The Runaways-Film Review

I remember seeing the Runaways in Circus and Circus Raves magazine. This was when the magazines were great along with Creem. Not like the Circus magazine in the 90s. It was all you had for info on bands, albums that came out etc. You didn't have the internet to see when your favorite band was going to have a new album out, going on tour. You relied on magazines. You couldn't wait for a new issue to come out. I thought "these girls are basically my age and the lead singer is wearing lingerie on stage! That is so hot!" Of course they were only 15-17 years old but you don't think it's too gross because they're the same age as you! My favorite member was always Cherie Currie. She by far had a better voice than Joan back then for sure. Of course I learned to love Joan Jett's music also but for me back then Cherie was the one. I remember buying the second album Queens of Noise then going back to buy the first one (the one with "Cherry Bomb"). These girls were always better than what most people thought. I could tell there was talent there. Having a guitarist like Lita Ford in the band definitely helped. Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart WERE Cherie Currie and Joan Jett. I think a lot of people have always thought that Dakota Fanning had some range at even a young age but the jury is still out on Kristen Stewart with the Twilight movies. If you think this is true then check out the movie The Cake Eaters and you will see a young actress with incredible range. I knew Kristen would pull this off. Kristen is more in your face because that's how Joan was. Dakota's performance was a little more passive and reactionary but that's what Cherie's was I think. This was a girl that was literally pulled into this with no prior singing experience. Michael Shannon as record producer Kim Fowley was amazing. You couldn't take your eyes off of him when he was on screen. He commanded your attention. Since this was based on Cherie Currie's book Neon Angel written I think some twenty years ago the emphasis is on Cherie and Joan's relationship than anybody else in the band. Scout Taylor-Compton did a good job as Lita Ford and Stella Maeve was good as drummer Shelly West as well. They just didn't have a lot of screen time to flesh out the characters. It was so sad to see a star that burnt out so soon. I remember getting the third Runaways album Waiting For The Night and seeing Cherie wasn't on it. I was really disappointed that Joan was the lead singer at the time. And it wasn't till many years later on either an Oprah or Donahue show that Cherie had years of drug problems and couldn't handle performing anymore. Let's face it, Kim Fowley is not your best role model when you're already confused teenage girls with terrible home lives. But if he was like anything he was portrayed by Michael Shannon you could see how he got this done. Great music (actually performed by Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart), great performances, and some sadness as well. Highly recommended if you're a Runaways fan or have always been curious about them. If you love movies check it out for the performances of Fanning, Stewart and Shannon. You will not be disappointed.