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Viewers expecting an in-depth biopic will be disappointed, but The Runaways is as electric as the band's music, largely thanks to strong performances from Michael Shannon, Dakota Fanning, and Kristen Stewart. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
Joan Jett (Kristen Stewart) and Cherie Currie (Dakota Fanning), two rebellious teenagers from Southern California, become the frontwomen for the Runaways -- the now-legendary group that paved the way for future generations of female rockers. Under the Svengalilike influence of impresario Kim Fowley, the band becomes a huge success, with Joan as the band's hard-rocking heart, and Cherie as the sex kitten. However, the teens' stormy relationship threatens the band's future.
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Rating: R (Drug Use|All Involving Teens|Language|Sexual Content)
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Genre: Biography, Drama
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Original Language: English
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Director: Floria Sigismondi
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Producer: John Linson, Art Linson, Bill Pohlad
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Writer: Floria Sigismondi
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Release Date (Theaters): wide
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Release Date (Streaming):
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Box Office (Gross USA): $3.6M
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Runtime:
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Distributor: Apparition
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Production Co: River Road, Linson Entertainment
Cast & Crew
News & Interviews for The Runaways
Critic Reviews for The Runaways
Audience Reviews for The Runaways
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I think Dakota Fanning does a fabulous job here as Cherie Currie. Unfortunately, she all but cancelled out by Kristen "I can't really act" Stewart sucking all the cool out of Joan Jett.
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Being a quasi-fan of the Runaways back in their day, I couldn't wait to see this film. Its fairly amusing and thoroughly entertaining; maybe the best aspect is the outstanding performances of the two leads. I'm not sure about the accuracy of every scene in this biopic, but that's unimportant. Director Floria Sigismondi's film captures the essence and spirit of the time. Drug use and experimentation were rampant, and svengali-type producers made new acts stars overnight. Its all clichéd, undeniably. This is an all-too-common story, differentiated only because this is a teen all-girl band. Finally, back then, as now, infighting as to direction and leadership led to a breakup. I was enthralled by both female leads especially Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie. She was a (more) feminine David Bowie and focus of the contrived jailbait image. No doubt, Cherry Bomb was written for her! Kristen Stewart was not Bella Swan, thank God, although she still managed to mope somewhat. They're successful in realistically portraying the excesses of the rock and roll lifestyle and the central conflict of girls who want to rock vs. jailbait sleaze. Joan Jett would be proud.
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Bio movies are very tricky. No matter who the movie is based on, the story can either feel sincere and fresh or blandly generic. The Runaways fights with itself in this aspect. The acting was surprisingly well done by Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart. I actually felt they could be friends trapped in the glitz of drugs, money, and rock and roll. However, the story did not dig deep enough for the audience to feel their pain. Because of the lack of depth in the story, the movie feels genuine for the first half hour and then runs through cliches. The cliches are rampant from band fighting, drug addiction, lead singer popularity, and daddy issues. The strength of the movie is when it shows the friendship between the band members and the overall pressure of being young in the music industry. The music was incredible capturing all the hits of the band "The Runaways". Sadly, the movie is missing that special something that would turn an ordinary bio movie into oscar gold.
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"The Runaways" starts with a drop of blood on the pavement, signifying Cherie's(Dakota Fanning) first period while waiting with her older sister Marie(Riley Keough) for her older scummy boyfriend Derek(Brandon Sexton III). So while Marie supports her sister while she bombs at a school talent show lip-syncing to David Bowie, Joan Jett(Kristen Stewart), nee Larkin, wants to play guitar just like her idols. She gets a chance when she runs into legendary record producer Kim Fowley(Michael Shannon) at a nightclub. He sees the novelty and dollar signs in an all girl band and pairs Joan up with Sandy West(Stella Maeve), a drummer. By the time, Cherie re-enters the picture and auditions for The Runaways, guitarist Lita Ford(Scout Taylor-Compton) and Robin(Alia Shawkat), a bassists, have also joined. But then Cherie's mother(Tatum O'Neal) announces she is moving to Indonesia. "The Runaways" settles the eternal debate once and for all as to whether Michael Shannon has any range in the positive, as he steals scenes with his finest flamboyance. Thankfully, this does not detract anything from the movie's real subjects, The Runaways, although only two of them are given any substantial screen time. And it's not so much their friendship as the contrasts between Joan and Cherie that drive the film. Whereas Joan has always wanted to a rocker(despite loads of sexism, she'll achieve huge success later), Cherie has no idea, simply mimicking others with no clue which way to go with no parents usually around to act as signposts.(Absentee parents are a running theme here. Remember the story starts in 1975, a less paranoid era.) That works well with the movie's breezy, yet senstive, take on teen sexuality which is often exploited by others while the female characters seek to explore it on their own terms and on the fly. Just remember. Rock and roll has always been about sex and attitude anyway.
walter m Super Reviewer
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