Why The Runaways Biopic Could Rock

Michael Shannon's scene-stealing performances over the years finally earned him a well-deserved Oscar nod for last year's supporting role in Revolutionary Road, Sam Mendes's exhausting ode to suburban ennui. Well, now he's about to kick out the jams in The Runaways, the biopic about the most cherry-bombin' girl group ever, the Runaways.

The cast of The Runaways, as it stands now in any case, is a bit hard to wrap my mind around. Kristen Stewart is playing legendary guitarist Joan Jett, Dakota Fanning will somehow channel proto-riot grrrl lead singer Cherie Currie, and "Gossip Girl" Stella Maeve is rumored to be playing drummer Sandy West. (I'm waiting with bated breath to see who is going to take on Lita Ford and Jackie Fox!) It's not clear yet what Shannon's part in this you-go-girl flick will be, he will probably be acting creepy and/or crazy in an awesome way.

As a fan of another fabulous girl-band movie, Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains, I've got high hopes for The Runaways for a few reasons. The writer and director is Floria Sigismondi, a visual artist and music video director known for her surreal, over-the-top creations, like her award-winning video for Marilyn Manson's song "Beautiful People." The legendary Joan Jett is one of the executive producers. And, if you're not already convinced that this isn't going to be another Spiceworld, Benoît Debie is the cinematographer; his credits include Gaspar Noé's Enter the Void and Irréversible and horror movies like Calvaire. Plus, the production designer, Eugenio Caballero, won an Oscar for her work on Pan's Labyrinth.

At the very least, we can expect something that will make the creepy mall scene in The Fabulous Stains look like a cheery weekend retreat.