shinealight

Shine a light

by Bob on April 1, 2008

This has been my week. I was invited to a reviewer’s preview of the new Martin Scorsese movie about the Rolling Stones: "SHINE A LIGHT".

Okay. I must tell you this film was absolutely brilliant. It was a small venue concert in NYC in my old neighborhood at the Beacon Theatre. I lived only a few blocks away from it.

Martin Scorsese had his directorial signature all over it, and brilliantly so. It reminded me of his work on "The Last Waltz" 1976 documentary film about The Band and their last concert.

There were guest appearances too.

Jack White.

Buddy Guy.

Christina Aguilera.

They all performed brilliantly. The backup singers were impressive -- two were from local NYC.

The last time I heard the Stones live in person was before they really made it big like these days when they tried to capture America and ultimately succeeded in doing so. In 1965 at the New York Academy of Music. It’s impressive how well they’ve aged. Sad that Brian Jones passed away but Ronnie Wood was excellent, even playing Hawaiian guitar (Pedal Steel guitar, really, country style) on one piece.

There were documentary flashbacks to footage of the early Stones in press interviews in the 1960s. Excellent counterpoint.

So I say this documentary film is hugely impressive.

No wonder Mick has to run five miles a day: he’s so active on stage.

Well that’s the news. I was glad to have gotten an inside invite to the pre-screening.

It opens this Friday, 4th April, 2008. Savor it.