Sort of Incomplete, but okay

Rating: 5/10 (3 August 2010)

A girl Rock and Roll band is formed in the 1970s and we see their rise and fall. This is based upon a true story.
Since I was overseas during the 1970s I had no idea who these girls were as I never heard of them and apparently their music never made it out of the U.S. except to Japan. But, I have heard favorable things about the group. So onwardOh, one more thing. I did hear this group paved the way for other girl bands, but I cannot think of one girl band – ever - at this moment, and I don't think a few more moments would help. Well, there is BOND, but they all do violins. Very good btw. Anyway, onward
Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett actually showed emotions in the movie and was very good. Dakota Fanning was terrific, but I got the feeling her heart really wasn't in it. Of course, that also sums up the character of Cheri Currie she played, but I still had that feeling. Twice I saw her eyes go to the director of this as the director must have yelled "Cut." The Editor wasn't on his toes if I am correct about that. This is not her type of movie, but she does have range. No doubt about that. But, most impressive was, without a doubt, Michael Shannon as Kim Fowley their producer, and Rock and Roll star-maker so to speak. He is such a presence that if he had more screen time, it would have been his show.
Production-wise sometimes it was like watching a movie thru a Kaleidoscope and this made everything incomplete. Too many scenes were in the dark. There is a lot of language, and sexual content and the ever-present drug use/abuse. But, overall, I maintain we really didn't get to know Joan Jett or Cheri Currie and, after all, it was their story or so I thought. They were pulled along by Kim Fowley and everything was non-stop at breakneck speed. Maybe that was the point.
Was somewhat disappointed in the songs as I don't think we were given a proper sampling of all the Runaways did. When the credits ran at the end, I heard a song I thought should have been within the movie. It was very good. And, it may have been sung by the real Runaways.
And, it would have been nice if there was a scene whereby they discussed what the name of the band should be. Yes, we got the idea from the little up close and personals we did see, but, sometimes a little trivia is a good thing. There were at least three other girl band members but they were not featured in here. It was mostly Jett and Currie.
The credits at the end said Joan Jett was a producer of this movie and that it was based upon a book by Cheri Currie. Jett still performs, but Currie is a chainsaw artist some place in California. Read into all that what you will. And, Kim Fowley sporting green hair walks with a cane along Sunset Strip.
Violence: No. Sex: Yes. Nudity: No, bare behinds from time to time. Sexual content: Yes. Language: Yes.