A cult film about an all-female punk band which has many excellent components is nearly undone by one element: its plot's believability. The gritty look, the inspired casting, the awkwardness of The Stains in their early performances all propel the story along with style and swagger.
In an effort to escape the dead end nature of their small-town lives, two sisters and their cousin literally will themselves into becoming a band when a group called The Looters pass through their depressing industrial suburb. Diane Lane, in one of her earliest roles, absolutely knocks it out of the park as The Fabulous Stains singer. She and the Looters lead singer (Ray Winstone) soon get involved in a messy up-and-down relationship.
In one of the film's lowlights Winstone somehow turns a whole venue full of adoring fans against the Stains simply by pointing out that they have been manipulated into spending money on makeup and hair dye in order to approximate Diane Lane's unique look. I don't buy it.
In short, a flawed movie - but well worth seeing.
In an effort to escape the dead end nature of their small-town lives, two sisters and their cousin literally will themselves into becoming a band when a group called The Looters pass through their depressing industrial suburb. Diane Lane, in one of her earliest roles, absolutely knocks it out of the park as The Fabulous Stains singer. She and the Looters lead singer (Ray Winstone) soon get involved in a messy up-and-down relationship.
In one of the film's lowlights Winstone somehow turns a whole venue full of adoring fans against the Stains simply by pointing out that they have been manipulated into spending money on makeup and hair dye in order to approximate Diane Lane's unique look. I don't buy it.
In short, a flawed movie - but well worth seeing.