Sigismondi also pays close attention to the lyrics of the film's songs, illustrating a sad contradiction.

Fowley screams at the girls throughout the film, referring to them as his property or calling them horrible anatomical names. He initially approached Cherie Currie (played by 15-year-old Dakota Fanning) not after hearing her sing, but because he spotted her in a club and determined that her bombshell good looks had marketing potential. Savvy producer Kim Fowley put the band together, rightly suspecting that a pack of braless jailbait rockers would cause a stir. Sigismondi does focus some attention on sexism and exploitation.

Ultimately, she settled on making a stylish, but sanitized rock biopic. For a more positive spin on things, Sigismondi could have delved into the personalities of Joan Jett and Cherie Currie. She might have examined in actual depth how the girls were mistreated by their handlers and insulted and disrespected by the 1970s media and music industries. Italian director Floria Sigismondi could have explored the profound psychological trauma exacted on Cherie Currie, the band's abused lead singer. Despite their ill treatment, they defied feminine stereotypes, gained fame and created half-way decent music, all before their 16th birthday. Five beautiful teenagers were exploited by a manipulative producer and the music industry. The story contains all the requisite elements. The Runaways could have been a great film.

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