The Runaways, the film about the rise of teenaged femme rockers Joan Jett and Cherie (Bomb) Currie, is a political act. It is also rock history. And it is a rebellious, comi-tragic drama loaded with sexual energy and ass-kicking I Love Rock 'n' Roll music.
"This is not about women's lib," Runaways manager Kim Fowley growls as he goads the girls into being real rockers, "this is about women's libidos!"
The Italian-born, Canadian-raised director of The Runaways gets it. "Speaking with Joan about that stuff," says Floria Sigismondi, "she really wanted to own her sexuality. At the time (1975, when The Runaways were created in Los Angeles) girls didn't really do that. So, for her, it was very important to show what was going on in her life. She just wanted to shine a light on what her life was like and what other kids were doing. So that was really the politics behind that."
As a film, The Runaways made its debut this week on DVD and Blu-ray. Each is a single-disc edition with interesting, if limited extras. The main attraction is a commentary combining the still-rockin' Jett with actress Kristen Stewart, who plays her, and Dakota Fanning, who plays her then-lover and bandmate Currie. Sigismondi's feature film debut is based on Currie's biography, Neon Angel, which the director adapted.
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