Rock and Roll Fans will Enjoy This Retro Film

‘The Runaways’ were an all girl rock and roll band during the years 1974-1979 that rose to fame and then had an abrupt downfall due to drug use, quarrels amongst the band members, and manager dilemmas. If this sounds like a catch phrase of an episode of a ‘VH1 Behind the Music’ video documentary, then you are on target. Parts of the film appear to be documentary and parts are pulsating psychedelic camera sequences that are blurred adaptations of the drug world of rock and roll during the 70s.

Kristen Stewart (Twilight series) portrays the rock legend Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning (The Secret Life of Bees) co-stars as the lead singer Cherie Currie in the band. Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road 2009) is the unyielding and controlling manager of the band, Kim Fowley. Direction and screenplay credit go to Floria Sigismondi, an Italian director that has a background in music videos, directing the talented David Bowie. Joan Jett was the executive producer and the script was penned with the help of Cherie Currie's 1989 autobiography, Neon Angel, and had her blessing along with cooperation from other former Runaway band members.

With all of the ‘former band’ involvement one would assume that the story would play to the favor of the band and glorify their spotlight years. For the most part the film captured the 70s scene, but the ‘band years’ are not so pretty. Sleazy hotels, drug use and strange Japanese fans appeared to be the highlights. The central theme seems to be the teen girls desire to escape their present dysfunctional families. Both girls were only 15 when their lives changed dramatically. After school, instead of working on homework or other normal teen activities, they practice a filthy trailer ‘down by the river’ with an unrelentless slave driver of a manager. Michael Shannon is an in-your-face scary guy, period. Clearly, attending band practice was an escape from their current home, abnormal conditions and a rebellious statement.

The main draw in ‘Runaways’ is Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning; both portraying their musical personas with great authenticity. Joan Jett prefers the black leather biker look in clothing, along with silver spiked chocker collars, and Cheri Currie discovers that the stage is the perfect place to act out her exhibitionist personality. She experiments with sensual looks and exotic stage moves; thriving on the crowd reactions. Dakota is not the innocent little girl from prior films, as she has taken on this role that screams, “I’m not a kid anymore, so get over it!”

The dialogue in the script is light, therefore the main characters aren’t as developed as they could be, but the acting is great and that does make up for the weak script. The film does a great job of transporting us back into the 70s and the music is the one of the main reasons to revisit this era. The Runaways hit, “Cherry Bomb” is wild and catchy. Fanning’s performance is superb-She definitely owns it! Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett later in life is also great to view. 

Bottom line-Rock and Roll fans will enjoy this hazy bit of history and movie buffs will enjoy the performances of the main three characters.

Sarah Adamson © March 2010