Performance Profile: Kate Hudson in "Almost Famous" (2000)

In recent years there seems to a trend in MovieLand/HollywoodPhonyLand where we see more and more hot new faces popping up in films they have no business being in and being critically acclaimed for no good reason. Although it can be vice-versa, where actual actors degrade themselves by starring in glossy crap, its usually much more upsetting the other way around. Some of these starlets have been around for amount of time, and while with talent, its barely being made known. Cameron Crowe's film -- while always sweet, delightful, and funny -- can occasionally turn into muddled goopiness and cloys up the screen, and we get a whole array of people stuffed onto the platter including...the odd, but surprising Fairuza Balk, an embarrassing Jimmy Fallon (who proves that he just shouldn't be in movies), a quirky and neurotic Jay Baruchel who's now a leading man, the always gorgeous Zooey Deschanel in a (unfortunate) mini role, an appealing but utterly confused Patrick Fugit, and an exact Jodie Foster lookalike Band-Aid. But in the swirl, there is one golden, shining standout -- it was her breakout role, and despite the fact she's been making shit since -- I offer you the lovely, graceful work at the center given by...

...Kate Hudson in Almost Famous (2000)

Kate Hudson plays Penny Lane, a young free-spririted "Band-Aid" who's caught up in the world of rock and roll in the early 1970's.

The movie revolves around rock 'n roll during a specific time period and tells a simple yet enduring tale of how the music and the people involved influence and guide everyone and Hudson's Penny Lane is no different -- as we are introduced to her when she catches the eye of William Miller outside of the Stillwater concert and the two strike up an interesting coversation about the distinction of being a "groupie" and being queen of the "Band-Aids".

This is a girl who emanates a firm sense of independence, and is proud of it. She's the proclaimed leader of girls who follow around a band, not because they want to be famous, but because they genuinely love the music the want to inspire. But what we also hook onto quickly is that Penny is drawn to the innocent William, whose out of his element, and enjoys toying him and his thoughts just to find out who he really is. Penny -- who has spent most of her young life with the same kinds of rock 'n roll people -- sees William as an opportunity to something new and exciting that she can set her sights on.

But who really is Penny Lane? Who's the girl who borrows the name of the famous Beatles song?

Is she a bashful little child?....

...a fun-lovin' rebel....

....or a much more complicated person than what the surface shows?

Hudson, from her very first moment of screen, casts an enchanting, glowing mystery over the proceedings, which is what keeps William and the audience chasing for more. We want to know who this person is, why she's here, and why does she do what she does.

My favorite scene of Hudson's is her talk with William about the future and how she makes him feel secure with his new surroundings. Penny decides that she wants to move to Morraco for one year and asks William if he wants to go, he says yes, and the bond between them tightens.

This scene while beautiful, simple, and magical, also exposes us to the idea that Hudson's Penny Lane represents the youthful yearning in all of us; the notion to explore ourselves and the world like Dorothy stepping into Munchkin land and into technicolor. *Click on the pic to watch the scene*

Hudson permits Penny to be open and honest, yet she subtly keeps her introverted and to herself. Slowly and consistently, Hudson gives us more of Penny, as her beaming, dreamlike disposition slowly begins to reveal something a bit different.

Once the crew gets on the road and the movie really starts to roll, Penny Lane becomes more and more intertwined with the main narrative, but still is her own character. And as the story complicates, so does Penny. It doesn't hurt that Cameron Crowe is in love with the character -- giving her luscious, ethereal close-ups and extra attention -- but it is not he who builds Penny Lane, it's Hudson herself.

As Penny and William interact more we discover that Penny believes that she doesn't live in the "real world", but in a fantasy land filled with famous people and dreams that can one day come true. But this is sadly a way for her to cover the fact that she is in the real world -- a world in which is lost, lonely, and confused. She's but a child stuck in a situation that she can no longer maneuver.

Hudson quietly conveys the strong core of sadness lurking within Penny Lane with simply but rich clarity. She crafts Penny as a person who refuses to accept the haunting truths life bears and the thought of discovering who she really is. But in William she sees someone who is real and lives an honest life and she someone who she connects with as they are but two kids finding they're way in an adults world.

Hudson charts Penny's inner and outer life with ease; communicating what's happening inside and matching it with her exterior. And the actress doesn't simply rely on her charisma, but digs a bit deeper and scores the cracks in Penny's beaming persona with surprisingly simple humane depth.

In many ways, I find Penny's emotional journey much more engaging than Fugit's William, and because of it, Hudson's performance emerges as the glowing heart and soul of the film. But another trouble the character must face is being the emblem of beauty and pure lust in the eyes of others, particularly the band leader Russell (an amazing Billy Crudup giving a remarkably nuanced performance).

Russell, just like any other rocker now and then, uses Penny for pleasure. She's just another groupie he gets to sleep with and then toss away when he's done with her. But while Penny believes that there is true love between then, Hudson communicates that she knows she's being used but needs to feel such a love even if it doesn't even exist.

It's this heartbreaking reality that becomes to much for Penny, and at her time of desperate need, William is the only one there to save her.

The facade has finally been broken and the hurt and pain spills out as Penny (ODing on Quaaludes) now tragically accepts the truths that lie right in front of her -- that she has been so wrong and that she can no longer live this life. William, however does truly love her, and her instincts for once were proven right.

In the character's closing scenes Penny's arc becomes complete; she's essentially the same person she was but Hudson's characterization deepens and fleshes out the character allowing Penny to grow and change into a fully realized human being.

It's the kind of work that when you go back, doesn't just hold up, but it deepens (which is the best kind). Kate Hudson's performance is by turns luminous, sincere, sweet and grounded; with lush, gorgeous shadings infused into the character. Hudson may have not done anything notworthy since, but this performance is totally and unfairly maligned by a large majority who overlook it as a mere confection. But I think not, and to quote Penny Lane -- "It's all happening".