ALMOST FAMOUS (15)

Reviewed by Pete Henshaw

EVEN though 'road movies' usually attract a mid-teenage audience, the target range of this tale of 1970's rock and roll, journalism, first loves and groupies, is in reality, a lot older

Almost everything in Almost Famous will strike a cord with any seventies child in the audience, everything from the music and the fashion, to the hairdos and the over zealous mothers, although the last one is not consigned to just the 70s.

Having said this, the film will still provide an excellent two hours' viewing for children of the 1980s and for that matter, the 1960s, but just not as much so.

The story is loosely based around director Cameron Crowe's early years as a music journalist and follows a 15-year-old wannabe music journalist, William Miller, (Patrick Fugit), who gets his big break when he is offered the chance to tour with up and coming rock band Stillwater and write it up for Rolling Stone magazine.

Led by king rock critic Lester Bangs, played with excellent finesse by Philip Seymour Hoffman, William joins up with and befriends the band all the time juggling his new found fun with strict mother Elaine, (Frances McDormand).

Crowe presents his viewers with a mirage of scenery and settings spanning from New York to Topeka, which never cease to bore.

The film hangs around the burgeoning relationships which William forges with many of those he meets, none more so than Russell Hammond, (Billy Crudup), the band's disheartened guitarist.

The true star in the film, though, is Kate Hudson, who plays mystery groupie, Penny Lane.

While the role was probably not the hardest to portray Hudson seems to have a magical on-screen charisma which reacts well with Patrick Fugit resulting in some interesting one-on-one scenes between the two.

Crowe manages to produce a charming film about events which change a young innocent boy's life but subtly avoiding any cliches about seeing the light.

And of course the soundtrack rocks, man!

Verdict: Almost There

Rating: 8/10

IN our weekly Cinema Competition, we have another family ticket for the film of your choice at the Odeon in Festival Park, Hanley.

The four tickets, worth £20, will be valid from Monday through until Thursday for a film of the winner's choosing as long as you can get to the theatre yourself.

To enter just answer the following question about this week's film review and send the answer along with a daytime telephone number to The Cinema Comp, Crewe Guardian, 42 High Street, Crewe, CW2 7BN or e-mail crewe@guardiangrp.co.uk with your answer.

Just tell us the name the film directed by Cameron Crowe in which Tom Cruise coined the infamous phrase, 'Show me the money'.

Deadline for entries is Thursday, February 1, and the winner for the January 11, Castaway competition is Mr B Shackleton of Galway Grove, Shavington.