Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning in The Runaways
Kristen Stewart has generally received good notices for her performance as tough-talking, lesbian rocker Joan Jett in The Runaways. There have been some dissenters, however.
"Kristen Stewart axes her image as an angsty teenage vampire lover and gives a no frills, nuanced performance as a tough as nails but well rounded Jett. As she growls on stage and plays guitar, Stewart is utterly convincing as a determined teenager who is destined to be famous." Dustin Chang at Twitch.
"The relationship [between the two lead characters] is strained, but it's also sisterly, which gives Sigismondi and the two young stars a huge emotional canvas to work with. They don't let it go to waste, either, as Fanning and Stewart recreate the young-girl archetype with honest potency." Katherine Monk at Canwest News Service (via the Vancouver Sun).
"Kristen Stewart steps out of her normal angsty girl act and nails down the punk rock, hard as nails Jett, and Fanning is equally as good with her disconnected portrayal of Currie …" Kevin Kelly at Cinematical.
"Joan, who clearly loves Cherie (the kiss between Ms. Stewart and Ms. Fanning has become grist for talk-show chat), is also her rival and foil. Joan is the backbone of the band, and the one most able to turn Fowley’s advice into a program of professional success. And Ms. Stewart, watchful and unassuming, gives the movie its spine and soul. Cherie may dazzle and appall you, but Joan is the one you root for, and the one rock ’n’ roll fans of every gender and generation will identify with." A.O. Scott in the New York Times.
"… [T]he other major flaw with The Runaways is the bizarre decision to cast Kristen Stewart, arguably the most relentlessly recessive young actress working today, in the role–there are plenty of words out there that could be used to properly define Joan Jett, but 'recessive' is definitely not one of them. I have liked Stewart in most of her previous non-vampire-related performances … and she does get Jett’s look down pat–in some scenes, she is virtually a dead ringer–but she just lacks the fire and energy that the role requires." Peter Sobczynski at efilmcritics.com.
"The good news is that Stewart is absolutely spot on as Jett; fighting convention in studded leather jackets favored by biker bad boys and shredding an electric guitar when folk rock or sugary pop was more the fashion for femmes. It was a smart choice for Stewart, who was in danger of having her career eclipsed by Bella, the pale troubled teen she plays in the Twilight series, a role that made her a star without confirming she could act." Betsy Sharkey in the Los Angeles Times.
"While she's really playing second banana to Fanning, Kristen Stewart makes an excellent Joan Jett." Chris Bumbray at joblo.com.
Photo: Apparition
I have seen the Runaways today. It blows you mind out! Amazing job of the director and director of photography. it is so artistic and beautiful. No exploitation of female characters for the sake of it. Music? Fell like being at the concert. Did they sing or had help, I do not know. Winner.
Director of photo. deserves an Oscar. I cried and went emotional.Camera crew played madic and seduction with the audience. I felt like being at a art show more than in the movie house.For the first time I have felt the presence(like a gohst) of the director at work.Wheather is was a dog's poop or zooming into two onions , or eyes- the same atrful magic.