So recently, Aaron and me were invited to watch "The Runaways", a reenactment of the events that brought the 70s all-girl band, The Runaways, into fame and fortune. So let's begin.
I came into the cinema with low expectations for the movie. Even though the trailers for the movie were pretty eye-opening, I was expecting the movie to be another cliché “Rock Band-gone-bad-due-to-fame” kind of movie. What’s more, it was supposed to be based on the original “The Runaways” band, and knowing how Hollywood likes to cheese out and exaggerate the ‘real’ story for their movies, I thought it was probably going to be another one of those sad excuse for a movie.
However, I’m actually surprised how the movie went. It more or less gravitated towards the original source material of how the band came about (I know this, because I kind of did some research about the band), with a one or two slight diversions from the real events to fit a 2 hour storyline.
The movie really brought out the dark and dirty scene of the night social life of the 70s/80s. Drugs and booze were a norm, and overdressed partygoers were actually considered “hip”. “The Runaways” used this to give the audience an impression just how low the band was before they soared. It more or less worked.
Resident Twilight girl, Kristen Stewart, played as Joan Jett. Her performance was surprisingly awesome. She managed to bring out the angst and rough lifestyle of a Rock Star, while Dakota Fanning, played as the band’s lead singer, Cherrie Curie, completely turned her “innocent girl” look into a disturbingly believable jailbait that would leave hundreds of men ashamed to actually ogle at a 15 year old. Both actresses did a fantastic job completely transforming themselves into their characters, going out of their way to exit their comfort zones and be something they could never portray from their previous movies.
Spot the jailbait.
In terms of storyline, it was rather expected. Badass girl wants to be a rock star. Innocent girl wants to be a singer. As fate would have it, they meet and get a chance to form a band with the help of a wacky psychotic Record Producer, Kim Fowley (played by Michael Shannon). They start small and struggled to make themselves known, and through the hard life style of rock and roll, they eventually make a breakthrough and achieved the title of Rock Stars. However, fame and drugs get into their heads, and things don’t work out as well, so the band dissolves. Everyone took their own paths (with Joan Jett continuing her musical dreams, forming “Joan Jett and the Blackhearts”), and it ended with a cute phone conversation/reunion within Joan, Cherrie, and an awkward Radio DJ.
Cool ah...
The movie focused mostly on these 2 characters and Fowley. The other members in the band were not fleshed out as much as, and felt more like extras to keep the fact that it’s about a rock band. Though, after some research, the producers had actually intended to bring out story of the original bassist of “The Runaways”, but due to legal issues, it wasn’t possible. I have no qualms over this, because the movie was only an hour plus long, and trying to squeeze in the back stories of 5 members within a small time frame would just make the movie a lot messy and won’t really focus on what happened to the band.
Now available, "The Runaway" Dolls! In stores now. (bassist not included)
It’s a nice movie to watch if you’re into the explicitly of being a Rock Star and I say 4 nachos. Watch it if you can.
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