I became curious about The Runaways because of this review; the music and the group itself, I have to admit, was unknown to me. (I mean, obviously I know who Joan Jett is, I know several of her solo songs, and I saw her on screen in Light of Day with Michael J. Fox, not to mention that appearance in Highlander, but the Runaways as a group I hadn't known existed. I probably was too young in the mid-70s.) So I had no bias, preferences or expectations other than of the genre - rock group makes it and breaks - and how it would play out with a female group, based on the autobiography of one member, co-produced by another and directed by a female director.

( Sex, drugs and rock'n roll, female version )

I also got around to reading the much discussed Keith Richards memoirs, Life, which made for an interesting counterpart.

( Sex, drugs and rock'n roll, male version )