Talk about girl power! The film has its world premiere this weekend at Sundance with Joan Jett in attendance (and I read they rocked out afterwards.) Here’s a description (from fandango):
The story of the groundbreaking ’70s female rock group the Runaways is recounted in this River Road Entertainment production focusing on the duo of guitarist/vocalist Joan Jett (portrayed by Twilight’s Kristen Stewart) and lead vocalist/keyboardist Cherie Currie (Dakota Fanning) as they navigate a rocky road of touring and record label woes under the malevolent eye of abusive manager Kim Fowley (Michael Shannon) during their teen years. Acclaimed video artist Floria Sigismondi directs from her own script, with Scout Taylor-Compton co-starring as guitarist Lita Ford.
This movie looks so great. Looks like Dakota Fanning is officially grown up and Kristen Stewart gets back to her indie roots. The one important point is that Apparition who releases the film on March 19th, needs to figure out how to avoid what happened to Whip-It to make this one a success.
Some reviews
Sundance Review: The Runaways (Cinematical) -- positive
Sundance: Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning rock out in ‘The Runaways,’ but the movie itself is no knockout (EW) -- mixed
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
*sigh* I pray this doesn’t turn out to be another Whip It.
and pray tell me, Chris, what’s wrong with Whip It?
this trailer looks great. I love Joan Jett.
haha, shit. Girls are gonna eat up this film, but I am curious how Stewart’s fans (the Twilight fangirls, who might be conservative) will feel about this one. Joan Jett is EVERYTHING that Bella ain’t.
I think Dakota Fanning could be the real break-out star in this one.
DIMA, I loved Whip It, I meant “another Whip It” commercially
Hmm I like the trailer but I wonder how marketable it’s going to make the film. I watch this and wonder if it will be another Whip It. I remember watching the trailer for Whip-It and loving it . What they need to do is use Social media on the internet to promote it. Myspace, facebook, use DIGG, delicious, etc. Get it promoted on blogs for women and men.
Honestly I can see that trailer might actually appeal to a young male audience. I’m not really sure this trailer is going to appeal to young women but young men maybe. As a Joan Jett fan back in the day, she had a ton of men who loved her, thought she was a real rocker.
I’m going to send this trailer to a couple of college age girls I know to see how interested they are because I am curious if based on the trailer if this is a movie they’d see.
Love this blog and the debates here but just had to chime in.
I think the trailer was awful. Now I realize this movie is about Joan Jett hypothetically and I’ll see it, but if I didn’t know that, what does this trailer tell me other than it’s a typical rise to fame movie. There was no drama, comedy whatever in the clip IMO that would pull in an average movie goer. I have no idea who they are gearing this film to but I don’t see women, men, girls, or boys being interested based on what I am seeing here. Maybe there are enought girls who are Kristen Stewart fans who might see this I have no idea.
It’s frustrating. WHen are these studios going to figure out how to MARKET these types of films. Like I said I’ll see it because I tend to support women’s films but there is nothing movie goer marketable in this trailer, except it stars Kristen Stewart.
I agree with Valerie.
If I had just seen the trailer without knowing anything about the movie beforehand (as most viewers will), I would not have bothered seeing it. I will see it since I love Joan Jett and want to support women centric films.
I LOVE Joan Jett!!!!! and I appreciate Dakota Fanning as a great actress! I’m looking forward to this film!
It’s about time!
I want folks to know I’m not dishing the film. I am a huge Joan Jett fan and I’ll see it for that. THe film might be fantastic. But it’s the trailer. Nothing in the trailer would compel me to see it. Now I can’t speak for younger women or men, but what’s the draw and appeal in this trailer to a 16 year old girl? Where is the trailer being run. It’s not enough IMO to say it’s a girls film and girls will gravitate to it(ie; Whip It which was a terrific film). It has to be MARKETED.
I’ve also been looking forward to the film. I agree. It’s not a good trailer, but they have time to recut it before the release. Movie marketing fails when they try to be all things to all people. Pick a point of view and sell the inherent story in the film. This is just a mish mash, with Stewart’s and Fanning’s name plastered on it.
Apparition is Bob Berney’s company. He knows how to make a trailer. They just picked up the film in Dec., maybe it’s just a roughcut for the festival.
I am not a movie critic the only reason I have seen movies at the festival for the last three years is because my uncle is a big vendor and gets free tickets. I went to see this with my mother who was excited about it because The Runaways were part of her youth. I had no expectations at all! Dakota Fanning seemed to do a good job but the movie is very dispersing so you don’t really work up a closeness with any of the characters except the manager. (He’s over the top and what you think he would need to be like) Kirsten seemed to pull of the hard edgy lesbian part as far as looks go. When they sang you are never really convinced that they are the band. I read in another interview that when Kirsten was doing the concert scenes Joan would yell at her to f___k the guitar and Kirsten liked it when Joan would tell her to do that so she would push herself into the guitar. Keep that in mind when you watch the movie because it seems that’s all she does. I don’t know what The Runaways sound like. I am not a huge Miley Cyrus fan but that’s what Kirsten sounds like but weaker. My mom left the movie disappointed and said it was a waste of time.
I hate to admit this (especially because I’m basing it on the trailer) but this movie looks weak. Aside from the fact this might have been a patch job trailer just for the festival circuit, you still want to pull a little more meat out of the story or at least cut the trailer in a way that highlights the music a little more. As this trailer stands right now I have no idea who this movie is targeting. As far as I can tell it says, “Look, we made a movie! The girls from Twilight is in it and she’s brooding. Also, we have Dakota Fanning! She’s credible! And she’s all grown up!”
Fifteen is not all grown up. While I do have interest in seeing this film it concerns me that Dakota Fanning was cast in a part that I believe should have been played by an older actress. At least older than fifteen.
A BIT SPOILERISH SO DON’T READ FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW.
I’ve actually read mixed feedback on the film in terms of reviews from Sundance. One review talked about the fact that Joan Jett actually started her own label to get her first hit “I love Rock and Roll” recorded. The fact that “Joan” started her own label is not even mentioned in the film at all.
I do hope as Linda mentioned they do a new trailer. The one here is very short so I am guessing they will do something lengthier for the actual trailer released that might clue potential viewers in as to the subject matter. ALl the folks I know who watched the trailer, men, women, younger women, were not impressed and nothing even Kristen Stewart being in it attracted them to the film. One young woman even said that surpriseingly a lot of younger women know Joan Jett so it might have helped had they illuded to the fact that this is a sort of Boipic.
the only voice in the whole thing was the manager’s. it would have been nice to hear the girls in the band say something.
but i’m still really excited to see this film!!
Kristen Stewart is really the best actress for the movie Twilight. I bet that Kristen and Robert Pattinson would also make a good couple. “
Kristen Stewart got the looks and the talent to become an excellent Bella Swan in the Twilight movie. .: