The Runaways

The focal point of "The Runaways" revolves around Jett (portrayed by Kristen Stewart), Currie (played by Dakota Fanning), and the enigmatic Fowley (brought to life by Michael Shannon).

Jett, an ardent fan of Bowie, harbored dreams of forging her own band. Fowley, renowned in the Sunset Strip music scene for seeking young, inexpensive talent, encouraged her to pursue her aspirations and introduced her to Currie, whose essential quality seemed to be her youthfulness at a mere fifteen years of age. This aligned perfectly with Fowley's vision of a band that exuded both youthful innocence and unyielding toughness.

Apart from Currie's familial struggles, including a runaway mother (Tatum O'Neal), a loyal yet resentful sister (Riley Keough), and a dying alcoholic father (Brett Cullen), little is revealed about anyone's home life. Although the father's health is a crucial plot point, we are denied a clear view of his face or seeing him stand up.

Therefore, "The Runaways" is not a comprehensive biopic, despite being based on Currie's autobiography from 1989. Instead, it offers a brief overview of the band's creation, rise, and eventual downfall. Character development takes a backseat, extended dialogue scenes are scarce, and rock 'n' roll takes center stage. The film shines with Shannon's fierce and sadistic training sequences as Fowley, as well as the remarkable performances delivered by Stewart and Fanning, who inject more depth into their characters than the script provides.

Release: 2010

Stars: Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning, Michael Shannon

Rotten Tomatoes: 69%