Audiences seeking an in-depth biopic into the Rock ‘n’ Roll life of Joan Jett will be slightly disappointed, but The Runaways is as audacious as the band’s music.

Writer-Director Floria Sigismondi avoids focusing on Jett (Stewart), in favour of exploring Cherie Currie’s (Fanning) short taste of fame and its perils.

The Runaways begins as Jett and Kim Fowley (Shannon) establish an all-girl rock band, recruiting Currie as the lead singer, Sandy West (Stella Maeve) on drums and Lita Ford (Scout Taylor-Compton) for lead guitar. Jett shares vocals and plays rhythm guitar. With Fowley’s strong influence, the band learns how to rock like the boys, handle hecklers and contend with other Rock ‘n’ Roll bands with their macho-feminism.

Dakota Fanning attempts to shed her innocent typecasting and gives a solid performance as Currie, who struggles to handle the fame and turns to drugs. Despite the David Bowie influenced style of Currie, I found it hard to see Fanning as anything but sweet Lucy from I Am Sam.

Stewart’s performance is strong, embracing Jett’s fight against the conventions of the late 70s with a leather jacket and electrifying guitar skills. Eclipsing her role in the Twilight Saga, hopefully we will see her in a sequel to this indie film that explores more deeply Joan Jett & the Blackhearts.

The Runaways explores the one who actually ran away.