Shine A Light
They, the Rolling Stones, are the greatest rock and roll group to ever graced our good earth and he, Martin Scorsese, will go down in history as one of the truly great filmmakers and together they have produced Shine A Light one of the best movies of 2008 and one of the greatest music movies you are ever likely to see.
Unfortunately, despite playing at the Berlin Film Festival last year, Shine A Light really has gone pretty much unnoticed and is therefore this week’s hidden gem.
In autumn 2006 the Rolling Stones gave two concerts at Beacon Theatre in New York. Here, in the 2,800-seater old Broadway theatre that opened in 1928, we encounter living legends Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood and Charlie Watts.
Shine A Light is a Rolling Stones documentary by Martin Scorsese that focuses on the two concerts from the group's current "A Bigger Bang" tour as well as historical and contemporary behind-the-scenes footage and interviews.
Yes alright I’m a major Stones fan which does make me slightly biased but joking aside this is an awesome piece of film yes I appreciate that it’s just a live gig but Scorsese turns it into an homage to the band showing them doing something that they clearly love.
It’s no real surprise that Scorsese has made The Rolling Stones the subject of this film as Stones music has been a constant throughout his many movies over the years, Gimme Shelter alone has appeared in three movies: The Departed, Goodfellas and Casino. But what is surprising is that this film has taken so long to make.
However it was well worth it as Jagger and co are a shining example of everything that is sex, drug and rock and roll, I suppose in a way it’s a miracle that any of them have survived their excessive lifestyle but survived it they have and lost it they haven’t as they are as good now as they were thirty years ago.
Mick Jagger is the consummate professional and the energy that he brings to the stage and his performance is astounding it makes you tired just watching him. Keith Richards and Ron Wood are the clowns, always goofing around while the quiet Charlie Watts caries a real air of dignity.
With the number of cameras that Scorsese has on the stage and in the backstage it creates a real intimate portrayal of the Stones during the show for example Richards offers encouraging words to Jack White as he exits the stage and all these are seamlessly edited together that breathes life into this tired genre of film.
But what is possibly the most amazing thing is there's nothing extravagant or showy about their performance there are no stunts or pyrotechnics it's just four blokes that live and breathe their music that it becomes infectious and impossible to take your eyes off.
This really is a must see movie for Rolling Stones fans and Jagger's performance is just captivating and for those who are not familiar with the work of the Stones, where have you been? It's a great introduction into the world of classic rock and roll that will have you running out to by a Rolling Stones record.
And if you are not a fan right at the beginning you will be when the credits roll, truly awesome stuff!
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Tagged in The Rolling Stones