The Runaways (2010) dir, Floria Sigismondi

Boy oh boy, how these girls changed my life! Before seeing Floria Sigismondi's The Runaways, I had only heard of the ladies themselves once or twice ("It's gotta be a three-way tie between The Stooges, Patti Smith and The Runaways.") After all, I was born almost 20 years after they broke up, but if anything, I have to credit this movie for introducing me to my favourite band of all time. I don't think I've ever heard, owned or loved a more kick-ass album than The Runaways: Live in Japan, and you can always hear it pounding from my car stereo. So, what can I tell the unaware reader of The Runaways? Well...take a more perverse version of Simon Cowell, and drop him in 1970s LA: there you have Kim Fowley: "His Majestic Hysteric, or whatever." Having gained a reputation of media manipulation after his own music career died out, Fowley happened to cross paths with teen prodigies Joan Jett and Sandy West, all three intent on forming an all-girl rock band (although Fowley's motives were somewhat different to the girls'.) Within weeks they had recruited tough-as-nails lead guitarist Lita Ford, 140 IQ bassist Jackie Fox and bleach blonde "Cherry Bomb" Cherie Currie, and The Runaways went from "conceptual rock project" to major pioneers of the female music industry. Their success was short-lived, and they never really made it big in the US, but they are now undeniably considered a huge influence on the rock scene, and on generations of female musicians.

And now, some 35 years on, Floria Sigismondi has produced a biopic based on Cherie Currie's autobiography (which I have read some 100 times) Neon Angel: Memoir of a Runaway. Kristen Stewart stars as Joan Jett in a refreshing-in-the-face-of-Twilight performance which proves she actually can act. Dakota Fanning raises some serious eyebrows as she dons a corset and fishnets as Cherie Currie. 
Cherie is an imperfect twin with a huge Bowie obsession living in the valley, and Joan is a shy, leather-clad tomboy who is told, "girls don't play electric guitars." Much as described in Neon Angel, the girls happen across Kim Fowley (a show-stealing performance from Michael Shannon) and are turned into rock superstars overnight, in the face of public outrage and professional skepticism. 

But, in a fashion not-so-true to Neon Angel, things get in the way of their success, and the band dissolves, leaving our leading ladies on the other side of fame and not knowing what to do with themselves or their considerable drug habits. It's true, this film is only a semi-accurate adaptation of Cherie Currie's book. It's true also, that Cherie Currie's book may only be a semi-accurate adaptation of true events, as the other band members' stories differ somewhat, but I believe the essence of the band and all its glory is captured quite nicely in this film, with a very nostalgic soundtrack featuring David Bowie, Suzi Quatro, James Brown, and of course, plenty of The Runaways' material in some form or other. The film also had significant input from Joan Jett and Cherie Currie themselves, which heightens the authenticity of it. The era is captured beautifully, with some seriously funky attire that I'd love to get my hands on, and the mentioned soundtrack. 

As I said, this movie really doesn't give an even coverage of The Runaways' career, so I'd recommend anyone intrigued enough to read further watch Edgeplay: A Film About The Runaways, which was made by former bassist Vicki Blue, and had input from Cherie Currie, Sandy West (RIP), Lita Ford, Kim Fowley and Suzi Quatro, but Joan sadly refused participation, so very little of The Runaways music (which Joan wrote) is not featured in Edgeplay. However, it's a fantastic watch, very insightful, and very touching to any devoted fan.