MovieChat Forums > The Runaways (2010) Discussion > Terrible Film

Terrible Film

posted 14 years ago by chrisnope
40 replies | jump to latest

The Runaways are a GREAT band, if for no other reason than they really were the 1st all female rock group. Also they had Joan Jett, Lita Ford and Sandy West! But it's Cherie Curry that defines the Runaways and their incredible story. Anyone who has read two chapters outta Cherie's autobiography can attest to the story that only she could live to tell. So why does this movie suck soooooo much? I thinnk the actors are average at best, for the most part, however I simply don't think that Dakota is as great as everyone else. I also think that Kristen Stewart overplays Jett, okay we get it - Joan Jett's a tough customer w/ a perennial snarl et al. I waited on this film FOREVER and actually thought that w/ the credibility that these two actresses have, that it might really showcase a great rock band. Nope. Instead it plays like a bad after school special! The worst scene is when Joan tells Cherie that "we got signed! Mercury #$@in records" Hilarious!!!! The director/producers etc. certainly hollywooded it up, waxing poetic over the crap and forgetting all the teeth to this story. But they didnt forget to put in all the lesbian scenes! So typical of Hollywood, ignore the rape of Cherie and the totally weird (but vital) chapter where crazy Kim Fowley takes the girls to "sex school," This is what happens to a great film when Hollywood gets ahold of it. Apparently the real Runaways were a part of this and all I can say is: I hope you got paid well! Oh and did I mention the actresses commentary! "So fun," says Dakota. This movie actually did the impossible. It made "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band" starring Peter Frampton and the BG's look like Citizen Kane!

[–] YWMcB 14 years ago

Did you give it a 1?

[–] Shuk 14 years ago

So typical of Hollywood, ignore the rape of Cherie and the totally weird (but vital) chapter where crazy Kim Fowley takes the girls to "sex school,"

The original script I read had included the Kim Fowley scene, however...the credibility of that particular story is unknown

So..how 'bout it then?

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] MrBigglesworth999 14 years ago

I agree that the movie was ordinary, I gave it 6/10 ie. just worth watching as long as you didn't have high expectations. I did and was disappointed.

You forgot about the UK band called "Girls School"?
They formed about the same time as the Runaways and did a good cover of "Race With The Devil". Just like with the Runaways, their lead guitarist was also a lesbian.

[–] Faustus5 14 years ago

I'm sorry you felt this way. Let me give some personal perspective.

I saw the film not knowing anything about The Runaways. I knew they existed, absolutely nothing else, not even that Joan Jett started in them. And I'm generally indifferent to hard rock.

Only reason I bothered to watch the movie was because a) I was very bored, b) it showed up on my "New to Netflix Streaming" display when I went looking for something to watch, and c) I remembered some good reviews.

Once I was finished watching, I immediately went on Amazon and ordered the Blu Ray, the soundtrack, and Cherie Curry's book. CD's from the band will be next, shortly.

I can't see a "terrible" rock bio-pic having this effect on someone like me. Maybe as a fan you came to the movie wanting to see certain things that someone with a completely open mind wouldn't care about.

Perhaps I'll change my mind after I finish the book, though!

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] mstanley-1 13 years ago

Good points, Adam! This film is rock biopick 101 and the bad directors who made the Ray Charles and Darby Crash movie could have learned a lot from it. Critics liked it and it inspired legions of kids to listen to the band. The acting is top-notch, establishing the creds of both Fanning and Stewart as something other than genre actors, and features the music, with covers nearly as good as the originals. And I am a longtime Runaways fan. The nattering nabobs of negativity are always out there, Adam, and in the case of this film, they are loud but in the vast minority.

[–] captgage-1 13 years ago

So just out of curiosity, what was your problem with "Ray"?

[–] BulmaPunkRocker 10 years ago

Oh, I prefer that sleeping Joan on "What we do is Secret" rather than this one. Granted.

And if us "evil fans" are a minority, why the rating is just 6.6?

At least it's helping other people to start listening The Runaways, Joan Jett and maybe some Lita Ford.

Please excuse my terrible redaction, english is not my native language.

[–] shadura 14 years ago

I feel like the movie wasn't as good as it COULD have been..but I just couldn't put my finger on what it needed, then when I watched it a second time I figured out that Kristin Stewart just wasn't doing it for me.

She tried to bring Twilight acting to a movie that actually requires her to act without giving constipated love stares and emo looks. A lot of scenes hinged on her ability to convey certain emotions and she didn't pull it through (IN MY OPINION!)

I get that she had the Joan Jett look, and I'm making this review sound horrible, I donno, I think putting a different actress in that role could have given it more dimension.

On a positive note, The actress that played Lita Ford was spot on. I've been a big fan of Lita's and the actress really nailed her stage performance style, and that "Dont *beep* with me" attitude.

to be honest, I'd would have loved to see more of a Lita Ford/Sandy West story line! The movie was called "The Runaways" not "Cherie and Joan" or "Crimson and Clover."

But like you said...lost to the Hollywood Machine.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] dustydar-784-300261 14 years ago

I disagree. Whatever shortcomings the film had ( and it had a few), Kristen was one of the few revelations. I shudder to think what another actress would have done to the role. I think Joan is thanking her lucky stars that Kristen took the role on.

[–] mstanley-1 13 years ago

The Doors, while a well made film, had a lot of issues, issues The Runaways avoided expertly. The focus was on Cherie and Joan because they were the insiders who helped make the film, and it was based on Cherie's book. They were also, quite frankly, and perhaps unfairly to the other players, the most important members of the band. I thought they portrayed Lita pretty accurately. Also Kim Fowly, who is even worse in life than he is in the movie, but not to be underestimated as a brilliant opportunist and music businessman. I thought Stewart got Joan down, and so did Joan, and all the other people connected to the production. She was perfect casting.

[–] SFNative 14 years ago

The Runaways weren't the first all-female rock group. Although there were probably others, the first one signed to a major label was Goldie & The Gingerbreads in the early 60s. There were a number of them after that. Even Joan Jett's idol Suzi Quatro had an all-girl band years before The Runaways.

Having said all of that, I was a Runaways fan back when the album came out. I thought they were really good. Not technically proficient, but solid party music. I didn't expect the film to be very good and ended up enjoying it. Having Joan Jett produce it probably helped a bit.

[–] youresomodest 14 years ago

My husband and I went to see this in the theater. He loves the Runaways and I like movies... and we both really like the doc on the Runaways, "Edgeplay."

That said, we walked out of the movie about 30 minutes in. We NEVER walk out of movies but this was just abysmal.

[–] jac91604 13 years ago

I wish you would have given more detail youresommodest as to why you walked out.

I grew up with "The Runaways" and saw Joan Jett in person. The film is now being shown on one of the Encore cable channels but haven't seen it yet.

[–] BugisStreetAnnie 13 years ago

I wish you would have given more detail youresommodest as to why you walked out.

I wish she would have given a reason, too. Granted it wasn't a 5-star movie, but I didn't find it terrible, either. I purchased it on DVD when it first came out and I certainly didn't regret the purchase.

Also, to side with another poster: The Runaways were not the first, all-female rock band. Not only was there Goldie and the Gingerbreads, but Fanny, Isis and Birtha. Birtha was probably the first hard rock all-female band.

[–] jac91604 13 years ago

Exactly, if you don't like a film so much that you walked out at least give some reasons.

So it sounds like it's not a great film, but not completely awful?

I will try and catch it the next time it comes on Encore.

[–] ghigau 14 years ago

We know life is hard. Girls hit puberty; go crazy. No story here.