Sex And Drugs And Rock & Roll

Rating: 8/10 (11 April 2010)

...And more sex,drugs & rock & roll,and even more sex,drugs & rock & roll. If you haven't quite figured it out yet,this is the tale of the rise & fall of the 1970's pre-Glam (glamour-a sort of post glitter rock genre) rock band,The Runaways. In 1975,Kim Fowley,who is/was something of an icon on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood,who was associated with the likes of Frank Zappa & the original Mothers Of Invention,Jonathan Richman,to mention but a few, discovered a then,unknown guitar player named Joan Jett,who wanted to rock out in a big way & helped form The Runaways,and made them a success. 'The Runaways' attempts to tell their story of the road to success,and it's hard falling down. The Runaways lasted little more than four (or so) years,and recorded a few L.P's for Mercury,before burning out. Italy's own Floria Sigismondi,known for her work in music videos,directs from her screenplay,adapted from the novel 'Neon Angel' by Cherie Currie,based on her own life as "rock & roll goddess". Joan Jett acts as one of the executive producers. The cast includes Kristen Stewart,who moves up in a big way from her usual shtick in the Twilight series (another one is due sometime later this year,or next year),as Joan Jett. Dakota Fanning, looking dead eyed & myopic as Cherie Currie. Stella Maeve,as Sandy West. Scout Taylor-Compton,as Lita Ford,and Alia Shawkat,as Robin,as The Runaways. Michael Shannon is the very over the top,Kim Fowley,who is part Svengali,and part Frankenstein's monster as their manager,as well as some brief on screen time by Tatum O'Neal (yes,THE Tatum O'Neal, of 'Paper Moon'fame),as Cherie's mother. My two obvious gripes with this film is some of the historical goofs (I won't go into details,as not to spoil it for others,but musical historians will pick it up in the flick of an eye),and how the film mostly focuses on the working & personal relationship of Joan & Cherie (the rest of the Runaways seem to be little more than a backdrop most of the time). The biggest winner of this film (for me,anyway)is the music,which not only includes songs by The Runaways,but Iggy & The Stooges,David Bowie,as well as other period music of the era. For anybody born after 1985,who wonders "what was the music of the '70's all about?",this film will give you a brief peek into an open window of that decade. Rated 'R' by the MPAA,this film contains strong language,and much reveling in the Rock & Roll lifestyle (sexual experimentation,including nudity,much alcohol & drug abuse...mainly by minors),much on screen smoking