The Runaways

Title: The Runaways
Directed by: Floria Sigismondi
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning, Michael Shannon, Scout Taylor-Compton, Brett Cullen
Genres: Drama, Musical, Biopic
Running Time: 1 hour. 45 minutes
Release Date: March 19th, 2010
MPAA Rating: R

Review: I've been looking forward to 'The Runaways' for quite a while, so I was excited to see this film yesterday afternoon. As always, anticipation breeds expectations, and that sometimes leads to disappointment, but not this time. In fact, I kind of loved this film. 'The Runaways' feels like a window into a chain of inevitable events; like falling into a time tunnel, you are there, in it. Not a fly on the wall ('Precious', anyone?), but really IN IT. You're high, drunk on success, blinded by the light, careening out of control with the rest of them.

Kristen Stewart is Joan Jett, from the way she walks and plays the guitar, to the heart & the drive, and of course, the music. Dakota Fanning gives us a Cherie Curry that is brilliant, beautiful, fragile, lost, and desperately out of control. Together they have done the first all-girl rock band proud. Well done, ladies.

Grade: 7.5

Crazy Heart

Title: Crazy Heart
Directed by: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall, James Keane (II), Anna Felix
Genres: Drama, Musical, Adaptation
Running Time: 1 hour. 51 minutes
Release Date: December 16th, 2009
MPAA Rating: R

Review: I saw this movie a few weeks ago, and I've been meaning to post this review for a while, but didn't get to it until today. So, long over due, but 'Crazy Heart' is definitely worth the wait.

'Crazy Heart' is an amazing film, with beautiful performances from both Mr. Bridges & Ms. Gyllenhaal. It is well directed, superbly acted, it is visually gorgeous in all its worn out despair, and it has a heartfelt story. The end result: 'Crazy Heart' is one of the best of 2009, hands down. One of the very few Must See films of last year's crop.

Mr. Bridges is clearly born to play this role, in much the same way as Mickey Rourke was born to portray The Ram in last year's 'The Wrestler'. And, Ms. Gyllenhaal is absolutely wonderful as well (no surprise there, she is always amazing!). I was so excited to see the team behind this film receive a few nods for all their hard work. Any recognition for this film is well deserved, and I'll definitely be crossing my fingers for these guys, come the big awards. I could not recommend this film enough. See it.

Grade: 9.5

Cadillac Records

Title: Cadillac Records
Directed by: Darnell Martin
Starring: Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Beyonce Knowles, Gabrielle Union, Columbus Short
Genres: Drama, Biopic, Musical
Running Time: 1 hour.48 minutes
Release Date: December 5th, 2008
MPAA Rating: R

Review: Since having studied American music history, and having been really intrigued by the music legends from that time, I was looking forward to seeing this movie. The music really carries the film, which would be expected, but perhaps not to this extreme extent. It is a hell of a story, but here it is told with murky historic details (where the hell is Phil?). The cast pour their hearts out in the music with electrifying results, and Beyonce kills "At last". All in all, the movie lands on a middle-of-the-road 5, but without the music (a 7) the film itself would end up with a failing 3.

Grade: 5 (just FYI, hubby gave it a 4)