled", Cameron Crowe's 'Bootleg' Director's Cut of "Almost Famous", where rock critic Lester Bangs (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), in mid-rant, claims that the Box Tops' "The Letter" says more in less than two minutes, without even trying, than Jethro Tull can say in hours, while trying their damndest. It got me thinking: why didn't Crowe take his own advice? Why did he take a perfectly serviceable 122-minute movie that appeared to say everything, and turn it into a 162-minute movie? Well, I've seen "Untitled". It blows up "Almost Famous", makes it spectacle and spectacular, while never losing its intimate edge.This is a case where more of a good thing doesn't turn into too much of a good thing.What do you get with "Untitled"? Well, more character. Backstories are fleshed out, relationships are better defined, and the humanity becomes more human. We see William's (Patrick Fugit) kleptomania, along with more examples of how his youth made him an outcast. We get Penny Lane's (Kate Hudson) nurturing side, explicitly portrayed. And we get a full-on glimpse of Jeff Bebe's (Jason Lee) envy, why it started and how it manifests itself. A couple of full scenes are added, most notably a radio station appearance that's terribly funny, albeit irrelevant to the plot. But most of the additional footage comes from existing scenes being lengthened. More often than not, the point is clarified without boring the audience with tediousness.The audio commentary begins with Cameron Crowe outlining the two paths they might go down. The first is the hemming-and-hawing path, where all the truths are covered up, in favour of banal stories and technical information. The second path is the heart-on-your-sleeve path, where all the inspirations and backstories are owned up to, where mistakes are agonized over, and the truth is king. If you've ever seen a Cameron Crowe movie, or heard the man speak more than two sentences, you'll know which path he chooses.Crowe dominates the track. He's joined by a couple of execs (or PA's or something; they're never really introduced and don't say much). But the real treat of the track is the inclusion of one Mrs. Alice Crowe, Cameron's mom (and Frances McDormand's doppelganger). Besides being a doting mother, and quick to offer praise for her son, she also offers some real insights into the genesis of the film. She appears to know the movie backwards and forwards, and acts as further proof of the film's accuracy. It's amazing to see how much of the movie was really based on actual events. Every scene appears to begin with either Cameron or Alice being taken aback by the memories it invokes.This is probably one of the best commentary tracks I've heard, for the inclusion, in equal measure, of technical information, on set anecdotes, and passion.Also included on Disc One is real life video footage of an interview with Lester Bangs. Lester's vitriol is palpable, his menacing nature is enormous, but his warmth shines through. It's an interesting tidbit, in that it offers further proof that Hoffman is one of the greatest actors working today, for he doesn't stoop to imitating Lester. It's more like channeling. Then, Cameron includes a list -- complete with fully-represented album covers -- of his top albums of 1973 (the year the film is set). An interesting curiosity. Some of the works actually inform specific scenes from the film, which is kind of a neat trick. They've also put together a "video" for the Stillwater song "Love Comes and Goes", which is basically a montage of behind-the-scenes moments from the Rock Camp the actors had to go through. More of this can bee seen on "B-Sides", another video montage. Most interesting is the inclusion of seven of Crowe's Rolling Stone articles from the era, printed in their entirety. It's not hard to see the nascent voice of Crowe the filmmaker shining through these passion-filled pieces.Disc Two has a lot less going for it. Its main feature is the original theatrical version of the movie. Also included is the full-length (15 minutes or so) Cleveland Concert, parts of which we see in the movie. Despite the fact that Billy Crudup sometimes plays notes not actually in the songs, and that Jason Lee still has to work on his between song banter, this footage shows just how well the actors did in achieving their collective band persona. The music's not that great, but the vibe, captured by on-stage camera work, is authentic. The Production Notes section is basically the same essay you'll find in the box's liner notes, only with additional information. There's an interesting little video moment, with Pete Droge and Elaine Summers singing "Small Time Blues" in a Hyatt House hotel room. It's a moment quickly passed by in the actual movie. But here you get to hear the whole song, from William's voyeuristic point-of-view, and it's just stunningly beautiful. You can also scroll through Crowe's screenplay, peruse the cast and crew bios, and watch the theatrical trailer.Disc Three is an audio CD. It's got the six Stillwater songs, written variously by Nancy Wilson, Cameron Crowe, and Peter Frampton, among others. They're not very good songs, and I'm not sure they fit the era they're supposed to come from, but for an "Almost Famous" completist, like myself, it's neat to have them in all their (sub-)glory.A lot of effort was put into making this set look like a real bootleg, the kind of clandestine little document you'd pick up at a seedy record store. I think the look and feel enhance the movie. Which was pretty good to begin with."
The most inspring, real film of the year....
J. Remington | 10/22/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the very few recent movies that made me walk out of the theater with a smile on my face. This is quite possibly one of the most beautiful, real, well-made, and inspring films I've ever seen. This film truly shows the beauty and joy that music and the love of music is. Newcomer Patrick Fugit manages to hold center stage in the most Oscar caliber performance filled film of the year. Kate Hudson and Frances McDormand are locks to get nominated for Best Supporting Actress and I would not be surprised if one of them recieves it. Fugit, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Billy Crudup, and Jason Lee are all worthy of Oscar recognition. Every performer in this film, even the ones with smaller parts (Zooey Deneschal, Noah Taylor, Bjiou Phillips, Anna Paquin, Fairuza Balk), give the most inspired performances ever onscreen. This is a truly beautiful movie. I strongly suggest it...."