Shine a Light

[KLAXXON]

After THE LAST WALTZ with the Band and NO DIRECTION HOME with Bob Dylan, Academy Award winner Martin Scorsese turns his talents to the Rolling Stones with this concert film. Shot in New York City in 2006, SHINE A LIGHT features the legendary rockers performing live at Beacon Theatre.




Regardless of what Shine a Light is covering -- it happens to be a recent Rolling Stones concert (part of the "A Bigger Bang" tour) -- the film is a whirlwind demo of technical proficiency. It's recommendable on camera choreography and seamless editing alone, as Martin Scorsese uses over a dozen cameras to cover all angles and every possibility of tracking. Mick Jagger effectively has nowhere to hide as we follow him up and down the stage, seeing the expressions on his face and catching every pointing-to-the-audience arm gesture he makes. The technique is utilized for conveyence of energy -- the movie aims to duplicate the considerable energy in the experience of being there at the concert, and overall it's successful. But what about the subject matter itself? Yes, the Rolling Stones are old, and, yes, they can still rock -- that much is evident. The film is an ode to their longevity, as Jagger and company dynamo their way through their set, and Scorsese intersplices old interview footage which generally serves as ironic commentary on how long the band has lasted, considering, right from the start, they've been ripe for a major disruption for decades. But other than simply being a defiant paean for the idea that old guys don't have to retire if they love what they do and have the energy for it, Shine a Light lacks the edge that should be associated with the counterculture rockers. The Rolling Stones continue to rock their back catalog and are now only concerned with putting on a good show for their audience (observant fans have noticed they've even cleaned up a few lyrics). That this is rather predictable and expected somewhat deflates the triumph in their longevity -- the Stones roll on, but now at a speed at which they're OK with gathering moss.





Martin Scorsese recently illuminated the musical world of Bob Dylan with No Direction Home, and now he has tackled the Rolling Stones. Scorsese normally has total control of his projects, but while making the concert film Shine a Light starring the Stones, he had to bend to the will of Mick Jagger, and Scorsese includes that conflict as a comic sidebar to the music. We see Scorsese’s frustration at having to beg for the show’s set list, and not getting it until the band was about to take the stage.

Scorsese, however, manages to work on the fly and find the right places to put his multi-cameras to capture the magic of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood and Charlie Watts. This is basically a concert film, but when the band is the Stones and the director is Scorsese, it is a fantastic concert film. The IMAX version, with its amazing sound and picture quality, enhances the experience even more. Musical highlights are pretty much constant, but if you pushed me into a corner I’d go with “Some Girls,” “Sympathy For the Devil,” “Start Me Up,” “Tumbling Dice” and “Satisfaction.” There’s only a little bit of early Stones footage interspersed with the music, but it’s choice footage. My favorite was an appearance on The Dick Cavett Show from 1972 when Mick was asked if he could picture himself doing this at 60. His reply: “Absolutely.”







Mick Jagger ...  Himself - The Rolling Stones: vocals / guitar / harmonica (also archive footage)
Keith Richards ...  Himself - The Rolling Stones: guitar / vocals (also archive footage)
Charlie Watts ...  Himself - The Rolling Stones: drums (also archive footage)
Ron Wood ...  Himself - The Rolling Stones: guitar (as Ronnie Wood)
Christina Aguilera ...  Herself
Buddy Guy ...  Himself
Jack White ...  Himself (as Jack White III)
Darryl Jones ...  Himself - The Rolling Stones: bass guitar
Chuck Leavell ...  Himself - The Rolling Stones: keyboards
Bobby Keys ...  Himself - The Rolling Stones: saxophone
Bernard Fowler ...  Himself - The Rolling Stones: vocals
Lisa Fischer ...  Herself - The Rolling Stones: vocals
Blondie Chaplin ...  Himself - The Rolling Stones: vocals
Tim Ries ...  Himself - The Rolling Stones: saxophone / keyboards
Kent Smith ...  Himself - The Rolling Stones: trumpet





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