The Runaways," chronicling the rise and fall of Joan Jett's first band, easily could have degenerated into a movie-length music video, with Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning merely glam-rock poseurs.

Yet music-video veteran Floria Sigismondi makes an impressive feature-film directing debut, crafting a brisk, engaging portrait, the story making up for its lack of insight into teen rebel Jett and her bandmates with driving, infectious rhythm.

For Stewart as Jett and Fanning as Runaways singer Cherie Currie, the movie is a smart showcase to help them break out of their molds as they take on more adult roles, Stewart aiming for life after "Twilight" and Fanning seeking to graduate from her position as Hollywood's doe-eyed princess of child stars.

Both have done other mature roles - Stewart was a stripper and hooker in the upcoming "Welcome to the Rileys," Fanning played a teen rape victim in "Hounddog." Yet "The Runaways" will be an eye-opener for their fans, with Stewart and Fanning hurling themselves into the roles, their descent into the seedy 1970s world of sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll including a passionate kiss they share in one scene.
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The Mac Wire was lucky enough to get invited to the press junket for The Runaways where we got to interview all the major cast members. We interviewed Dakota Fanning (who plays Cherie Currie) and Kristen Stewart (who plays Joan Jett) together and it almost seemed like they were still in character - they kind of acted and dressed the same as their roles which took place in the mid-70s. We discussed getting into character and their take on what the real Runaways had to go through, including dealing with a fowl-mouthed bossy manager/producer (Kim Fowley as played by Oscar nominee Michael Shannon). This interview was "da bomb" for us - oops, make that a "Cherry Bomb"!

Q: How are you? Did you realize the dream of being rock stars in this film?
Dakota : I think I came as close as I will ever be to becoming a rock star in this film. I got out any desire I had! (Laughs.)
Kristen: I agree--I do not have it in me to be that sort of performer so this is the closest I will ever get to that.

Q: You were working on three movies together at the time! What was that like?
Kristen: Yeah, they are all very different to me.
Dakota: Yeah, we weren't collaborating so much together on New Moon. (Laughs.) It was nice to walk into this film knowing her though--we were both so excited about the movie that we spent the first to days clocking each other. I was just like, "Let's do this!" So it was nice being able to know her first.

Q: The Runaways is so much about female empowerment--what women in your personal and professional lives do you idolize?
Kristen: That's a tough one, man!
Dakota: In my personal life it is my mom--she is my best friend and she has been with me everyday throughout when I started in acting up through now.
Kristen: I will have to say my mom, too, since she said her mom! (Laughs.) And that is true. I am really lucky that I have grown up with really strong women. There is a big difference there, which is not the case with The Runaways. Joan has a really cool mom which is why she is like she is but generally back in the day it was not like that...which is great. And Joan also is a role model. I do not have many female role models even though a lot of females have done great things. The people for me and definitely Joan and my mom.

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Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart have made three films together - from "New Moon" to their rocking girl-power flick "The Runaways" and then back to "The Twilight Saga" for "Eclipse" - and shooting the string of movies took some adjusting on their part. The three flicks have very different tones. Plus, Stewart and Fanning are mortal enemies in "Twilight" but best friends in "The Runaways."

"It's really funny, 'cause we did 'New Moon' before ['The Runaways'], and ... we got so used to seeing each other like Joan [Jett played by Stewart] and Cherie [Currie played by Fanning] in those costumes," Fanning said. "Her hair was short, and I had the wig on. And [then we] did 'Eclipse.' "

While having to remember if they hated or loved each other on set was one of the difficulties, Stewart said Fanning had another big problem: "She hated when I cut my hair."

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Kristen, everyone talks about how you “became” Joan Jett for this role. Once you weren’t her anymore, did any of that stick with you?

STEWART: I always feel like characters change me a little bit. The roles that I play, I always take things from them, but it’s just as any other life experience that was relevant to you would change you. So not particularly, no. At the same time, this was one of the best movie experiences that I’ve ever had, so compared to other stuff that’s affected me, this is really huge.

In some ways, these girls were exploited by their producer Kim Fowley, and since you’re young actresses who are recreating those situations, there are people who will find that exploitative, too. Dakota, do you feel like this is well-worn territory after all the controversy surrounding your rape scene in Hounddog?

FANNING: I don’t know, I think it’s pretty different. I think that since a lot of people have seen me [onscreen] since I was young, they don’t want to see me in those kinds of situations. They think of me, still, as being in I Am Sam and six years old. That can not be fair sometimes, but I accept that and I understand it. I just have to be true to myself and what I want to do and do the work that moves me and inspires me. That’s what I’ve tried to do. In this movie, Cherie was really 15 when it all happened, so I didn’t feel like I was faking anything, you know? I mean, it’s just acting. It’s just a movie!

Kristen Stewart and co-star Dakota Fanning put their arms around each other and smile on the red carpet for the premiere of The Runaways at ArcLight Cinemas in Los Angeles on Thursday (March 11).

Dakota, 16, and Kristen, 19, (in Doori) were joined by New Moon co-star and friend, Taylor Lautner!

Also pictured below is Riley Keough, who also stars in the film. Riley is the oldest grandchild of Elvis and Priscilla Presley. Joan Jett, founding member of the band, The Runaways, was also on hand for the festivities!


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