...The "quick video review" coming soon...
Appetizer: “The Runaways” is an hour and 49 mins of Kick-Ass Chicks rocking the F*ck Out!!! A Cult-Classic in the Making…
Main Course: Okay. I REALLY wanted to see this movie after a friend on Twitter told me, Kristen Steward and Dakota Fanning were working on a Rock Group Biopic. I didn’t really care who the group was, I just wanted to see those two work together. Later, I found out the project was called “The Runaways”…
In all honesty, I never was a fan of Kristen Steward’s acting but after “Adventureland”, I realized she has the power to command attention. Not to mention, she plays a convincing “under-the-influence” character, whether she’s really under or not is irrelevant, it just transfers well to film. Dakota Fanning, on the other hand, had me as a fan since “I am Sam.” I loved Scout Taylor-Compton as Laurie Stroud in Rob Zombie’s “Halloween” remake.
Going in to the movie, I knew of The Runaways’ music but not much on their backstory so I didn’t know what to expect…
Movie starts.
Young girl, 14, runs while she holds her privates. Blood drips down her leg. She is Cherie Currie (Dakota Fanning). Her sister, Marie Currie, same age, runs her into a fast food bathroom and helps her clean up. She takes off her panties and hands them to Cherie. After putting them on, they finish washing up then leave.
Across town, another girl, 16, poses in the dressing room mirror. This is Joan Jett (Kristen Steward). She likes the Leather Jacket and pants she has on. Almost makes her feel strong. Powerful. As the store clerk knocks on the door, she pulls her school pants over the leather ones. She walks out the room and makes her way to the counter. While she pays for the jacket, the store clerk notices the leather jeans she’s wearing. He goes to call the cops. She books out the store. When she get half way down the street, she screams with excitement to the top of her lungs.
Around the corner stands a 13 year old Backpack-rocking, cigarette smoking Tomboy, Tammy. Joan shows off the new outfit to her. To “keep the good times rolling”, Tammy pulls a paper bag and glue out her backpack. Joan makes a face of pure joy.
Hours fly by, they are laying under street lights, huffing the time away in silence. All of a sudden, Joan breaks out into singing The Kinks’ “Lola”. As she sings, she slowly moves her head onto Tammy’s shoulder. Tammy turns to look into Joan’s eyes.
They share a moment…then their lips lock.
Joan suddenly breaks this passionate exchange, as if she was suppose to. They smile, acting like nothing even happened. She goes back to singing.
…Cherie is in the bathroom doing her make up. We see she’s making her self up to resemble the David Bowie album cover that’s on the floor. Marie walks in, stunned at what she’s witnessing.
Marie: “You look like a dude.”
Cherie: “Maybe I am.”
She messes up on her face. Marie takes in upon herself to help her sister fix her makeup. They share a moment…
This sets the mood for the whole movie.
Do whatever’s in your heart. If it counters what society considers the norm, fuck them, they will adjust.
Sure enough when history brought Joan Jett and Cherie Currie together, the world did adjust. Though they were young, the sex and drug-powered all-girl punk bank, “The Runaways” moved through what was consider a “boys’ genre”…and they rocked every minute of the way.
Just like the drugs they did, “The Runaways” true story had it’s highs and lows but the movie managed to maintain an entertaining balance.
Side Dishes:
“Why to watch this movie?”
- Believable performances.
- Amazing dialogue.
- Epic one-liners.
- Phenomenal 70’s music.
- Wardrobe and set-designs were on point.
- Beautifully shot scenes.
- Great Camera Work.
“Why NOT to watch this movie?”
- Dakota Fanning, being that she’s only 16 in reality, may make you uneasy with her extremely sexual/drug induced performance of “Cherie Currie”.
- You can’t sit through same-sex sensual interactions on film.
- The ending seemed a bit rushed.
Dessert: Final Verdict - WATCH THIS MOVIE!!!
Everything about “The Runaways” screams Cult-Classic! Besides Kristen Steward (Joan Jett), Dakota Fanning (Cherie Currie), Stella Maeve (Sandy West), Scout Taylor-Compton (Lita Ford), and Alia Shawkat (Robin) doing a Kick-Ass Job embodying “The Runaways”, the directing and camera work was exceptionally great.
As long as you can see pass the fact that Dakota Fanning is underage, you will thoroughly enjoy this movie.
Doggie Bag:
“What Stood Out?”
- The Script and Directing, all done by the virtually new-comer, Floria Sigismond.
- Michael Shannon, “Kim Fowley”, basically “Lester Bangs (Almost Famous)/Kelly (Girl Next Door)” all rolled into one. He has 98% of the movie’s best one-liners and NAILS every last one of them.
- Kristen Steward, “Joan Jett”, as I said before, she knows how to command attention. Not to mention, she breaks down extremely well on camera. With time, she will be an amazing leading actress.
- Scout Taylor-Compton, “Lita Ford”, her and Dakota Fanning’s character have a “Meltdown” fight towards the end of the movie…this scene shows she will only get better and you will be seeing A LOT more of her in the years to come.
- Dakota Fanning, “Cherie Currie”, I mean…she was born to play this role. She shined EVERY chance she got and completely lost her self in this part. Her performance told you “I am NOT Dakota Fanning, I AM Cherie Currie.”…and you believed her every minute of the way. In all honesty, I think she deserves an Oscar for this role.
“The Runaways” definitely pushes the envelope…just as the underage, all-girl punk band did in the 70s. This movie has heavy drug use and extremely sexual tones, all involved minors but that is not what’s to be celebrated. The courage this young girl group had in the 70s to be exactly who/what they wanted to be and Kim Fowley, who that had faith in their vision, is what‘s to be celebrated.
This courage is mirrored with the very production of the “The Runaways” film. It takes a group of courageous people to be willing to retell such a controversial, yet important, piece of history. They took a chance and it paid off because the movie is wonderful.
Please go to the theaters and lose yourself in this provocative, yet factual, work of art because it deserves your undivided attention.
