Amidst a myriad of converging plots, William Miller (Patrick Fugit) adeptly portrays the heart wrenching profession of a rock critic, pushing past the sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll to convey the love, writing, and frustration.
Miller, an autobiographical depiction of director Cameron Crowe, is an aspiring rock critic in San Diego. At age 15, he is already a senior in high school, who can be seen doodling the names of his idols Cream, Led Zeppelin, and Lester Bangs on his notebook. As an accelerated student who is hated by his classmates, Miller is the epitome of a nerd.
An avid reader of music magazines and a prolific amateur rock writer, Miller has earned himself a couple bylines by the time Rolling Stone editor Ben Fong-Torress (Terry Chen) contacts him to cover touring band Stillwater. In typical Bill Gates-esque fashion Miller transforms from a nerd into a nerd with an extraordinary job.
The poignant portrayal of Miller’s relationship with writing and its subsequent frustrations emulates the relationship of drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. Stillwater enjoy the intoxicating impact of alcohol and fame, with music as the initial byproduct,whereas Miller struggles to feed his writing addiction and walks the frustrating tightrope between being a friend and being a journalist.
This is most evident when Miller attempts to play the role of writer rather than the fair-weather friend Stillwater has allowed him to become. While struggling to interview guitarist Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup), Miller is brutally rebuffed, as Hammond screams, “please go the fuck away!” Miller is then seen crying across the hall from Hammond’s hotel room door. His tears are the type only frustration can generate, as he realizes his chances of interviewing Hammond, completing his assignment, and returning home before his high school graduation are slim to none.
While covering Stillwater, Miller, a virgin, is defiled in more ways than one. He falls in love for the first time with the beautifully contradictory Band-Aid Penny Lane (Kate Hudson). Lane is the ‘70s essence of Marilyn Monroe, as she is simultaneously wise and naïve, with the essential invisible touch to pilfer any man’s affection.
It also is the boy’s first time being physically and emotionally close to the musicians he venerates. Stillwater’s music is taken off the turntable and the disillusionment of the band is placed directly in front of Miller. He sees the rock stars fight with one another over trivial matters and cheat on their girlfriends and wives. Most upsettingly, he sees women like Lane fall in love with these endearing yet egomaniacal men only to be traded for $50 and a case of beer.
Miller begins his journey with a heart full of possibilities and an admirable passion as a journalist, then discovers the bittersweet realities of rock ‘n’ roll. The film’s tagline offers Miller the best advice, “Experience it. Enjoy it. Just don’t fall for it.” If only he had listened.
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