The Runaways

Starring:  Kristin Stewart, Dakota Fanning, Michael Shannon
Drama, Rated R

Kristin Stewart stars as Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning stars as Cherie Currie in the story of the short lived hit teenage all girl band of the 70's called The Runaways.  The band came out of nowhere at a time when rock music was ruled by men.  Their rise to fame was unexpected and the film tells the story of the ups and downs that come along with that sudden popularity and living the rock star lifestyle.

• Loved it!!!  Kristin Steward and Dakota Fanning are a dynamic duo in this movie if I ever saw one.  They are both so captivating in their performances. 
• Fanning is so amazing I can't even put it into words.  Wasn't it just yesterday that she was a little girl on "I am Sam"?  Now she is all grown up and doing her first on screen kisses-one of them with a girl!  She has this amazing ability to really take on a character and make you believe it.  Fanning was gone and in her place I saw Cherie Currie-the rock star-and nothing else.
• Kim Fowley (Michael Shannon) was obnoxious and ridiculous beyond belief.  Shannon did an excellent job playing this neurotic over the top character.
• I find it pretty amazing that this band was so young.  Currie was only 15 when the band got put together.  It seems like a more common trend now that superstars are barely teenagers but that wasn't the case so much back in the 70's.
• Another story about the pitfalls of super stardom but it was gritty, interesting and so well done that nothing about it felt like just another story.

5 STARS

Fragments

Drama, 2008 (Rated R)
Starring: Dakota Fanning, Forest Whitaker, Kate Beckinsale, Jennifer Hudson

On a typical day in a small town diner a man walks in and begins shooting. The story that follows starts here where we see how one event can impact many lives in many different ways.
All the different stories played out as each person leaves the diner and tried to get on with their life in the wake of such a tragic event. Some characters intersect and others do not.

• I'm not sure what it was for me but some of the story lines I just didn't get and because I didn't get it I kept waiting for answers that never really came. Most of the story lines made sense but on in particular involving a doctor who actually opened the door for the shooter before leaving and his wife had me totally confused.
• Great acting all around.
• I'd say this movie is OK. It kept me interested because I wanted answers but felt a little let down at the end when I didn't get them.

3 Stars

Push

Mystery/Suspense, 2009 (PG13)

Starring: Dakota Fanning, Chris Evans

• Way too much going on in this movie for it to be any good.
• Watchers, pushers, it went on and on but not in a good way.
• Fanning is a great little actress though. Even in this bizarre almost senseless movie she managed to deliver a great performance. I was surprised to see her in this. She's way better then this movie.

2 STARS