Film is a smart showcase to help stars break out as they take on adult roles. Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning star as Joan Jett and Cherie Currie in the tumultuous story of the 1970's all girl rock band, The Runaways.
“The Runaways," chronicling the rise and fall of Joan Jett's first band, easily could have degenerated into a movie-length music video, with Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning merely glam-rock poseurs.
Yet music-video veteran Floria Sigismondi makes an impressive feature-film directing debut, crafting a brisk, engaging portrait, the story making up for its lack of insight into teen rebel Jett and her bandmates with driving, infectious rhythm.
For Stewart as Jett and Fanning as Runaways singer Cherie Currie, the movie is a smart showcase to help them break out of their molds as they take on more adult roles, Stewart aiming for life after “Twilight" and Fanning seeking to graduate from her position as Hollywood's doe-eyed princess of child stars.
Both have done other mature roles Stewart was a stripper and hooker in the upcoming “Welcome to the Rileys," Fanning played a teen rape victim in “Hounddog." Yet “The Runaways" will be an eye-opener for their fans, with Stewart and Fanning hurling themselves into the roles, their descent into the seedy 1970s world of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll including a passionate kiss they share in a love scene.
Though based on Currie's memoir “Neon Angel," “The Runaways" is much more the story of Jett, who was an executive producer on the film and on set for almost the entire shoot. Currie was on hand to help the filmmakers, as well, but the movie, like the short-lived Runaways, is of greatest interest as a prelude to Jett's later stardom fronting the Blackhearts.
“The Runaways," chronicling the rise and fall of Joan Jett's first band, easily could have degenerated into a movie-length music video, with Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning merely glam-rock poseurs.
Yet music-video veteran Floria Sigismondi makes an impressive feature-film directing debut, crafting a brisk, engaging portrait, the story making up for its lack of insight into teen rebel Jett and her bandmates with driving, infectious rhythm.
For Stewart as Jett and Fanning as Runaways singer Cherie Currie, the movie is a smart showcase to help them break out of their molds as they take on more adult roles, Stewart aiming for life after “Twilight" and Fanning seeking to graduate from her position as Hollywood's doe-eyed princess of child stars.
Both have done other mature roles Stewart was a stripper and hooker in the upcoming “Welcome to the Rileys," Fanning played a teen rape victim in “Hounddog." Yet “The Runaways" will be an eye-opener for their fans, with Stewart and Fanning hurling themselves into the roles, their descent into the seedy 1970s world of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll including a passionate kiss they share in a love scene.
Though based on Currie's memoir “Neon Angel," “The Runaways" is much more the story of Jett, who was an executive producer on the film and on set for almost the entire shoot. Currie was on hand to help the filmmakers, as well, but the movie, like the short-lived Runaways, is of greatest interest as a prelude to Jett's later stardom fronting the Blackhearts.
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