Review of The Runaways (2010) by Sapphire G — 20 Feb 2011

The story failed to grip me. By the end of it I was unable to understand why should anyone watch this, why should anyone care about these five teenagers? Or rather two, since it's all shamelessly focused on Cherie and Joan, the rest of the group is mute and often invisible. Not even their influence as female rockers, since they are constantly trying to "rock like men", be at their level or be "rocking" sex symbols. The band is not portrayed in the movie as rising above that. Probably because they didnt, but I wouldnt know, not a fan anyways. I wondered about the appeal to the Japanese audience though, that was intriguing.

In any case, Joan Jett's solo career seems to be more influential. Thus the Runaways were truly "a conceptual rock project that failed," so why make a movie about it? Plain boring to be honest with ya.

I like Dakota Fanning, she was good here. I'm sure she will give the performance of her career some day, maybe more than once, when the right roles arrive. She has time. This is not it. Michael Shannon's character, though obnoxious, is honestly the most interesting. He is a fine performer.

And finally, I'm convinced I will never like Kristen Stewart, she is one of those actors who might not be exactly bad, just not satisfying. I can't stop seeing HER on screen, I can never see her characters fully. I liked her a bit better in "Welcome to the Rileys," but still, her perfomances have an awkwardness, stiffness, or something that I can't get past from.