The Rolling Stones keep rolling
In perhaps one of the best quotes from Cameron Crowe’s movie “Almost Famous,” Jimmy Fallon says, “If you think Mick Jagger will be out there trying to be a rock star at age 50, you are sadly, sadly mistaken.”
If the irony wasn’t palpable enough in 2000 when “Almost Famous” hit the theatres, it is now. “Shine a Light,” Martin Scorsese’s documentation of The Rolling Stones’ 2006 “A Bigger Bang”, lets the world know that Mick Jagger and the Stones are still alive and kicking.
Martin Scorsese has directed numerous musical documentaries in the past. In 1978, he orchestrated the departure of “The Band” from touring life with “The Last Waltz.” In 2005 he directed a recap of American music legend Bob Dylan thus far with “No Direction Home.”
However, what makes “Shine a Light” different from his other films is that the audience actually gets to see Scorsese throughout the planning process. The movie opens with the camera switching between Jagger on an airplane listening to classical music and planning out his set list, while Scorsese sits in a hotel room panicking that he will not know what the band is going to play until they show begins. All while The Stone’s “Paint It, Black” plays in the background.
Bill Clinton comes on stage to introduce the band and they immediately break into “Jumping Jack Flash.” The Stones play a number of their biggest hits and are joined by Jack White of The White Stripes, Buddy Guy and Christina Aguilera throughout the course of the show.
Mick Jagger struts around the stage in the same tight black pants and shirt he wore 45 years ago. Keith Richards may look like an old leather bag, but rest assured, he can still play the guitar, as can Ronnie Wood. Charlie Watts is a man of few words, but he looks into the camera and gestures that he is tired, which is pretty much the only sign of the bands age throughout the film.
The film is weaved between the concert and some older footage of interviews with the band members. In one particularly well-placed clip, a young Mick Jagger is asked how much longer he thinks he will be with the band. Jagger contemplates this and replies, “I’d say were pretty well set up for at least another year.” If only he knew.
Contact Campus Press reporter Emma Dessau at emma.dessau@colorado.edu.
