Pop-Culture | Posted by Julie Z on 04/20/2010
The Runaways (Filmed and Real)
The Runaways Movie
Yesterday, I went to see the movie The Runaways. I am simultaneously a huge fan of Dakota Fanning and Joan Jett herself while not such a huge fan of Kristen Stewart, and wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. And I must say, I was pleasantly surprised.
The movie itself is interesting. It’s not exactly plot driven, but rather a documentation of The Runaways – their success, their sex-drugs-rock and roll lifestyle and predominately both of these factors mixed with their very young ages (lead singer Currie was 15 and Jett was 17). Dakota Fanning, as always, gave a fantastic performance and I have to admit, despite my previous statements against Kristen Stewart’s acting and her inability to be a good role model, she was very good in this movie.
But what I was really left wondering as I walked out of the theatre was, “Why is this band – the first all-girl rock band, a band that headlined for greats like The Ramones and Cheap Trick and allied themselves with Blondie and The Sex Pisotls – why are they almost completely forgotten?” When talking with my parents about the film (after all, they are about the same age as the Runaways) they couldn’t recall the Runaways at all, and they were both pretty musically aware. “Of course I remember Joan Jett and the Blackhearts,” my Dad said, “But I don’t think I’d ever even heard of Cherie Currie or heard a Runaways song.”
The Runaways Band
The film points to drugs as a main reason for the self-destruction of Currie, and overall the band, which of course is legitimate, but I wonder why the issue of sex wasn’t raised more predominately. The film was pretty heavy on sexuality, which makes sense considering the Runaways peaked in the midst of the sexual revolution; in fact, it was refreshing to watch a film that not only portrayed lesbians and lesbian relationships as positive, but normal and not something done for the satisfaction of men. But at the same time, we’re forced to watch Dakota Fanning, 15 at the time of filming (and the same age as Currie when she actually did all these things), strut around in lingerie, strung out on drugs, and having sex with much older men. I interpreted this representation of sex in the film as a factor of the band’s downfall – these young girls growing up way too fast and being largely unable to handle it. But at the same time I have to believe their image of sex, what they were selling to other people, had to be as self-destructive as their actual sex lives.
While it is pointed to in the movie very briefly, it seems to me that this all girl rock band, which, to directly quote the movie was not about “women’s lib but women’s libido” could be the reason that nobody knows who this band, that seriously rocked is not remembered the same way their friends The Ramones are. Their band was not about liberation or proving to the world that girls can really play, even if that was Joan Jett’s original intention in forming the band; it was about selling their image of hot girls pretending to be like guys. They sold themselves as an imitation – a fantasy – rather than as a talented rock band. Joan Jett does recognize this in the movie – she yells at Currie for an overly sexualized photo shoot the rest of the band didn’t approve, saying that now this is all they would be remembered for. After the Runaways Jett started her own band, wrote her own music and started her own record label after being rejected by 23 mainstream labels (and then going on to sell 10 million records). She was talented, determined, a badass and presented herself as a musician not an image. Maybe that is why she is remembered.
See for yourself…
The Runaways in Japan (Libido)
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (Liberation)
(5 votes, average: 4.80 out of 5)
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Read other posts about: Bad Reputation, Cherie Currie, Cherry Bomb, drug use, feminist music, Joan Jett, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, music and feminism, The Runaways, women and the music industry
Post Your Comment
typhonatemybaby @ at 1:01 pm, April 20th, 2010
Astute interpretation, even if i say so as someone who hasnt seen the film and my never get to due to the uncertainty of its being released in sunny scotland. Given that I have been a major Joan jett/Runaways fan for a couple of years, this review just confirms my hopes that this film would be epic.
i think your mentioning of the Jett shouting at currie might be the crux of the main issue with the runaways (band, not film- i wont be commenting on the film in any detail until i see it). I think one of the defining pieces of joan jetts repertoir is the fact that she knew that she didnt have to make an issue of her gender by sexualising herself, but made an issue of it by just being there and being better than a hell of a lot of lame hair rock bands that were around at the time. No surprises that she inspired Bikini Kill if she could prove that it was possible to be a woman in rock and NOT a sex object OR a pushover. Up there with Cyndi lauper and Suzi Quatro.
missjulied @ at 1:03 pm, April 20th, 2010
I think your assessment is certainly true, but in my opinion there are some other, more basic, factors involved.
First off, I’m not much younger than these women are (I’m 46 now), and I remember this as it happened. I bought the first Runaways album when I was in the 6th or 7th grade, totally stoked that there was an all-female rock band! But I was disappointed in the songwriting – other than “Cherry Bomb” there wasn’t much on the album that appealed to me. And I’ve listened to the album more recently and I still feel the same – those songs haven’t really stood the test of time. I couldn’t possibly compare them to Cheap Trick, who had brilliant and varied songwriting. Or Blondie, for that matter.
