Luke-warm Currie

Rating: 10/10 (30 May 2011)

Two of the hottest stars of the century and a storming soundtrack ought to make for a cracking good movie, but this film lacks in critical areas - most notably script, direction and editing.
As for the terrific twosome, Stewart edges it in my book, more convincing in the role of Jett than Fanning is as Currie. Maybe that's an age thing - Fanning has to go to some dark places, perhaps a step too far for a young, polite and maybe naive girl. Stewart has a few years advantage, and would appear to have embraced this role more thoroughly. I don't think either had a lot of time to rehearse.
However Fanning easily out-guns her elder in the singing department. If she was so inclined, she could front any rock band in the world. I had to double check she actually was singing. Somehow I can't see her taking this path, but I for one would love to hear more of her full and powerful vocal abilities. Stewart plays along to the guitar very well, and certainly has the attitude of a rock chick.
Meatiest role by far is that of Kim Fowley, and Shannon laps it up with aplomb. As for the other band members - and this is a common criticism of the film - the are really only bit parts. I can forgive this - the film would have to be 4 hours long if everyone was to get equal coverage. Stewart and Fanning are the stars and the film is basically about Jett and Currie, based on a book written by Currie, which presumably is why that part steals the limelight.
Some of the scenes are polished, faultless, whilst others appear rushed and under-rehearsed. There are gaps in the script (maybe due to memory loss?!) and it all fits together rather like a jigsaw with half the pieces missing. It's a good film, but it should have been a great film, and Dakota Fanning should (and could) have made this the performance of her life. Kristen Stewart wins my admiration and deserves the plaudits for throwing herself into her role with 100% enthusiasm, whereas it would appear to be just another day at work for Fanning.
Dakota, you can't get by just by being a great actor - you have to show you're a great actor. I always get the feeling acting is a little bit of a sideline for you - and maybe rightly so, with school and college. I hope when you finish your education and all that goes with it (which no-one should deny you) we will see the "old" Dakota cramming every ounce of her boundless energy into film roles.
So, Runaways fans might wince at this film, but it manages to evoke enough of that 1970s spirit of excitement and innovation in music to satisfy those that were there, if not those that wrote the songs. I loved the cinematography, loved the music, and loved the performances. I just wish I'd be blown away by them.