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I recently read Cameron Crowe’s very entertaining memoir, The Uncool, and it inspired me to rewatch his film, “Almost Famous,” which covers much of the same ground.
I liked it the second time around just fine.
There’s a great scene where the band, weary and fractured, rides the bus to yet another town, another gig. The future feels uncertain, relationships feel shattered, youthful ideals crushed. Then Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” plays and, one by one, the characters come to life, joining in on a group sing-along.
It’s an iconic moment, an absolute highlight of the film.
And it’s the corniest thing on earth. I mean, on the page, this should not work. It’s so sentimental and sappy and full of what could easily be regarded as false emotion.
Here, take a look:
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And to be clear: I absolutely love it, and have remembered it fondly since the film first came out in 2000.
In fact, I just teared up watching the clip (but, caveat, I tear up over everything).
In less capable hands, this scene could have been a disaster. Klunky and forced, too pat and tidy. Cringe-inducing.
But again, wow. It’s a home run. It’s everything.
And it took courage, I think, especially in today’s cold, cynical, skeptical world. That’s kind of Crowe’s strength, actually. He swung for the fences, risked being sincere and earnest and so very uncool — and knocked it out of the park.
There’s in lesson in this, I think.
Much credit, too, goes to the song, a masterpiece in its own right. It is exactly the right song. The right idea. Because it is the love of music that unites these disparate characters. Hat tip, Elton John. Hat tip, Cameron Crowe, for pulling this small miracle of a moment in film.