Despite being a box office bomb, the film received good reviews. It received four Oscar nominations, one of which led to an award to Crowe for his screenplay. It was also awarded the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media. Roger Ebert hailed it as the best movie of the year.

The film is based on Crowe’s experiences touring with rock bands The Allman Brothers Band, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. In a Rolling Stone article, he talks about how he lost his virginity, fell in love, and met his heroes, experiences that are shared by William, the main character in the film.

Soundtrack album track listing

1. Simon and Garfunkel – “America“
2. The Who – “Sparks“
3. Todd Rundgren – “It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference”
4. Yes – “I’ve Seen All Good People: Your Move“
5. The Beach Boys – “Feel Flows” (over end credits)
6. Stillwater – “Fever Dog”
7. Rod Stewart – “Every Picture Tells a Story”
8. The Seeds – “Mr. Farmer”
9. The Allman Brothers Band – “One Way Out” (Live)
10. Lynyrd Skynyrd – “Simple Man”
11. Led Zeppelin – “That’s the Way”
12. Elton John – “Tiny Dancer”
13. Nancy Wilson – “Lucky Trumble”
14. David Bowie – “I’m Waiting for the Man” (Live)
15. Cat Stevens – “The Wind”
16. Clarence Carter – “Slip Away”
17. Thunderclap Newman – “Something in the Air”

Cast

• Patrick Fugit as William Miller
• Billy Crudup as Russell Hammond
• Frances McDormand as Elaine Miller
• Kate Hudson as Penny Lane
• Jason Lee as Jeff Bebe
• Zooey Deschanel as Anita Miller
• Anna Paquin as Polexia Aphrodisia
• Philip Seymour Hoffman as Journalist Lester Bangs
• Fairuza Balk as Sapphire
• Noah Taylor as Dick Roswell
• Mark Kozelek as Larry Fellows
• John Fedevich as Ed Vallencourt