ALLAN HUNTER at the Movies

OSCAR-WINNING director Martin Scorsese has been a life long fan of The Rolling Stones. Their music plays a vital part in films like Mean Streets and Goodfellas. Now, he has captured the band in all their glory for the documentary Shine A Light.

If you love the Stones this is like having the best seat in the house for one of their concerts. If you’re not a fervent fan this is still a remarkable celebration of their musicianship, longevity and camaraderie.

Shine A Light was filmed over two nights at New York’s Beacon Theater in 2006. Early scenes record the organised chaos surrounding the event with Scorsese struggling to discover even what they might be playing. All of this is a mild diversion before the main event; a dynamic, expertly edited record of the concert.

Interviews with The Stones over the years have proved that they really have very little of note to say about anything. Keith Richards probably can’t remember too much about the past and Charlie Watts seems permanently uninmpressed by the world. They seem to believe that forty years of music making says it all for them. Scorsese embraces that philosophy, eschewing backstage footage or fresh interviews to just focus on the performance.

Shine A Light does leave you awestruck by Mick Jagger’s athleticism. He swoops around the stage, fires up the audience and sings his heart out with all the energy and commitment of a teenager. Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood cannot compete with him, but their commitment to the music just shines through. If you’ve ever wondered why The Stones have lasted, a simple viewing of Shine A Light will answer the question.

Nationwide release

Director: Martin Scorsese
Stars: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood, Martin Scorsese, Christina Aguilera, Bill Clinton
Certificate: 12A
Running time: 122 mins
Country: USA
Year: 2008

© Allan Hunter, 2008