Runaways, The

Unfortunately, this film never managed to get me interested enough to care about the fate of the band and its members. Those girls need a good educational spanking at home to simmer down. This kind of rebels without a cause get on my nerves already by looking at them. An average film in every aspect. (21.06.2010)

"Boooring," Homer Simpson would say. "That’s toooo bad," I would add. Seriously. I was quite looking forward to the film, but sadly, The Runaways bored and disappointed me. To summarize, let’s look at the pros first: Good music, pleasingly wild direction (the videographer cannot be denied), producer Kim Fowley played by Michael Shannon. Cons: Surprisingly, the pair of lead actresses, who I didn't believe in much as rockers and bad-asses (especially Dakota - for example, it doesn't compare at all to the film Domino and Keira Knightley's excellent transformation), were uninteresting, the film had a lengthy story, a script that is one big cliché and turns out and unfolds exactly as you suspect at the beginning (yes, it was written by the director), and then there is another criticism connected with all this - the film’s excessive length. It's been a long time since I've been bored and fidgeting at the Film Club, and the events on the screen didn't really entertain me... Sorry, ladies, but that gets you two stars and maybe a little bit of a third star.__P.S. Kristen Stewart's looked good, though, I can't deny that. (22.09.2010)

The origins of bands are usually an interesting discovery for me, as it reveals the backstage of when rock and roll history is being written. The film "The Runaways" is exactly that kind of movie. We follow the titular group as they come together. They are young girls who cannot legally drink alcohol yet, but they are dedicated to music and want to play and sing. They don't want to be some kind of choir, but a real rock band that can easily compete with male bands. And they might have succeeded. What was the main factor of their failure? Probably their age, mutual misunderstanding, ties to their families, or conversely, the complete dissolution of family contact, and perhaps the eccentric manager Kim Fowley, brilliantly played by Michael Shannon, who is an incredible actor with great potential. Roles haven't favored him so far, but now it has been shown that when given a chance and trusted, he will repay. The nomination for an Oscar for "Revolutionary Road" was definitely not a coincidence. However, attention was mostly focused on Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart, who are trying their best to break away from the fact that they are acting because they are attractive. Kristen has the potential to be a good actress, and Dakota seems to be succeeding as well. I will happily continue to follow their careers. It's just a shame that the film "The Runaways" wasn't a bit grittier and less down-to-earth. Then it would have had the qualities to be a real film about the formation of a rock band. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2012/07/runaways-rok-jedna-nedotknutelni-johnny.html (22.02.2013)