Almost Famous

Crowe expertly avoids the pitfall of many "labor of love" projects, where the finished product is only interesting to the guy who made it. The film may not resonate with everyone -- there is a strong emphasis on rock 'n' roll, with little attempt to universalize it -- but it will surely strike a chord of nostalgia with any open-hearted viewer, particularly those who have learned that "family" can be the people you're born with as well as the people you meet.

In fact, I can count the number of movies on my left hand that made me feel the way this film did throughout its entire 120 minutes. Nothing feels false or forced in Crowe’s film. Every sentiment has been earned and every pay-off comes out of left field. I don’t care if this sounds overly sentimental, but the movie filled my heart with the kind of joy I felt the first time I fell in love. How many movies can you say that about?