The Runaways (2010)

Based on a memoir by Cherie Currie, lead singer of the Runaways (an all-girl rock band in the late 1970s), this entertaining movie is not about Joan Jett (the leader of that group and others afterwards), though she acted as Executive Producer. Jett is a sympathetic character who is all about the music, while Currie is all about being a star (Jack said that). Dakota Fanning (now 16, she was adorable in I Am Sam (2001) and The War of the Worlds (2005), and did a great job in The Secret Life of Bees) is painfully thin and full of the teen angst needed for this starring role. Kristin Stewart (20, and no, I haven't seen any Twilight movies, but I really liked The Safety of Objects (2001), Panic Room (2002), Fierce People (2005), Into the Wild (2007), and What Just Happened) plays Jett quiet, cool, smart, and not concerned with what other people think. And she does some of her own singing in the movie. According to imdb (possible spoiler alert for that link if you don't already know Currie's history), Jett heard a recording of Stewart's voice and thought it was Jett's own. As producer Kim Fowley, Michael Shannon (best known for his Oscar-nominated turn as the crazy guy in Revolutionary Road, he was a part of the ensemble in Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007), and many more) is anything but cool; in his eyeliner and lipstick, he is in-your-face, profane, and pushy. There's a great scene in which Fowley coaches Currie to stop singing and start growling. Plenty of fine supporting actors round out the cast, including Alia Shawkat (Maeby Fünke in Arrested Development, and sidekick in Whip It) as fictitious band member Robin (because Jackie Fox would not grant the rights to her story to the filmmakers), Tatum O'Neal (my favorites are Paper Moon (1973) and a recurring role on FX Network's Rescue Me, as a foul-mouthed alcoholic from a family of alcoholics) as the mother of Cherie and twin sister Marie, and a cameo by Rob Romanus (Mike Damone, the drug dealer in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)) as the high school guitar teacher. Each of the female actresses above has been working steadily since childhood, with plenty ahead. Music video director/photographer Floria Sigismondi makes her feature directing debut here.

Despite rottentomatoes' 63% rating, we had a good time with this. It has its fair share of drama, but basically, like Jack says, it's about the music. Here's a link to a list of all the songs used in it, beyond the soundtrack. If you're a fan of the music, I think you will like it too.