The Runaways (2010, U.S.)

Color me surprised. I didn't know anything about The Runaways and I've never really liked late '70s/'80s music, but I was curious to see Kristen Stewart in this one. I already thought she was an underrated and quite brilliant actress, but this one really convinced me. I love how she is so unafraid to look ridiculous, wearing silly clothes, rocking the ugliest hairdo, and singing like a fool. And wow, she was Joan Jett. The even bigger surprise was that Dakota Fanning, who I've absolutely loathed in the past, was almost as good as Cherie Currie. Between the two of them and the rest of the cast, there was a great dynamic that lent an excellent sense of realism to the film.

Costumes and makeup were stellar. I was investigating The Runaways' website and some of the costumes matched their tour pictures to a tee. Sets, script, everything made the period come alive.

This was a fascinating biopic that made me enjoy music that I'd never liked and taught me something that I never knew and entertained me all at once. That is a successful film if I ever heard of one. I'd love to see it again. A real cherry bomb!

Rating: 4.0

Streets of Fire (1984, U.S.)

This film was part two of a B-movie night with my friends. It was shockingly bad, and yet somewhat enjoyable.

First, the plot is poorly conceived. It seems to be set in the 1950s, and a weird creepy guy (who wears leather overalls and works out of a biker bar / strip club with a strangely androgynous stripper) kidnaps an 80s rock star with the purpose of physically using her. However, her ex-boyfriend comes back to town and goes to find her (at his sister's request) with the help of her current paramour and an unlikely (and very butch) woman he meets in a bar.

It is strange and nonsensical but strangely riveting. I especially loved the sidekick, McCoy, who was played by Amy Madigan. Absolutely hilarious. Then there was young Diane Lane pretending to be a hardcore 80s rock goddess and Willem Defoe with his evil face and leather overalls... It was terrible, but also almost enjoyable. Yeah.

Rating: 2.0