'The Runaways'

'The Runaways' (R) ****

Writer and Director: Floria Sigismondi
Based on book "Neon Angel" By Cherie Curie
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning, Michael Shannon, Tatum O'Neal, Scout Taylor-Compton, Stella Maeve

I had been excited to see "The Runaways" for a long time but I didn't expect to learn a lot of rock n'roll history and be blown away! This is one of my favorite music bio films and belongs in the "Coal Miner's Daughter", "Buddy Holly Story" field of rock masterpieces. Those expecting a safe, ordinary and sanitized look at the career of Joan Jett might find a nice surprise here. This is really about the true lead singer of "The Runaways" Cherie Curie and her relationship with Jett, Curie's sister and the band's manager Kim Fowley. Kim Fowley is played by Chicago actor Michael Shannon in a crazy and magnificent performance. He chews some scenery but he is hilarious and intense. Those who think Kristen Stewart is limited as an actress will be blown away by her performance here. This portrayal could come off like Leather Tuscadero in "Happy Days" but Stewart here gives a breakout, star making performance. She disappears into her character and there is no trace of Stewart at any point. The film though belongs to Dakota Fanning who now has grown up into a powerful adult actress. Her performance is breathtaking, flawless and completely brave. This is an award caliber performance that is so good that it is even too real and good enough for the Oscars. I was riveted watching this movie from the first frame to the last. The performances are perfection, the recreation of the 70's is flawless, the music is fantastic and Fanning even sings exactly like Curie did. I also learned a lot about a band I didn't know anything about and an artist I was fascinated with when I was 12 years old

That artist is Cherie Curie who I had a big crush on back when I saw the Jodie Foster movie "Foxes" in 1980. That movie somehow got to me and besides Foster I was really into Cherie Curie's performance. Until a few weeks ago I never knew that Curie was the lead singer of "The Runaways" (also didn't know guitar goddess Lita Ford was in the band either). I have seen "Foxes" multiple times and I know that Fanning captures Curie better than most actors have captured a true rock star. This is up there with Val Kilmer, Resse Witherspoon, Sissy Spacek and Gary Busey and their portrayls of real music stars. I did not see this coming from Fanning and she is simply amazing in this movie. You actually might not recognize her at first and that is how great she is. Also Michael Shannon is awesome and proving he is one of our best unknown actors we have. Kristen Stewart again has gotten unfairly criticized for her work being one note but her naysayers will see this performance and eat their words. With this performance she proves she could be one of our finest actresses and dissapears into her character. This movie made me want to own the soundtrack, take someone else with me and see it again and I didn't want it to end, I wanted to see more. That is the highest compliment I can give a movie. I also want to see "Foxes" again just to see the real Curie again and to see how Fanning nailed her perfectly. Dakota Fanning gives one of the best performances of the year so far and "The Runaways" is a small masterpiece.

P.S. After seeing "the Runaways" and knowing that the Oscars will be too stupid to notice Fanning's and Shannon's performances I have come up with new awards I will give out. They are called the Snavely's and they will be given to the best actors and movies that slipped by the Academy Awards at the end of the year. So far Shannon and Fanning are in the running and so is "The Runaways" and "The Crazies".