Ryan McNeil
There’s nothing that brings this music geek more joy than discovering new music. Be it a smaller act that hasn’t broken big yet, or a bygone band that I wasn’t into before – there’s little in the world that can beat a cache of new tracks he can play to death for a week or three. So in that respect, he’s thankful this of this film for introducing him to The Runaways. But while this music geek is satisfied, this movie geek is amazingly dissatisfied. Perhaps it’s because after thirteen dollars and just shy of two hours, he still doesn’t feel like he knows The Runaways.
Our story begins in the summer of 1975, where we’re introduced to sixteen year old Cherie Currie (Dakota Fanning). Cherie lives for glam rock, has a loving sister, and seems to spend most days wanting to break the shit cycle her life has become. At the same time, we meet young Joan Larkin (Kristen Stewart) – or Joan Jett as she prefers to be called. In a time where the boys are dressing like girls, Joan wants to dress like a boy. Not only does she want to dress like a boy – she wants to play electric guitar like a boy.
Joan spends many nights at Rodney’s English Disco – a club in L.A. that plays bands like David Bowie and The Stooges. It’s here that she sees music producer Kim Fowley (Michael Shannon), and talks him into forming an all-girl rock band. Fowley likes the idea – believing there’s money to be made – and sets out with Jett to fill in the ranks. Topping the list is the need for a lead singer, a role that blonde bit of jailbait named Currie just might be able to fill.
I wanted to like THE RUNAWAYS…I really did…but wowsers – what a mess.
The film has a few good qualities to it, which save it from being a complete failure – not the least of which are the two lead actresses. As Cherie Curie, Dakota Fanning successfully makes the jump to an adult acting career. Every moment she is behind a microphone, she cuts the audience with a vicious charisma that a child actor isn’t capable of.
Equally impressive is Kristen Stewart. Admittedly, I came into the movie ready to rip the once-and-future Bella to bits…but I can’t. She has done her homework and does indeed bring much of Joan Jett’s swagger and sneer to her performance in THE RUNAWAYS. If I have any knock against Kristen Stewart, it’s that she isn’t quite given enough to do.
Beyond the leading ladies, and an appropriately killer soundtrack, the film is damn near forgettable. It focuses more on the story of Cherie Currie than any of the other four young ladies; which would be fine if it didn’t treat her story like so many other junkie cautionary tales I’ve already seen. Besides the fact that I didn’t get to know any member of the band not named Joan or Cherie, the story of their success felt to me like it was over before it began. I mean one scene they’re playing a club in the American midwest, the next scene they’re packing for Japan. Shouldn’t there have been a night or two at The Whiskey in between those two career steps?
While director Floria Sigismondi has given certain moments an edgy visual flare – especially a kick ass sequence of the band performing “Hollywood” – her pacing feels like a six year old telling you what they did in school that day. The film includes some truly abrasive editing and pulls the impressive trick of both luring you into what is actually ‘The Cherie Curie Story’, yet still telling you very little about her. The movie has so many moments where it feels like it could be an indie film touchstone of rock & roll…but instead of getting on stage and slaying the crowd, it pisses its pants, and runs out the side door.
I’ll spot THE RUNAWAYS one point on the scoreboard – it did set me directly on a mission to get music by the titular band on to my iPod. But besides that token gesture of pointing me towards a musical blind spot, I’m left feeling ripped off, and left wondering what might have been.
I like Kirsten Stewart the actress, lip biting and Twilight aside, but I have 0 interest in this movie. It may be perhaps because "music" films in general dis-interest me (handful of exceptions of course).
Another well written review as always Mad 😉
While it's certainly true that the film is badly standardized and conventional in the traditional rock-biopic pattern (From open to close, it feels like maybe one long drug-induced weekend), I think it can be overlooked.
As Karina Longworth said in her review, "The best rock 'n' roll movies are less about strict authenticity than about capturing a vibe. And The Runaways gets the vibe just right, from its opening shot."
And I think it's this spunky, against-the-system angst, on top of the ace performances, that sees it through.
Plus (and this is something I hinted at only slightly in my review), I think the film deserves credit for capturing that uncomfortable, almost exploitative sexual explicitness that truly drove The Runaways to both notoriety and eventual demise.
But no, it's not a "great" film because it really doesn't have much to say that we don't already know, but it was a breeze to sit through and a firm entrenchment into a certain time and place.
Check that, that was Stephanie Zacharek's review, whom I normally despise, but there you go…
I haven't seen this, but I've wanted to see it super badly. I'm not fond of Kirsten in any respect. However, I'm a fan of Dakota. I'm still hoping she can pull this off. Your review is letting me feel better about waiting it out before watching this movie.
Buh this hasn't come to Boston yet and I really want to see it. I've heard similar negative comments as what you've mentioned, but I'm just excited to see any movie about an all-girl rock band that isn't Josie and the Pussycats. And it's good to hear that Stewart is tolerable.
Plus even if the movie is so-so, I'm glad it will encourage more people to listen to The Runaways, since they are super rad.
