For many, The Runaways will present itself as the perfect opportunity to ogle Dakota Fanning as the sexed-up version of her former child star self. But this would be doing the film’s escapist glint a disservice, as it would undermine director Sigismondi’s almost perfect recreation of the universe of The Runaways.
Recalling the early formation of the all-girl rock band, The Runaways stays relatively close to the real story of the 70s group from its inception to its unseemly demise. First come 15-year-old rhythm guitarist Joan Jett (Stewart) and drummer Sandy West who are thrust together by the abusive and eccentric music producer, Kim Fowley (Shannon). The setting is Rodney Bingenheimer’s English Disco, the notorious 70s club known for underage patrons wearing outrageously loud outfits. Bedazzling and bedecked in her most Bowie-esque of clothes, peroxide blonde Cherie Currie (Fanning) is then recruited to The Runaways, based on her prepubescent sensuousness alone. Lita Ford quickly appears as the fierce lead guitarist, later joined by Robin, a rather mute amalgam of the different bassists that made appearances in the real Runaways line-up.
Although brief, the girls’ careers together are certainly not devoid of tumult. All under 16 and stemming from broken homes, the girls fall victim to the hedonistic excesses made all too available to them. However, the psychological undertones of the girls’ choices to act as destructively as possible are only weakly hinted at. Not enough is done to foster a real sense of the characters’ psychologies, with director Sigismondi relying too heavily on the somewhat repetitive motifs of Sapphic sex and overindulgent drug usage. A relegation of the characters to stereotypes of their real-life personas comes across in the film’s attempts at psychological contextualization.
The film also depends too heavily on the shock factor, which aggressively radiates from Dakota Fanning’s performance. Watching her feign orgasms and gyrate across stages and hotel rooms wearing nothing more than suggestively placed shreds of clothing is an uncomfortable experience for anyone with a healthy perception of adult sexuality. But Sigismondi recognizes that the bisexual and underage qualities of her protagonists are an intrinsic part of The Runaways’ story, however difficult watching them might be.
The Runaways is impeccably acted and aesthetically radiant, contrasting the ascetic rawness of the aggressive music with the ethereal qualities of the cinematography. There is something quite familiar in Sigismondi’s film, something undeniably relatable for any young person feeling the pangs of rebellion.
3.5 Stars
Directed By : Flora Sigismondi
Starring: Dakota Fanning, Michael Shannon, Kristen Stewart.
Rated R, 109 min.
