Just as Diane Lane reunites with her Cotton Club love interest in Nights of Rodanthe comes the long-awaited DVD release of another movie from her youth. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains barely opened in 1982, and was only seen on late-night cable afterwards. Lane, Laura Dern and Marin Kanter play the teen punk band coping with first lust and music industry scams. Josie and the Pussycats couldn’t match its synergy, and Britney Spears’ Crossroads was an unacknowledged pop remake. But it’s Lane’s natural performance as singer “Third Degree” Burns that makes Stains‘ rebellion feel iconic. Lou Adler’s scattered direction, and scenes that lead nowhere, don’t subtract from its playful grime. This is punk.
This article appears in Sep 25 – Oct 1, 2008.