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The Runaways
Rating: 7/10
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning, Michael Shannon
Director: Floria Sigismondi
Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning leave their Twilight images
behind in this tale of hedonism, hard rocking and harmonies.
Set in the 70s it's the true life coming of age tale of Joan Jett
and Cherie Currie, how their rock and roll lives collided and they
blazed the trail for women in rawk music.
But while Jett was always determined to be a rock star, Currie was
more saddled with the problems of family life which seem to cause
conflict within her - and unleash her inner demons.
Most will come to see Kristen who manages a strong but sullen Joan
Jett - but this film belongs to Fanning as drug addled Currie and
Michael Shannon as the maestro Kim Fowley who sees the potential of
the female band-it's their relationship with everyone else which
eclipses most of the film itself.
Thanks to great performances and a hit of humour here and there, it
fizzles as it evokes the times. But along with the great
recreation of how a band evolves (The Runaways spend their time
rehearsing in a caravan) this is a real insight into the reality of
setting the trend - Jett herself was widely mocked for wanting to
be a woman in rock in a time when men were the predominantly the
music industry.
Stewart is good as Jett; all raw intensity and brooding
explosiveness but there's more humanity on display by Fanning as
her rock'n'roll dreams come to a head and she starts to lose her
way.
Sure, parts of it will be an uneasy watch as it's a little bit
jailbait, but the fact it's all true steers the film away from
sleaze. And a great soundtrack helps set the vibe.
Punky and spunky, The Runaways is a hedonistic trip, fizzing with
energy and humanity.
Watch the trailer for The Runaways here.
