Now on DVD: the Runaways

While home sick the other day, I rented The Runaways and have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the film. I had read about it in Entertainment Weekly and was so excited only to have my dreams destroyed when the reviews came out and so many people ranted about how shallow and stilted the performances were. But when you're alone on a couch for a full day without enough brain power to read...well you have to watch something! And let me tell you, The Runaways is perfection compared to some other sick-days selections from the past (Dr. T and the Women...Mr. Wrong...). I have to say that it could even stand for itself on a perfectly healthy day!

The Runaways tells the story of the girl rock band from the 1970s of the same name. Of course it touches upon the turbulent friendship between Joan Jett and Cherie Currie as well as the relationship between the group and Kim Fowley. Like most movies based on a true story, there isn't much plot to describe. However, the movie raises a lot of issues that are perfect for discussion.

First of all, I must say that this is the best role Kristen Stewart has ever had. I can honestly say that it was wonderful to see her in this movie. I was not as impressed with Dakota Fanning's performance which I found to be stilted at times. Overall I thought that she did a good job, but her connection to the character seemed to go in waves where sometimes she was completely in tune only to lose the spark soon after. Still, Stewart (and Michael Shannon) were more than able to carry the movie when Fanning faltered.

Second, all the reviewers who bashed the movie for not being realistic or not including one scene or another...well, I have to remind you all that this is a movie. It's also under two hours and unlike the film audiences in the 1930s and 1940s, no one is going to sit through a 4 hour epic that includes every guitar chord that they ever played. Also, this is a movie about rock legends not about Joan Larkin and Cherie Currie. I know that this is a tough concept for people to get but Walk the Line is about Johnny Cash the legend not J. R. Cash from Arkansas who listened to a lot of Irish music as a kid. In other news, Bob Dylan is not actually a woman which is how he was portrayed in a section of I'm Not There. The reason being that the movie was depicting the many aspects of Bob Dylan the legend not Robert Zimmerman the Jewish born-again Christian. Therefore, there is no need to compare the fingerprints of Stewart and Jett or Fanning and Currie because they're not going to match! Instead, a viewer might want to focus more on the message of the movie which is really a cry for younger people to listen to the Runaways and respect their work. Also it's a reminder to those who grew up listening to Joan Jett but for whatever reason sold off their cassette tapes at various yard sales, to come back to the artist and her roots.

Third (and my main point), if this movie inspires one person to listen to The Runaways then the film was a success! And don't worry, those whose interest was piqued by the film will go on to read "Neon Angel" and know the hard facts.

-DLP