There's a lot to like about The Runaways. The film looks right, as if the director has been poring over rock photography of the era: everything's a little hazy and camera angles are increasingly akimbo late in the film as the band begins to spiral out of control. The performances feels right too: Kristen Stewart is sexy and tough as Joan Jett; Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie nails the "jailbait" appeal of the band's lead singer (watching her makes you a little uncomfortable, as it should); and the always odd and interesting Michael Shannon gets to go suitably over-the-top as Kim Fowley, the canny, loopy producer of The Runaways and many bands of the era. All these things work so well that it's hard to pinpoint exactly what's wrong with the film. I'll blame the screenplay, which is certainly a bit lacking, rarely as incisive as it should be and occasionally veering into a broad comic tone that's out of place. The writing gives us a real feel for the personas of Joan, Cherie, and Fowley, but they never quite feel like flesh-and-blood human beings somehow (and the rest of the band is largely ignored altogether). Even so, the film has points to make that are worth considering. Although we may often consider the 70's a period of musical integrity, the film shows us that The Runaways were as much a manufactured, mass-marketed media creation as some of the bands we deride today. There's talent there, to be sure, but talent is secondary to Fowley, at least as he's portrayed here. Yet the film's final scenes suggest, optimistically, as Jett emerges as an important artist despite the circumstances, that passion and talent will ultimately win the day.
All this aside, however, it's our friend Beth's blog who provides the most compelling reason to see the film:
"Kristen Stewart jumping around in a t-shirt and black panties, with Joan Jett hair, and an electric guitar, is just movie gold; I don’t care who you are!"
Let's just hope Ms. Stewart's talent keeps emerging (in films like this and Adventurland) even while she's chained to the fucking Twilight series!
I agree with everything you say here. I think the fact that it was Dakota Fanning playing Ms. Cherry Bomb contributes to why audiences feel unfomfortable watching her play jailbait, but it was really perfect casting. We're supposed to be uncomfortable and she was great.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that Kristen Stewart seems to be making good choices outside of (or perhaps including, depending on your point of view) those Twilight movies. This and Adventureland are both really good movies that show that she has some range as an actress. Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, on the other hand, have chosen forgettbale romances and romantic comedies.
My God -- I never thought I would be the one NOT defending Dakota Fanning. . .
ReplyDeleteI mean, I thought she was great sometimes, and certainly she's great-looking (ALWAYS). . .but she seemed a little detached here. . .and I love Dakota Fanning. Truly.
At any rate, for me, Kristen Stewart is the real story here. She's incredible even when she's doing nothing.