Biopic Runaways opens Friday 3/19

[ashie62]

For those old enough Joan Jett, Cherrie, Lita and creepoid "manager" Kim Fowley formed the all girl Rock & Roll band The Runaways.. Influential in much the same way as the New York Dolls.

For the guys the movies promise women kissing, for the women the movie promises women kissing

Here is an interview taken a week or two ago from the now 70 year old Fowley..

[TransMonk]

I appreciate the subject of the film...but Kristen Stewart? Ugh.

We'll see, but I'll probably wait until the DVD comes out in August.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Hey, she didn't ruin "Adventureland." I'm willing to give her a shot as my favorite girl-loving crush object this side of Jodie Foster.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I predict heavy embellishment. It's Whip It ... on stage!

[Guest sharpie]

As I mentioned here somewhere I saw the real Runaways on New Year's Eve 1976-77 at the Whiskey-a-Go-Go in LA. Later that evening I got dumped by my girlfriend and had to find a place to stay the next night. Kinda looking forward to the film. Maybe that concert is depicted in the film and maybe there's Movie Me and Movie My Girlfriend depicted sitting at a table near stage left with Movie Me being all distracted about why is she acting like such a bitch and kind of hating on the band because this isn't how I expected the evening to go. I only remember them doing "Cherry Bomb" - first time I heard the song.

That wouldn't be the first time I've been to a depicted concert as I was at the final Sex Pistols show in San Francisco which is depicted in "Sid and Nancy" but there was no Movie Me, all band shots.

[Frayed Knot]

sharpie wrote: That wouldn't be the first time I've been to a depicted concert as I was at the final Sex Pistols show in San Francisco which is depicted in "Sid and Nancy" but there was no Movie Me, all band shots.

Some directors just don't know what's important.

TransMonk wrote: Kristen Stewart? Ugh.

I dunno, they could do worse.
At least she'll be an actual teenager (turns 20 in a few months) playing an actual teenager - as opposed to the usual Hollywood fare of having 28 year-olds play teenagers - not to mention looking reasonably like the J.J. part even before getting to the make-up & wardrobe stage.
And, while I have no idea about how she was in those vampire movies which seemingly half the world was ga-ga over before I had even heard of them, she was more than fine in 'Adventureland' and was decent enough in a small-ish role playing the sweet young thing in 'Into the Wild'.
Dakota Fanning is the only other name I recognize there although I realize as I type this that I have no idea who she is or what she's done even though I guess I'm supposed to know.

Edited March 18, 2010 by Guest

[metirish]

I'm thinking " Prey for Rock & Roll " with Gina Gershon with this movie , I did enjoy that one so who knows.

[TransMonk]

I guess I don't share the same affinity for her part in Adventureland that others on this board have. I thought she made a pretty bad movie worse. I don't think she particularly looks like Joan Jett and she was born a decade after the Runaways were even around.

I am of the opinion that the only reason she (and Dakota Fanning) are in this movie is to sell it to teens. Which is fine...it's the Hollywood way. But I'm not expecting any notable performances from the cast. I'm sure the costumes, makeup and, of course, the music will be great.

[Edgy MD]

TransMonk wrote: ...and she was born a decade after the Runaways were even around.

Wait a minute. They have to be young. It's a movie about teenagers.

[TransMonk]

I get it...I get it.

I'm sure she'll be the Joan Jettiest Joan Jett ever.

[Frayed Knot]

I guess I don't share the same affinity for her part in Adventureland that others on this board have. I thought she made a pretty bad movie worse. I don't think she particularly looks like Joan Jett and she was born a decade after the Runaways were even around.

Well I liked 'Adventureland' so I guess we're not going to agree there.
And by 'looks like Joan Jett' I merely meant that she's the right age plus the thin, dark-haired type that gives here a leg up on most run of the mill actresses - and as opposed to trying to shoe-horn some total non-J.J. looker into the role. C'mon, admit it, you could see them trying to sell you: And, as Joan Jett; Drew Barrymore!!

