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The Rolling Stones greet their fans in Martin Scorsese’s Shine A Light |
Four good fellas show off their hits for Scorsese
SHINE A LIGHT
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Certificate 12a
THE question, of course, that everyone is asking is: Why Scorsese?
Why would a director of Martin Scorsese’s reputation want to make a film about a couple of Rolling Stones concerts?
The answer seems to be that he is obsessed with Mick Jagger and co, and has been for years, calling their music “an inspiration”. He has even used it in his movies – Jumping Jack Flash in Mean Streets, for instance, and Gimme Shelter for The Departed.
We first see Marty’s diminutive frame struggling to get the logistics of working 16 cameras at once to record a 2006 concert at the Beacon Theatre in New York, with a backdrop set of the star in simulated flames.
“We can’t burn Mick Jagger,” he says despairingly to his aides.
“We want the effect, but we can’t set him on fire!”
Moments of humour like this lighten a gig that seems to go on forever.
At 122 minutes, it’s way too long, and relentlessly repetitive. After an hour of watching the charismatic Mick posturing and prancing around the stage like a demented zombie, I would like to have called it a night.
Jagger struts his stuff like a man possessed, radiating high-octane energy as he flaps his arms like a flamingo struggling to take off.
The others in Marty’s homage – Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood (all of them executive producers) – come over as a likeable bunch, enjoying life hugely as they run through their most famous hits.
As a tribute to a group who, over an incredible 46 years, have progressed from anarchy to iconic status on a stimulating diet of sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll, this unique and intimate view of the Stones will certainly merit its place in the archives.
For that Marty and his four good fellas deserve a cheer. |
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