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This movie is about 15 year old William (Patrick Fugit) who is asked by Rolling Stone magazine to write an article on an up and coming rock band, Stillwater. The boy goes on tour with the band and has to learn to maintain objectivity while being dragged into the rock and roll world. His mentor (Philip Seymour Hoffman) warns him about getting too close to the people he's writing about, but William gets carried away on the road and learns more than just a few life lessons from band members Russell and Jeff (Billy Crudup, Jason Lee) and groupie band aid, Penny Lane (Kate Hudson).
William is living out every 15-year-old's dream, being away from home with
a rock band, far from any parental supervision - until he gets a dose of
harsh reality and realizes that maybe he isn't cut out for this lifestyle.
Frances McDormand, who won best actress for Fargo, plays William's overprotective mother. Her struggle to keep her son innocent creates some really funny scenes, especially her conversation with the band's lead guitarist Russell. It's another terrific showcase for Frances.
In spite of all the raving about Goldie Hawn's daughter, Kate Hudson, some
of us aren't as impressed - the role doesn't demand all that much... and
that's exactly what we get. The movie conveys the tension in the band,
the atmosphere of the road, and yet it drags in the middle when it should
be at its peak.
Patrick Fugit works as the innocent who turns out to be insightful, compassionate,
and wise beyond his years. And Billy Crudup just works - even with the
1970's hair and mustache (yuck), he is worth seeing.
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