Rolling
Stones concert rocks
Recently
in the review for Indiana Jones latest flick, I commented old
actors and rockers never die - they simply mellow with age. Not
true in the case of Mick Jagger and the Stones - he’s wild
as ever, aging hasn’t dulled him in the least. Shine
a Light is a vivid recording of their concert for the Clinton
Foundation at the Beacon Theatre New York, directed by the veteran
and much-applauded director Martin Scorsese. He treats the concert
with loving care and brings to the screen a fine coverage of the
event using multiple cameras and considerable time in the editing
room.
The Rolling Stones’ super energetic performance
(despite craggy faces) is a treat for their fans. Marty Scorsese
at the helm seems about to morph into Woody Allen at times, trying
to sort out the confusion of the shoot before it happens. It seems
Mick Jagger can be as difficult as many a megastar. But finally
the night arrives and an introduction by Bill Clinton gets the
gig under way. Candid shots of the Stones meeting the Clinton
clan are revealing.
Then the curtain is up and we’re away. You
get a great view - almost better than being there - as the camera
zooms and zips around the stage, bringing the performers into
extremely telling closeups. It has to be said Jagger and Keith
Richards are looking quite dissipated; but that in no way restricts
their astonishing performance. Jagger acts like a cat on red hot
bricks, brim full of nervous energy hopping or strutting about
with mincing steps. He’s especially active in the “Sympathy
for the Devil” number, so you start wonder if these weathered
ancient rockers will make the last chord. Richards does look a
bit out of it, almost a commercial for not smoking cigarettes,
an ideal foil to leaping lizard Jagger.
One has the thought there is an old head on a young
energetic body, as Jagger struts his stuff with levels of energy
of a overactive teenager. One close shot of drummer Charlie Watts
looking his age now without a dyed coiffeur, shows how tired he
was early in the show. Seems a miracle they survive, in fact they
do appear exhausted at the end. But they cut the mustard, their
music and performances are up there with the best. Thankfully
it’s captured for posterity by the skillful filming of the
Scorsese team.
A
neat feature is the cutaways to old interviews of the band, especially
one very early segment which has Jagger looking chubby-cheeked
and speaking with slightly plummy Brit accent. Things change with
time and fame. They are constantly asked how long they think they
can last by the various interviewers. One enquires if Jagger he
thinks he’ll be doing it at 60. He replies “Oh, easily”.
Right on the money.
Martin Scorsese, best known for features like Taxi
Driver, Raging Bull, and The Departed obviously
loves this project, and despite the huge difficulties of filming
a live performance without interfering with the action, he pulls
it off with aplomb right to the final breathtaking shot. Marty
is as much a showman as Mick. Credit to the editor of the footage
David Tedeschi, who took nearly a year in painstaking effort;
while the team of hard working cameramen under Robert Richardson
capture vibrant images on film rather than digital, and the results
speak for themselves. With guest appearances by Christina Aguilera,
Buddy Guy and Jack White the beat never dies.
The audience at my screening were by no means teenagers,
in fact some would have been in the same age bracket as Mick Jagger
(no surprise there). This film of the Stones at work may not do
much for lovers of Madame Butterfly, but for the intended audience
of rock enthusiasts it will prove suitably rewarding.
John Bale
