Don’t feel embarrassed if you’ve never heard of The Runaways.  They exist in the purgatory between legendary and “who cares”.  A rarity of the music bio-pic genre, this is a story of how a band failed rather than the typical rise and fall, then rise again to greatness.  But, despite this twist of unconventionality, the film fails to strike a chord in the way traditional fair such as Ray has done in the past.  The Runaways relives the formation and short life of an all girl Los Angeles rock band during the mid to late 1970’s.  Focusing on 2 of the 5 members, Joan Jett, played by Twilight heroin Kristen Stewart, and Cherie Currie (who’s book is the basis for the film), played by Dakota Fanning, a set of 15/16 year old girls with dreams of becoming Bowie-esque Rock N Roll queens.  Pieced together by eccentric record producer Kim Fowley (known for work with Kiss and Cat Stevens to name a few) the girls are nurtured to become Punk goddesses who flaunt their young “jail bait” sexuality in a trade for stardom.  Character actor, Michael Shannon, best known for his Academy Award Nominated performance in 2008’s Revolutionary Road, let’s loose his usual bottled up tension and explodes in a star turning role that’s over the top, and in many ways, carries the movie.  Fowley takes helm of the girl’s dreams as well as manipulates them to get him paid and laid.  “It’s not about women’s lib,” he tells the band, “it’s about women’s Libido,” so “think with your cocks!”  This advice works, although temporarily, and leads the girls down a path of unyielding sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll.

What former music video director turned big screen writer/Director, Floria Sigismondi, does well is explore the drug and sex fueled years where the girls “mature” without holding punches.  What else would you expect from a film that begins with a close up of menstrual blood dripping on a sidewalk. The second half of the film is literally a blurred haze of debauchery that effectively helps you connect to Cherie as events jump with no sense of time.  Has it been a few months, a few years?  Where Sigismondi’s auetuerism fails is when the camera tricks and filters lead her to produce clichéd scenes of metaphorical imagery.  For example, a lost and confused Joan Jett lies in a tub pondering lyrics, and seemingly her career path, as she sinks her head below the water line the camera moves below the surface to show her floating in a sea of water, lost in vast nothingness.  Yeah, I get it, but to the experienced moviegoer it’s just cheesy and ineffective.  What, at times, got a bit uncomfortable for me as the viewer is the knowledge that famed child star, Dakota Fanning, herself is only 15 in the film.  As she plays a minor with no parental control being exploited (as well as self exploiting) in lingerie, sniffing cocaine, and losing her virginity you can’t help but feel dirty.  Goodbye Charlotte’s Web, Dakota’s in a whole new state.

Since production began and Joan Jett’s presence on set was reportedly abundant (she executive produces the film) speculation began that the project would be biased.  Joan does a great job of letting everything from her immaturity to her sexuality become exposed with no holds barred.  On the other hand, the bias becomes painfully obvious at the end when 3 of the 5 band members are omitted from the “where are they now” information.  Despite my early statement about the bands road to nowhere, the truth is that several members later became notable successes.  Joan, who became one of the first women to launch a successful record label, released several commercial hits in the 80’s including “I Love Rock N Roll” and still continues to record and tour to this day.  Of those omitted from the “Where Are They Now” is 80’s hair metal queen Lita Ford.  Although an ever-present character in the movie, she is portrayed as shrewish while the films ending would lead you to believe she faded to obscurity.  Truth is, she went on to have platinum selling success in 1988 with songs like “Kiss Me Deadly” which places her among Aquanet glam royalty like Poison, and Motley Cru.  Some may sneer at the fact that bassist in the film is made up.  More like a composite, due to the fact that The Runaways actually had 4 bassist during their 4 year run.  The first of which was Micki Steele who went on to be a member of the infinitely more successful all girl band, The Bangles.

All nitpicking aside, I can laud the film for it’s seemingly honest portrayal of Cherie and Joan.  With every bad step they make you root for them to turn things around.  Sadly, there is not enough in the film to root about.  It’s more of a Sid & Nancy than a Walk The Line.  A chronological tale that informs but doesn’t connect.  Those looking to learn more about a notable piece of Rock n Roll history will enjoy this hour and 45 minutes while seekers of a good date film or chick flick will probably leave disappointed.