If you haven't seen Cameron Crowe's semi-autobiographical film Almost Famous, go rent it. You'll be glad you did. It contains some of the best work ever by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, and it will always be his best performance in my book. Yes, Capote was great. But as rock critic Lester Bangs, a mentor to Crowe's alter-ego, he's someone I really relate to. The young actor is Patrick Fugit, who has just spent months on the road with a band and now has to write up his experiences for Rolling Stone.
My original take on this scene was a loud, late night pronouncement from Lester Bangs. A call to arms. In Phil’s hands it became something different. A scene about quiet truths shared between two guys, both at the crossroads, both hurting, and both up too late. It became the soul of the movie.
-- Cameron Crowe, on his blog 'The Uncool'