ACID HOUSE PROFILE
MOVIE: Almost Famous
DIRECTOR: Cameron Crowe
YEAR: 2000
DRUGS INVOLVED: Tranquilizers, Acid, Cannabis
At the turn of the millennium we were given a glimpse into a turbulent time in the world of rock and roll. After the 60's rock explosion and the lift of the censorship that hit rock early on it started the process of being commercialized. "Almost Famous" takes a look at this period and does a damn fine job of it if I do say so myself. Headlined by some great guys like Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Billy Crudup, and even an excellent cameo by Jimmy Fallon also with some beautiful ladies like Kate Hudson, Zooey Deshnel, and once again Anna Paquin. The story is about a young aspiring journalist, William Miller (Patrick Fugit), who also happens to have a long standing love affair with rock and roll. After meeting a writer for Cream Magazine (Hoffman) William is catapulted into writing an article about a band he is a fan of named Stillwater and against the wishes of his very conservative mother (Frances McDormand) goes on tour with the band. Battling against a band that thinks he is the enemy, a bunch of groupies that are distracting them, and the bands constant in-fighting William has to struggle to get his article written in time.
This movie is an excellent period piece very accurately showing the struggle of what many bands were going through at the time and the tenuous relationship that those bands had with the media outlets that covered their success and failure. The acting is all top notch especially the very aloof lead guitar player of Stillwater played by Billy Crudup. This is largely a comedy movie with a dramatic main plot-line driving the way, so if you like rock and roll especially the rock of this period you have to see this movie. When talking about this movie as a member of the acid house I have to say that I don't think it truly belongs even though the "golden god" scene almost had me. This movie is much more of a period piece then it is a drug film but I still love it.
SUMMARY:
ACID HOUSE APPROVED: Negative
WHY WAS APPROVAL DENIED: More of a period piece
FAVORITE SCENE: "golden god" nuff said
ACID SCORE: A definite 8 hits out of 10
ACID HOUSE PROFILE
MOVIE: American Beauty
DIRECTOR: Sam Mendes
YEAR: 1999
DRUG INVOLVED: Cannabis
A few academy awards went to this look at modern family life, and by modern i mean dysfunctional. Our story takes us to a typical town and a typical family with the disaffected Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) having problems with his marriage, his job, and the relationship with his daughter. His uptight wife is sleeping with another man, his daughter thinks he is a pervert when he starts showing interest in her friend, and he is on the brink of getting fired until he meets his new next door neighbor voyeur Ricky Fitts (Wes Bently) and starts to take back his life.
This movie is a fine piece of cinema with a great performance from Kevin Spacey, a gay Scott Backula, and Mena Suvari's tits. With that kind of a combination who the hell needs a plot-line but this movie is rife with rich characterization and a modern, relevant and intriguing story. The Oscars that were given to American Beauty were all well deserved but the drug use in this, only comes in the form of Ricky not only being interested in video taping Jane (Lester's daughter) but also being a pot dealer. In this film the drugs are used more as a plot vehicle (or a catalyst since the turning point for Lester comes after he smokes pot with Ricky for the first time) and not as the basis for the actual movie. You wont find better visuals, characters, or story in too many other movies but this is just not cut out for the acid house.
SUMMARY:
ACID HOUSE APPROVED: No
WHY WAS APPROVAL DENIED: Not exactly a drug film
FAVORITE SCENE: Covering Mena Suvari in roses half naked... can't get much better then that
ACID SCORE: A very high 9 hits out of 10
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