It’s common to hear people list this as one of their favorites, and it definitely ranks among mine too. But after two decades, I find myself questioning whether my fondness for it stems from the film itself or simply the soundtrack. The movie makes nods to Lester Bangs, portrayed by Hoffman, and is a Crowe production. It depicts Rolling Stone magazine during a time when it held significance, unlike its current diminished state. Along with that story about Rolling Stone's past importance, there’s a narrative about rock and roll before it succumbed to New Wave, disco, and the overly processed pop music that deserves to be destroyed in Soldier Field soon. Consider the soundtrack: Simon & Garfunkel, The Who, Iggy Pop, Black Sabbath, Rod Stewart, The Allman Brothers, The Seeds, Fleetwood Mac, everyone’s favorite Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Cat Stevens, and my personal favorite Elton John song. Those are just a few examples; it's essentially a playlist, a record collection. Chances are most people own an album by at least one of those bands. And, naturally, Still Water is significant to The Allman Brothers, sometimes so much so that it’s almost painful to notice. Is this one of my favorite films? After twenty years, do I genuinely love the film or am I drawn to the soundtrack? Do I cherish the era it represents, when rock music still mattered and Rolling Stone carried weight? To be honest, I'm not sure... because ultimately, I really do enjoy this movie. Frances McDormand is in it, of course, but honestly, I think I’m more captivated by the music. I'm fortunate to be Gen-X; I grew up with Pearl Jam and Nirvana and Green Day. Grunge, punk – I’m grateful that when I turn on the radio, there were worthy bands to listen to, and record stores still existed. The thought of being my wife’s age is unappealing. Being a Millennial or Gen-Z wouldn't be ideal either... but a part of me would have loved to be a Boomer, to be my father’s age, even with all the problems, just because they experienced that music when it was new, fresh, and the musicians were at their peak. So yes, I love the movie, but I appreciate the music far more.

Source on TMDB