I am of the opinion that the only reason she (and Dakota Fanning) are in this movie is to sell it to teens. Which is fine...it's the Hollywood way. But I'm not expecting any notable performances from the cast. I'm sure the costumes, makeup and, of course, the music will be great.

Sure, but you're going to have to use some teen (or near teen) actress so it's either going to be her, or someone like her, or some chancy unknown, the last of which lessens the odds that the movie ever gets made. (new thought: stick a black wig on Avril Lavigne)
And don't get me wrong, I could totally see them blowing this up by aiming for the teen crowd with a slightly edgier 'Josie and the Pussycats / GRRLL POWER' kind of flick. I just don't see her presence specifically as making that any more likely to happen.

[TransMonk]

It's really just me mouthing off. I don't have anything against Stewart, I just don't think she is anything to write home about as an actress.

In my mind's eye, the Runaways movie I would want to see would be cast with a group of unknown teenage actresses who are preferably punk-rawkish and hopefully, genuinely love the Runaways.

I think casting two under-20 "it" girls and billing their names above the movie title on the poster goes against anything that the Runaways ever were about. But, from what I hear, Joan Jett herself was invovled with production, so who am I to say anything.

[Edgy MD]

Pretty cool how the guitarist became a rock icon and the bass player became the chair of the Republican party.

[Edgy MD]

It's the movie that brings horny middle aged men and trashily-dressed teenagers together in one theater.

[Frayed Knot]

TransMonk wrote: In my mind's eye, the Runaways movie I would want to see would be cast with a group of unknown teenage actresses who are preferably punk-rawkish and hopefully, genuinely love the Runaways.

Yeah, that's kind of why I threw out Lavigne's name (or someone in her vein); the idea where you cast musicians and hope they can act rather than having actresses play as musicians.
It worked in 'The Commitments'

[ashie62]

metirish wrote: I'm thinking " Prey for Rock & Roll " with Gina Gershon with this movie , I did enjoy that one so who knows.

There would be a similarity to Prey for Rock & Roll...Difference being Runaways is a 'true" story and they did get a major label deal...Kristin Stewart seems to have a personality similar to early Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning has wanted to do an "adult' role for some time.

I doubt this will be a 'whip it".

[ashie62]

sharpie wrote: As I mentioned here somewhere I saw the real Runaways on New Year's Eve 1976-77 at the Whiskey-a-Go-Go in LA. Later that evening I got dumped by my girlfriend and had to find a place to stay the next night. Kinda looking forward to the film. Maybe that concert is depicted in the film and maybe there's Movie Me and Movie My Girlfriend depicted sitting at a table near stage left with Movie Me being all distracted about why is she acting like such a bitch and kind of hating on the band because this isn't how I expected the evening to go. I only remember them doing "Cherry Bomb" - first time I heard the song. That wouldn't be the first time I've been to a depicted concert as I was at the final Sex Pistols show in San Francisco which is depicted in "Sid and Nancy" but there was no Movie Me, all band shots.

"Do you ever feel you've been cheated" Johnny Rotten in SF

[metirish]

Snooze review all about Dakota



http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2010/03/18/2010-03-18_dakota_fanning_runs_away_with_floria_sigismondis_the_runaways_leaving_kristen_st.html

[Edgy MD]

Cherie Currie had a lookalike (twin?) sister named Marie. Fortunately, nobody got the idea that sibs = sexploitation gold until she left the runaways.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlv8wwZAehc

[soupcan]

Okay - I guess I'm the first to have seen this. Saw it Sunday afternoon.

I didn't really know The Runaways, but having known Joan Jett and being aware of the name Sherie Curie, I had heard of them and had an idea of who they were and what they did.