I think this is in part due to their age, and perhaps if they’d stuck together they would have had the success that Jett has had, but as a group.
Another factor in comparing them with other bands is that the Runaways were still modeling themselves after the glam-rock bands, both visually and musically, when a lot of the newer bands (such as both the Ramones and the Sex Pistols) were more obviously in the “punk” camp. So to kids of this era (myself included), the Runaways were part of yesterday, not of the “now”.
Anyhow, that’s just my perspective. I really enjoy your blog and seeing what the young women of today think about things! Cheers!
Samuel W. @ at 2:06 pm, April 20th, 2010
Joan Jett, a classic no-bullsh*t rock ‘n’ roller that serves as a great example for generations of girls who just wanna pick up the guitar and rock like hell. I would call her a feminist role model in that she puts sexuality a distant second or third behind her own rock ‘n’ roll energy and empowerment, never using sex just to please the boys and using it in her own way when she does use it. No one does that quite like her.
Tai @ at 11:20 am, April 22nd, 2010
I’m sorry Dakaota Fanning was not great as usual in this movie. Her performance was lacking and she seemed lost. She didn’t even put an energy into the scenes where Cherie is lip syncing in her bedroom. She plays the whole movie as dazed and lost before the drugs even come into the picture.
An saying that Cherie is an innocent finding herself lost is inaccurate Cherie was as badass as Joan was and had already lost her innocence prior to joining the band due to some unfortunate incidents in her personal life that made her grow up too soon. Stewart is however great, she like Joan remain the strength and backbone of this movie and band through out the movie. Her performance is real, honest and vulnerable you could tell she was giving it her all and more, while Dakota coasts through the film.
Stewart as a role model is not my business and I do not judge actors for their personal lives however I do not see why she would be a bad role model given that she is young, successful and respected(She was long respected before Twilight and I believe she will be much after as well).
Male actors do franchise films of crappy material all the time and are not judged in the way the Stewart is for the Twilight films (James Franco, Tobey Maguire etc. Is your problem that she doesn’t smile at the paps who stalk her, that she smokes, that she speaks her mind? There are a multitude of actors who do the same are not criticized and are instead applauded for that. I think the harsh judgment comes because she is a 20year old woman.
Coco @ at 4:20 pm, April 22nd, 2010
I think Stewart is one of the best young actors .
She works hard and has the respect of many
high profile actors and directors. It’s nice that the
media has caugt up.
Syd @ at 4:39 pm, April 23rd, 2010
as a fan of Joan Jett for years, and a recent fan of Kristen Stewart, I loved this movie.
anyone who declares that Kristen cannot act has got to see this film. she nails Joan Jett and is what makes the film amazing. it’s great on it’s own merits, but she’s what makes the film.
Bangles Fan @ at 8:08 pm, April 23rd, 2010
A near schizophrenic portrayal of Joan Jett by KStew. I thought when Kristen sang “I Love Playing With Fire,” that she was merely lip-syncing to Joan’s original. When I found out that this was Kristen’s voice I could not believe my ears. I was thoroughly impressed by this rock ‘n’ roll biopic. I give it 4 stars out of 4.
Oops, I Linked It Again « Jukebox Heroines – A Women in Music Blog @ at 11:02 am, April 26th, 2010
[...] More The Runaways reviews via The F-Bomb. [...]
Harris Casson @ at 3:32 am, May 1st, 2010
cheers very much, I have to say your site is excellent!
Bill @ at 9:38 am, May 3rd, 2010
I actually saw the Runaways perform(early’77?)with Cheap Trick in Chicago so reading about this movie brings back some long forgotten memories.I remember going mainly to see CT as they got their start in Northern IL.The only thing I knew about the Runaways(long before the days of the internet)was they were all girls.I came away very impressed(and a little infatuated!);Ford and Jett seemed very accomplished and Currie was…well she was Currie.The thing that amazes me now(I have a 17 yr. old daughter)was what these girls were allowed to wear back in the ’70s and the persona they were allowed to cultivate.If they had been more popular,I can only imagine the outcry that would have come out back then.It is interesting to read and watch video from them back in the day-they were truly groundbreakers who were forced to grow up too soon!But I am sure for awhile they were living a dream!
freesoft @ at 4:26 pm, May 6th, 2010
Thank you..really informative!!
Mark Ueber @ at 10:24 am, January 19th, 2011
The lingerie trick was for one song, Cherry Bomb, and that was it, but the jail bait image was woven through out.
The Runaways couldn’t succeed because they pushed too many buttons for the mainstream media and audience to feel comfortable. You have to remember they were only around 17 years old and were not mismanaged, but unmanaged. Because of that, because what you see is the creation of the very young women on stage, I think their accomplishments and performances are significant.