MOVIE REVIEW ... THE RUNAWAYS

MOVIE REVIEW ...

THE RUNAWAYS

 

It is appropriate The Runaways’ first tune belongs to Suzi Quatro.  Singing about the virtues of being the ‘wild one’, her song aptly describes the all-female group who burst onto the punk scene in the mid 70’s.  Featuring Joan Jett – who would later find great fame with “I Love Rock and Roll” – and other equally talented individuals, its tale of music’s disposable fame is about as rough as the thrashing guitars they played.

Joan Jett (Kristen Stewart) was a teenager looking for a way into the music business.  A demon with the electric guitar, her gnarly playing style captured the attention of Kim Fowley (Michael Shannon).  Knowing a money-making enterprise when he saw it, he formed a group basing itself on the popular glam rock/punk movement.  Choosing a lead singer in Cherie Currie (Dakota Fanning), his endeavours would run his charges through the gamut of a usually unforgiving industry.

Executive produced by Joan Jett and based on Currie’s memoirs, you’d expect both to be portrayed in a holier than thou light.  Not quite the case with The Runaways as it captures their forceful personalities and spirit of the times quite well.  Whilst the reality may have been a little different, their desire to live the rock life feels believable due to the sublime performances.  The way in which their characters exploited each other for their own needs is well articulated as they attempt to cope with the temptations surrounding them.  It isn’t anything anyone hasn’t seen before as it routinely ticks the ‘sex, drugs and rock and roll’ boxes, although the stand-out acting makes for compelling viewing. 

As a tribute to an influential band it tries to find its place among other seminal punk groups such as the Sex Pistols.  This doesn’t quite work due to the lack of focus on the rest of the band.  Although the three leads make the story fascinating, it would have been more so had the script delved deeper into the band dynamics.  Director Floria Sigismondi is clearly a fan and effectively infuses the raw energy for which the group was known.  This isn’t too difficult due to the track selection as they play their role under-scoring the musical circus of which the band becomes a part. 

What could have been yet another trip down the musical cliché alley is avoided due to The Runaway’s sharp direction and stirring performances.  With its snapshot of an era where women began to break through into a male dominated industry it successfully highlights the debt today’s singing princesses owe to those like the ones featured in this captivating film.

Movie Review Rating  7 / 10

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

The Runaways released in Australia on Thursday 15 July 2010.

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