These People Were
Definitely Famous!

As a lifestyle journalist, I find it sad that many in my profession don't think that Almost Famous is a must-watch. People usually talk about The Devil Wears Prada, 13 Going on 30, and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. But Almost Famous should be right up there.

Did everyone forget that this is about a teen journalist following bands in the 1970s for an assignment for Rolling Stone magazine? Not only is it a vibe, but it's a fairly realistic portrayal of the lengths we journalists go to for our work. And how easy it is for us to get lost in the worlds we're supposed to be reporting on.

If anything, I wish more people remembered this movie because of Kate Hudson's performance. This is what essentially put her on the map as a leading talent. She was even nominated for an Oscar for it.

For me, Almost Famous will always be one of those wild early 2000s comedies that actually had a real message to tell. In fact, it's more of a dramedy to me than straight-up comedy. Sure, it had its funny moments, but the adventure was more exciting than hilarious.

It also gave us incredible performances from many incredible stars. I already mentioned Kate Hudson, who was a standout in the cast, but Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman also stood out, among many others. Patrick Fugit was great as the lead, too, but these were the big names.

The ones I mentioned were and are truly famous. Some of them were already big before the movie, and they only got bigger after. The movie also turned me into a huge fan, so I went after them for autographs. I wanted them to sign my movie poster.

I knew it'd be hard and would take a long time, but I did it anyway. Throughout my 20s, which was most of the 2010s, I tracked down these celebrities to get their autographs. I went to movie premieres, awards shows, film festivals, and high-profile galas I heard they'd be attending.

I saw it as similar to what William did when he followed the bands of his youth. Also, as a lifestyle journalist, covering celebrities was within my expertise. Though I'm more of a writer than a traditional journalist, doing this sort of thing wasn't new to me.

Eventually, I met Kate Hudson at the 2013 Golden Globes, Philip Seymour Hoffman at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, Frances McDormand at the 2015 Emmy Awards, and Billy Crudup at the 2016 New York Film Festival. Each encounter was quick but pleasant, and I got an autograph every time. With Hoffman gone now, that Sundance signature means more to me than any of the others.

I also met the rest of the cast over the years, and they were all just as nice. I think this cast deserves a proper in-person reunion, where we fans can show them just how much we still love the movie.