8A - Monday, April 12, 2010 0 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com ARTS IN BRIEF FILM REVIEW 'Runaways' can't escape the common biopic formula **i The Runaways At the State Apparition The brand new biopic "The Runaways" is a refreshing idea, considering it has one of the most definitive all-girl rock bands of all time as its narrative founda- tion. Kristen Stewart ("Twilight") and Dakota Fanning ("War of the Worlds") play Joan Jett and Cherie Currie, respectively. Both embody their roles satisfactorily, as one would expect from their previous work - though it's rather unsettling to witness our favorite prototypical "cute girl" (Fanning, of course) engaging in disturbing- ly debaucherous deeds onscreen. The film chronicles the short- lived existence of punk sensation The Runaways, a band originally composed of Cherie Currie, Lita Ford, Jackie Fox, Joan Jett and Sandy West. These five female sex symbols were introduced to the sordid world of mainstream music at a very young age, when some of them were only in their mid-teens. The majority of screen time is dedicated to showcasing Fanning and Stewart as up-and- coming young actresses, but their excursion through the bowels of the music industry isn't anything to cheer at; it's the same old man- tra of sex, drugs and rock'n'roll. Yawn. The whole film is just another reexamination of a familiar plot thread, too: rags-to-riches, back to rags and finally to an ulti- mate sense of renewal. The story arc most closely resembles that of the Mark Wahlberg vehicle "Rock Star" in its use of predict- able dramatic turns to pull the same overworn heartstrings, but its unorthodox thematic material definitely deserves a closer look. In spite of spending only four years together, The Runaways had a definitive historical role as the precursor to dozens of punk rock acts composed of both men and women, including The Donnas, Courtney Love, Babes In Toyland and Black Flag. However, if you'd prefer an in-depth analysis of this pivotal band as opposed to its sanitized Hollywood counterpart, watch "Edgeplay: A Film About the Runaways." It's an accurate, comprehensive documentary feature that's far more likely to please die-hard fans. TIMOTHY RABB - I .p COURTESY OF A&E "Yeah broke another sne Stay away, 'Runaway' Joe Mazilli's machismo proves too much for new reality show By ANT MITCHELL DailyArts Writer The embodiment of every asshole to ever breathe excited machismo into a microphone on "Cops" can be found in Joe Runaway Mazilli. And his tucked-in muscle shirts don't work Mondays at any miracles on 10p.m. A&E's new real- A&E life series "Run- away Squad." Mazilli, a retired NYPD detec- tive, takes to the streets along- side a team of experts in search of a weekly runaway teen. Mazilli became involved with this cause out of his work on the police force's "Pimp Squad," where he uncovered the funneling of many female runaways into prostitu- tion. With 5,000 runaways dying each year, according to Mazilli, it's a cause that has been drastical- ly overlooked. Very few wouldn't sympathize with a theme involv- ing the search for 15-year-old Tayvela, last seen after a beating from seven gang members. But the subject matter of the show is not where the issue lies. Rather, it's the terrible construction of "Runaway Squad" that's up for debate. Basically, if "Runaway Squad" were a chocolate mousse, Mazilli and his band of fellow histrionics slop a tablespoon of over-dramati- zation equivalent to fish sauce into its creamy base, polluting what once had a lot of potential. It's an overpowering flavor, and it should certainly taste fishy to viewers. Comments like "It's up to us now" and "I don't back down from a threat" are just eye-roll inducers. The sad truth of the matter is that you want to be impressed by Mazilli. Anyone who spends nine years infiltrating the mob and earns the Medal of Valor must have some serious backbone. But honestly, he seems a lot like an ape with an over-stimulated pituitary gland, breathing testosterone and playing with guns. Moreover, the annoying background he gives (running with a tough crowd until "my brother convinced me I was going to end up just like them") is literally the most vague and pre- dictable bit of personal history ever The most difficult thing to stomach about "Runaway Squad" occurs when Mazilli finally does find Tayvela, then decides that playing therapist between daughter and mother would be appropriate. Not to re-invoke the ape imagery, but watching his attempts to manipulate the two women's psyches into a healthy,. loving and communicative moth- er-daughter relationship is a lot like watching a pair of hairy hands slap a Band-Aid on an emotional gunshot wound. This girl needed a ton of psychiatric help, not a ses- sion with Mazilli's bare arms and silver chain necklaces. Perhaps the highest point in the entire episode is the minute-long conversation the other investiga- tors have about the merits of cof- fee versus tea versus cocaine as they shmuck around the office before Mazilli walks in. That's a single minute of humor, but sadly it doesn't justify the creation of the entire show. Basically, unless you lack any sort of TV taste buds, steer clear of "Runaway Squad." 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