Movie Review: “The Runaways"

Seen on: March 19, 2010

The players: Director: Floria Sigismondi, Writer: Floria Sigismondi, Cast: Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning, Michael Shannon, Riley Keough

Facts of interest: None.

The plot: The film follows the story of how The Runaways got together and what happened to them before they broke up.

Our thoughts: Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning rock the stage in “The Runaways,” and if it weren’t for them, this musical biopic wouldn’t run very far. This is the epitome of a movie succeeding because of its cast, and that’s reason enough to head to theaters this weekend and check it out. That, and the amount of rock you’ll get to experience.

Floria Sigismondi’s film follows the story of Joan Jett (Stewart) and the formation of The Runaways, who took the world by storm during the ‘70s with hits such as “Cherry Bomb” and “Queens of Noise.” Fanning plays lead singer Cherie Currie, and trust me, this is one of her most incredible performances. You’ll find it impossible to take your eyes of her every time she shows up onscreen.

Helping the band gain fame is Michael Shannon’s character Kim Fowley, a producer who knows exactly how much craziness it takes to survive in a world typically dominated by men. He injects The Runaways with the necessary energy to be aggressive and tear apart the stage every time they perform, and at first, his methods really seem to work.

The story of “The Runaways” doesn’t end there. The film also explores the problems the band encountered before they broke up. Granted, Sigismondi’s script rushes through this part a little fast, but the reasons behind the tension between the girls is well portrayed. Needless to say, this movie has enough material to keep audiences engaged until the very end.

Character development is rather thin and everything happens really fast, but I admit I can live with that this time. The amount of thrilling musical sequences makes up for some of the script’s simplicity, as does the fabulous cast. As I mentioned before, Dakota Fanning completely dominates as Currie, the front singer struggling with the negative aspects of rock ‘n’ roll fame.  

Stewart also does a way better job here than in the “Twilight” films, in which she walks around like a dead zombie acting like she’s having a permanent migraine. Here she gets to cut loose, and her portrayal of Joan Jett is energetic and wild. The other highlight is Shannon, who just seems to get better and better every time he steps in front of a camera.

There is one more thing that makes up for the rather weak script, and that’s the film’s technical aspect. “The Runaways” is shot and edited very well, and the plot flows at a decent pace. On top of that, the film’s edgy soundtrack pumps enough life into this project for every rock fan to enjoy it to the fullest extent.

Freaky quote: "You dogs would be lucky to get a gig singing in the shower." - Michael Shannon

The final word: “The Runaways” could have peeked deeper into its lead characters, but other than that, this is a fairly amusing biopic about the launch and eventually the destruction of an ultra-popular female rock band whose songs are still enjoyed by many people today. The movie has guts, and it’s not afraid to show what rock did to these girls.

Article by Franck Tabouring