Shine A Light. Out today. (********8/10)
“Gimme Shelter” has been featured in three of Martin Scorcese’s movies. (The Departed, Goodfellas and Casino, in case you were wondering.) Gimme Shelter is also the title of the best Stones movie ever made, the harrowing and unbelievable account of their 1969 tour, Altamont, and the end of the spirit of the sixties. The second best Stones movie is directed by Martin Scorcese, and does not feature the song “Gimme Shelter”. Which my roundabout way of saying that Shine A Light is excellent. And it is also one of the only songs I will tell you about one way or another. Because knowing the set list going into the film can only screw you up. The opening chords to certain songs are sometimes just exciting surprises to the song that is coming up.
Shine A Light comes out Tuesday, July 29th, from Paramount Home Entertainment. It’s set up in very much the same way as Scorcese’s classic The Last Waltz, featuring The Band, with archival interviews interspersed between songs. And while Shine A Light does not compare to that magnificent film, or even to Gimme Shelter, it is certainly the best concert film the Stones have ever done. And they have done a LOT of concert films. Not only is the filming exquisite - it IS Scorcese, after all, but the guest performances are terrific. Again, not on the level of The Last Waltz, but Jack White and Buddy Guy are tremendous additions to the program, and Christina Aguilera is nothing short of ridiculously hot in her appearance.
Fantastic filming, great guest appearances, and the energy and power of the Stones on full display make Shine A Light a must-see.