They wear the million miles on their faces. Impossibly gaunt, their cheekbones are craters. At their age, most people are thinking about retirement, but they are the Rolling Stones, the world’s greatest rock ’n’ roll band, and in director Martin Scorsese’s exhilarating documentary, "Shine a Light," the Stones have made the greatest rock concert movie since "The Last Waltz," the 1978 film of the all-star farewell performance by the Band that was also, perhaps not coincidentally, filmed by Scorsese.
Shot at New York’s Beacon Theater in late October 2006, "Shine a Light" catches the fabled rock band at the peak of its powers, more than 40 years after rumbling out of the outskirts of London. Instead of teetering on their dotage, the sexagenarian Stones have never been more fierce, focused or deadly onstage, cutting down song after song like practiced assassins. At this point in the band’s career, the Stones are the Count Basie Orchestra of rock, the musical blends and telepathic rapport between musicians forged from decades of playing and thousands of hours together onstage and -- forget about all those indifferent, uninspired albums the band has churned out for the past 30 years -- the stage is where the Stones live.
Scorsese makes the ritualized concert play like an opera, beginning with 10 minutes of behind-the-scenes madness preparatory to filming the concert that works as a comic introduction of the characters (including himself channeling Woody Allen). Guitarist Keith Richards is like the character actor who slowly, inexorably takes over the movie from the titular star without ever leaving the sidelines. Lead vocalist Mick Jagger stays center stage, an inexhaustible monkey, mugging, pouting, twitching, an endless fount of electric energy.
Watching Jagger laugh at the gods of age and mortality, seeing Richards prowl the stage like a thief in search of souls, getting caught up with the screaming audience -- "Shine a Light" puts you right there in a way that only truly fine cinema can.
This is how great rock and roll was meant to be filmed.The result?
Absolute. Total. Satisfaction.
"Shine a Light" is rated PG-13forbrief strong language, drug references and smoking. It has a running time of 122 minutes.
Images
Date and Time
Friday Aug 8, 2008 Tuesday Aug 12, 2008
August 8, 9, 11, and 12 at 7pm
Sunday, August 10 at 2pm
Location
Smith Opera House82 Seneca StGeneva, NY
Fees/Admission
$5 general admission$3 for students and senior citizens.
Website
Contact Information
315-781-LIVE (5483) or toll-free 866-355-LIVE (5483)