I can't argue with you in terms of the story. Frankly, it's very poor, but I would argue that the music is such a big part of this film that people who like this band are almost guaranteed to enjoy the film.
On the other hand, people who want a compelling rock band biopic will be sorely disappointed. For all of the risks the band actually took back in the '70s, the movie stays very familiar with its story, never veering away from formula.
And I agree there should have been more Stewart. Can't wait to see her in Welcome to the Rileys.
Ironic, this is the second post in one day about a film whose script passed through my e mail in box for coverage many months ago and it's the second review that basically said exactly the same thing I said about it in my final coverage. I haven't seen the film but my initial feeling was that, by the time the script was over I had learned next to nothing about The Runaways except that they were young, formed a band, broke up and went their seperate ways. Not very interesting stuff. I'm still curious to see the final product because obviously style plays a big part in whether films like this work or not but I'm always glad to see when you initial thoughts on a script are confirmed once the reviews start coming out.
@ Univarn… I'll bite – what is it about music films that disinterests you so?
@ Chase… Yeah, thanks for reminding me of that opening shot btw.
See that's the thing though, it didn't follow the traditional formula of a rock biopic, nor did it break the pattern far enough. It just sat in this safe little spot in between the two…not singing full-out, just sort of mouthing along.
I will check out that review though.
@ Sasha… I'm actually not much of a fan of Stewart either, but she impressed me in this flick for the first time in a good long while.
@ Alex… Yeah, maybe if nothing else the exposure that it gives The Runaways' music will make it worthwhile as a movie. Give it a look, just maybe not for full price on a Friday night.
@ Danny… Funny you mention it. A friend of mine is a huge fan of the band and she absolutely loathed it. I think perhaps its because it doesn't give us much insight into any of the personalities in play. Maybe I should ask her why she didn't like it and parlay that into a post.
@ Mike… Give it a look but don't expect to have your mind changed on that script reading all that much. It does make me want to chase down the doc on The Runaways though.
I absolutely LOATHE Kristen Stewart, and was fully prepared to hate this movie based on her performance alone. But as much as it pains me to say it, she wasn't all that bad…in fact she gave a decent performance. So I didn't hate the movie because if her… I hated the movie because the movie SUCKED!!
Aside from Joan and Cherie, the rest of the band are glorified extras in the film, so lets not even pretend this movie is about The Runaways. This movie is about two girls who happen to be in a band called The Runaways.
I LOVE music films as a rule, but I don't think I've ever been so bored watching one. The music was great, but I couldn't enjoy any of it because of the poor storytelling/direction/edits/tone.
And don't get me started on the editing during the sex scenes. Blah! I understand that the filmmakers were probably scared to get a harsh rating due to girl-on-girl action, but if I saw one more abstract or out of focus shot I was going to get up and walk out. If they were going to be such pussy's about it they should have just left it out of the storyline!!
I have lots more to say about this movie, but I'm going to stop ranting now… I'm sure I've bitched enough!
Mrs. Hatter
Personally, I've just never been that passionate about music, and even less so about the people behind it. I enjoy listening to it, and stories more about the people (such as your Almost Famous) than anything related to the actual music. Of course the fact that so many of those made deal with alcoholics, womanizers, and drug addicts, doesn't entice me much either 🙂
I'm going to see this tomorrow or Wednesday. I'm no fan of Kristen Stewart but I do like Dakota Fanning, and I'm a sucker for music movie stories, but it's difficult now simply because I hold most of them up to the standards of Almost Famous.
I hope I enjoy it more than you did.
@ Lady Hatter… The editing during the sex scenes didn't bug me all that much. But then again you're the editor, so I'll leave that one be and stick to writing.
Thanks for the comment!
@ Univarn… I see what you're saying. I guess sometimes I figure my music junkidom carries over to more people than it actually does. I should become your musical guru and see if I can make a bigger music fan outta ya!
@ Heather… It was your suggestion so I hope you enjoy it more than I do too! Can't wait to talk about it with ya.
Dakota Fanning scares the hell out of me.
Kristen Stewart.. she makes Scarlett Johansensensensensen look like Meryl Streep
I have yet to see this one…but your review sums up what I've been expecting of it, more or less. I was kind of hoping Floria would work her magic on this the way she has with some of my favourite music videos of all time. Hm. Still, I'll see it for Dakota; I skipped Push and haven't watched anything with her in it since Hound Dog, IIRC, and I really do want to see how she's evolved.
@ Red Couch… Really? How did that happen. Did I AM SAM create nightmares filled with a Dr. Seuss narrative as told by a special needs barista?
(Wait, Sean Penn is a dude, so technically he's a baristo)
@ Ross… I'm starting to think that I'm the only person who actually likes Scarlett Johansen. That said, this is the first movie I've liked Stewart in for a l-o-n-g time.
@ EhCh… fanning is a reason to check it out, as it's interesting to see how she makes the transition from child actor to young adult actor.
Unfortunately, I think Floria had a hard time shaking off her music video m-o, since the film comes off as a scattered series of moments that really jar from one to the next.
Worth a look, but wait for a matinee or a night at The Bloor.