I only went to see it because my 11 year-old begged me to take him. Yes we kew it was R-rated, but this parenting thing is a case-by-case basis for us and my boy is a creative sort who really wanted to know the story and appreciates the music so I made an executive decision. Lots of bad language (got caught unawares when he leaned over and whispered 'Dad, what's an 'orgasm'?') and sexually suggestive scenes (yes - women kissing), no nudity, well, maybe half a naked boob for a few seconds but I don't think he noticed. JCL saying that it was 'Whip It' on stage is funny because halfway through my son said it reminded him of that movie.

So the story, which I didn't know, was 'okay'. Major motion picture-worthy? Eh, maybe, maybe not. The movie definitely 'looked' very '70's. The acting was marginal at best. I liked Kristen Stewart a lot better than I did Dakota Fanning. The only problem with Stewart was that she was too pretty, and that really shouldn't have been a problem but it was distracting. If she were a better actress maybe I wouldn't have noticed but guess what - she ain't and I did. Fanning just sort of stared aimlessly at the walls when her character wasn't on-stage performing. Maybe that's how Curie was but I tend not to think so.

The other chickadees in the band were simply a supporting cast. Alia Shawkat of 'Arrested Development' (and 'Whip It') fame played somebody named 'Robin Robins' and had nary a line. Seriously, I don't think she had one line. Strange thing is that according to Wikipedia, nobody named 'Robin Robins was ever in the damn band. I was unaware that Lita Ford was in the band prior to my seeng the film but according to the movie all Lita did was yell at Sherie once in the studio, so maybe it didn't matter.

All in all, don't waste your money. If you're curious wait for the DVD, it should be hitting stores in a week or so.

[Edgy MD]

I was 11 once, and I've got to imagine that he noticed the boob.

Cherie Currie was in the original cut of This Is Spinal Tap, playing the lead singer of a band called The Dose that opens a few gigs for the Tappers and infects them all with VD.

[Fman99]

Edgy DC wrote: It's the movie that brings horny middle aged men and trashily-dressed teenagers together in one theater.

Address, please.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Edgy DC wrote: Cherie Currie had a lookalike (twin?) sister named Marie. Fortunately, nobody got the idea that sibs = sexploitation gold until she left the runaways.

She had a twin sister named Marie Currie? Did they experiment?

[Edgy MD]

Besides experimenting with Sha Na Na, I'm not sure.

[ashie62]

Fman99 wrote: Edgy DC wrote: It's the movie that brings horny middle aged men and trashily-dressed teenagers together in one theater. Address, please.

Ask Pee Wee Herman?

[Frayed Knot]

OK, I got around to this one via DVD in the last week --and thought it was pretty decent.

It's really the Cherie & Joanie story, with the two stars representing why the band worked but also why it could never last. Joan, who formed the band because she had nothing to live for except rock and roll is in contrast to Cherie who - especially with the manipulations and marketing from their sleazy manager - was a main reason for the band's success but, unlike the others, was never really a R&R animal and, like the Bowie lip-sychs she did in HS talent shows, is more playing the role rather than living it.
Jett has obvious affection for Currie, perhaps in part because they were occasionally swapping spit and who knows what else together, or perhaps because Jett is behind the story and gets to make herself look good. Either way, she realizes that Currie's presence gave the band life, but at the same time has a different long-term agenda. The rest of the band, as Soupie mentions, are pretty much background. Drummer Sandy West - as a "founder" with Jett - gets some early lines while Lita Ford gets to occasionally yell and scream in her role as the toughest chick in the room.

Stewart's Jett is good. Fanning's Currie is portrayed more often as wasted and over-her-head and only occasionally projects the raw power combined with the jail-bait/sex-kitten appeal that was a big part of the band's early fame.
Mgr Kim Fowley's role is sufficiently creepy.


The movie's main attempt as re-creating a stage scene was 'Cherry Bomb' from a tour of Japan where the band briefly had an intense following:

real:

movie:

[Edgy MD]

Hard to believe that, with all the takes you need and compression and other technology, you can't really improve on Currie's live vocal, but there you go.

[Edgy MD]

Wretched, boring, and plotless, except where it was boringly predictable.