THE RUNAWAYS — ★★ — Dakota Fanning, Kristen Stewart, Michael Shannon; rated R (vulgarity, profanity, drugs, sex, slurs, violence, brief nudity); in general release
"The Runaways" gets away from the filmmaker and the stars.
That's especially true during this music-heavy drama's muddled third act. The final segment is as cliched and as predictable as any of the many films that have chronicled the rise and fall of well-known musical figures.
Also, the film's fascination with early-teen sexuality is both creepy and disconcerting, especially since it puts actress Dakota Fanning — who was 15 when it was shot — in the role of sex kitten.
As good as Fanning is, even she and the rest of this talented cast can't save the film from its flaws and excesses.
For those unfamiliar with the Runaways, it was an ill-fated, mid-'70s rock act that paved the way for later female rockers. (Alanis Morissette, for one, owes the Runaways at least a small debt.)
This fictionalized version of events looks at things from the perspective of Cherie Currie (Fanning).
Cherie has just been "discovered" by manipulative music producer Kim Fowley (Michael Shannon). He wants her to join an all-girl rock band that he's putting together.
Other members include fellow L.A.-area teens Joan Jett (Kristen Stewart), Sandy West (Stella Maeve) and Lita Ford (Scott-Taylor Compton).
Despite a dubious, rocky start, the Runaways actually begin to gain fans, and the band even scores a record deal with a major label.
But tensions rise between the bandmates — especially when Cherie becomes the sole focus of magazine articles and Fowley's unique "promotion."
Screenwriter/director Floria Sigismondi — who adapted Currie's memoirs — doesn't seem exactly sure of what she wants to say with the film.
And she allows Shannon, as Fowley, to run roughshod over the film and the other characters. He's almost too strong of a presence, and it's a shame that Sigismondi gives so little time to Compton.
But that's not to say the female leads don't get their turn in the spotlight. Those who haven't seen Stewart act in something outside of movies with "Twilight" in their title may be pleasantly surprised.
She really nails Jett's unique swagger and presence.
"The Runaways" is rated R and features strong sexual language (crude sexual slang terms, profanity and other frank language), other off-color references, strong drug content (references to and use of amphetamines and narcotics, glue-sniffing and prescription drug abuse), underage smoking and drinking, simulated sex and other sexual contact (both gay and straight, and most of it involving teens), derogatory slurs and references (most of them sexist in nature), brief violent content (heckling and teen misbehavior), and brief female nudity. Running time: 107 minutes.
e-mail: jeff@desnews.com