The Runaways (Filmed and Real)

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 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)