The Runaways is a biographical film that follows the inception and demise of the first all-girl rock band, The Runaways. The movie is based on the book Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runaway written by The Runaways vocalist Cherry Currie. It stars Dakota Fanning (I am Sam, Push) and Kristen Stewart (Twilight, Adventureland) as Joan Jett.
Review
The movie is hard core, epitomizing the phrase “Drug, Sex and Rock N’ Roll.” In the 70s, the rock scene was dominated by male groups. Then came Kim Fowley’s The Runaways to break the barrier that separates women from rocking men on-stage.
The movie is filled with anger and the rebellious spirit familiar to 70s punk bands such as the Sex Pistols and Generation X.
I’ve seen Kristen Stewart in Twilight and Adventureland. She was limited, in terms of acting, in Twilight. On the other hand, she fits the role of a rebel in Adventureland. Runaways might be her greatest performance to date.
Dakota Fanning has been an actor to watch out for since I am Sam. We got a glimpse of a cool rebel Dakota in the movie Push. In The Runaways, she has finally bloom into an amazing actor. Her performance of Cherry Bomb, wearing a corset, felt a lot like the real Cherry. Even Cherry Currie has lauded Dakota’s acting.
Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road), playing the role of Kim Fowley, is crazy! The good kind of crazy. I can only wonder if the real Fowley really is that crazy. Well, if you think of Kiss and Alice Cooper….
Anyhow, I love rock music so I love this movie by default. And when they played Joan Jett’s cover of Tony James and The Shondell’s Crimson and Clover at the end…Awesome!
i’ll add this to movies to watch!
Tommy James