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Buzz for the band biopic The Runaways has been big for months, which is noteworthy. Not Twilight/New Moon big, but it's been building speed with lots of media and blog interest. Some of the energy certainly can be attributed to the Twilight momentum and its fans -- who are interested in the every move of Kristen Stewart, who plays Joan Jett in the film, but that has not the only factor by far.
It seems that the first movie telling the story of the first all-girl rock band has gathered buzz because of devotion to the musicians and tremendous curiosity about Jett's legendary early days. If you travel around the web a bit, you'll find hundreds of reasons across generational lines to celebrate the arrival of The Runaways in limited release today; I've boiled them down to the top 10 reasons to make The Runaways your next Girls' Night Out.
Kristen Stewart in The Runaways (Image courtesy Apparition)
1. The Runaways is a saccharin-free coming of age story about women's lives -- about the lives of teenage young women taking their lives and art into their hands -- and that alone is reason to celebrate.
2. The producers based a good chunk of the story on Cherie Currie's memoir Neon Angel. The film stays focused on telling the story of Cherie Currie and Joan Jett, and both women report being very pleased with the authenticity. A lack of both saccharin AND exploitation around Hollywood's portrayal of young women? Yes, please, more.
3. The producers were committed to finding a woman to write and direct. Floria Sigismondi, with plenty of rock and art cred of her own, delivers.
4. Tons of buzz centers around how Joan Jett and Cherie Currie mentored Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning, and how supportive all the young female stars have been of each others' success. Seeing column inches stack up celebrating the way women mentor each other is rockstar all the way.
5. The band is rock history. Their producer Kim Foley may have been after a marketable gimmick, but the band members were true to their expression, reinterpreting glam punk from a young, female perspective. Looking back at their work is informative about music in the 1970s and about the experiences of chick rockers.
6. Joan Jett! Lawd, have you heard how she rocks it at 51? Her anthems were the soundtrack for many, and she is listed as a leader by most female rock musicians. She's been consistently lauded as a stellar musician and is one of the best, if not the best, female guitar player ever.
7. Cherie Currie is a story in survival. The movie has given her a bigger platform to tell her story of surviving rape and family dysfunction, early fame, the perils of addiction, and ultimate triumph. She's a chainsaw artist now, and if that isn't a badass way to make art and pay the bills I don't know what is.
8. '70s forever! How great is it to be reminded of the sheer power and gorgeousness of glam punk, of David Bowie, of bitchin shag haircuts and belts that were art installations? The costumes in The Runaways are superb. Not everyone is thrilled with thinking of Fanning's preteen fans emulating her lingerie looks, but as an aesthetic I'm glad the film went retro in the right, rocking way instead of some of the camp that often passes for a vintage look.
9. The music. I've been working a Joan Jett/Runaways Pandora playlist hard for the last few weeks and loving it. For women over 30, the beat alone will stir up memories, and the music is bound to find a resurgence with younger Twilight fans. I don't know anyone who couldn't benefit from a fist thrown in the air, a foot stomped on the ground, a screamed anthem to independence. Rock. On.
10. The film is actually good.
You know you want to see it. What are your reasons for rocking with The Runaways?
Deb Rox doesn't give a damn 'bout her bad reputation, and she blogs it over at Deb on the Rocks. If you loved her you'd buy her a Tiki carved by Cherie Currie.
