A whimsical, semi-autobiographical take on early 70s rock 'n' roll by Jerry Maguire director Cameron Crowe. Fifteen year-old aspiring rock journalist William Miller (Patrick Fugit, earnest) is hired by Rolling Stone magazine to write a piece on emergent new band Stillwater. Travelling on the road with the group, he falls in love with "Band-Aid" (distinguished from groupies by their love of the music rather than the musicians) Penny Lane (Kate Hudson), who is carrying on a one-way affair with lead guitarist Russell (Billy Crudup).
As far as dewy-eyed nostalgia flicks go, this is very good indeed. Primarily a coming-of-age story, William's gradual disenchantment of his idols, their petty in-fighting and, in particular, Russell's poor treatment of Penny, provides a nifty mirror into a world that was, as William's mentor, rock journalist Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman) puts it "dying out". Crowe's ear for good music serves him well here too, as evidenced in a rousing group rendition of Elton John's Tiny Dancer. Hudson's playful, enigmatic performance as Penny Lane is the jewel in the film's crown but it's rounded out by some impressive ensemble performances from Hoffman, Frances McDormand (as William's concerned mother), Fairuza Balk and Zooey Deschanel.
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