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Mastidon catches Scorsese's Rolling Stone Documentary - SHINE A LIGHT in Berlin!!!
Hey folks, Harry here... Our good friend Mastidon is off in Berlin... along with Tim League and a goodly portion of the Fantastic Fest programming team scouting for material - Hopefully we'll get some excellent reports from this outstanding film festival. AICN is presenting SHINE A LIGHT at SXSW this year - and it's nice to hear just how good this is... like there was a doubt.
SHINE A LIGHT
Director: Martian Scorsese
Starring: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Charlie Watts, and Martian Scorsese
With special appearances by: Bill Clinton, Buddy Guy, Jack White, and Christina Aguilera
Release dates: USA April 4th, UK April 11th
Hi Guys,
Mastidon here just having returned from my southern migration to Antarctica. If you are curious what I was up to, you can check out some of my videos here (Click Here). Anyway, I am now back in the northern hemisphere to bring you all of the scopes from the Berlinale Festival.
For the first time in the 58 year history of the Berlin Film Festival, a non-fiction film opened it. With SHINE A LIGHT, Scorsese marks his return to concert film since the filming of THE LAST WALTZ just over 30 years ago. In case you live on a different planet (or just don't like Rock), THE LAST WALTZ changed everything about how concert movies are made. Using normal cinema techniques with multiple cameras to film and with no crazy special effects of color or mirroring, it defined modern music cinema reflected in pretty much every concert film since then. In short, almost every critic out there calls it the best concert movie ever made or at least the best Rock film. So the question stands, does SHINE A LIGHT surpass it to become the new king of music cinema? Sadly, no. And I will tell you why in just a minute...
But first, some background on my history with The Rolling Stones so you know I have a little idea as to what I'm talking about - but just a little. The first time I saw Mick and the boys was while I was in college in 1989. They came to Atlanta and played Georgia Tech. As a student there, I was sold a ticket in the next to last row on the floor. I used all of my powers of social engineering and ended up second row center right in front of Mick. The second time I saw them was at the Georgia Dome from a stadium seat on the side. Most disappointing and vowed I would never see them live again. Like all good promises, I broke it last year to take a buddy of mine to see them. He qualifies as the world's biggest Stones fan having got to hang out and party with them for several months while they toured Europe in the mid 80s. I owed him a big favor so I bought us front row stage left tickets on EBay. 18 years after I saw them the first time, how good could they have been? They are old right? Keith having fallen out of a palm tree and looking even closer to death than usual. Was this just another concert to ask for more cash for some of the richest guys on the planet? Well, I was blown away. BY FAR, the best Rolling Stones concert I saw. And this was the basis for SHINE A LIGHT.
SHINE A LIGHT was filmed at New York City's Beacon Theater on November 1st, 2006. A far cry away from the giant stadiums they usually play. A very intimate setting with none of the giant props. Just pure Rock & Roll. SHINE A LIGHT markets itself as a film featuring lots of interviews, new and old intermixed with the concert footage. That my friends is bad marketing. Its anything but that. Interviews make up at most 10% of the film. Don't be fooled, this is a Rolling Stones concert. There is no new great insight into the band and how they work and play together. Just plane and simple raw music - an all-out typical blood sweat and tears performance. With that I give you the set list (what I can remember from it anyway)....
**** Its a surprise and I won't spoil it as it is the basis for the first 10 minutes of the film
Shattered
She Was Hot
Loving Cup (with Jack White)
As Tears Go By
Some Girls
(Just My) Imagination
Far Away Eyes
Champagne & Reefer (with Buddy Guy)
You Got The Silver (performed by Keith)
Connection (performed by Keith intermixed with interviews)
Sympathy For The Devil
Live With Me (with Christina Aguilera)
Start Me Up (Forever a Windows '95 ad in my mind - damn you Bill Gates)
Brown Sugar (encore)
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction (encore)
So why does it not surpass THE LAST WALTZ? From the opening line of "This film should be played loud!", the tone was set. I missed that line here and wish this one opened with the same. This movie is meant to be played LOUD. I was hoping that SHINE A LIGHT took the experience closer to what its like to actually be at a Stones concert. Marty had 16 cameras to choose from this time where in THE LAST WALTZ, he had only 7 and some of them didn't work for part of the time. The end result is I lost the feeling of being at the show as opposed to watching an MTV video with lots of cuts and camera angels. THE LAST WALTZ was brilliant in the way it made you feel like you were there. I just didn't get that here. And I certainly didn't feel the music. Any cinema that shows this needs a good sound system with appropriate base. The other problem was quite frankly the guest stars were good but not on par. Buddy Guy is amazing but Muddy Waters was even more so. Jack White was also great but compared to Eric Clapton or Dylan, just not in the same league. And last but not least was Christina Aguilera who certainly is no Joni Mitchell. She seemed like she was there for the sole purpose of Mick to feel her up. The rest of the band seemed like they didn't want to have anything to do with her. One of the amazing things about the THE LAST WALTZ was that it featured every popular type of music at the time and offered something for everyone. This film simply does not. Its designed for Stones fans.
What's good about SHINE A LIGHT is for anybody who has ever wanted to see the Rolling Stones live but could never afford to do so now gets to see just how amazing these guys are with no props, no sound editing, just performing. The other amazing thing about it is that when 30 years from now when they finally stop touring, there will be a visual record of how great these guys were years after anybody thought they could do it. SHINE A LIGHT will also hold up as a record of how strong they really were and how much energy and work Jagger puts into each and every show.
If you are a Stones fan, this movie earned its 5 stars from its opening number. Its an absolute must see. If you are a casual fan, its a 3 1/2 star event. If you just don't like them or are indifferent towards them, stay far, far away. Personally, I love the Rolling Stones and for me I can't wait to see it again. I heard it will be out on IMAX so I can only hope the IMAX gods bring it to my area. One final note, thanks to Harry I was able to have full press credentials for the festival. This allowed me into the press conference where the whole band and Marty attended. I was even lucky enough to ask a question. I don't have time to transcribe it now but will get it up for you after the festival. Its very entertaining. I have many more surprises for you from the festival including the directorial debut by the queen of pop.
Ciao from Berlin,
-Mastidon
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second coming soon?
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and was stunned how energetic and passionate these old prunes were. Mick running up and down the largest stage I've ever seen, the rest of them playing their hearts out, trying their hardest to actually earn their paychecks (lol like they ever could). Looking forward to this, but I'm disappointed to hear marty doesn't mix up the footage in a more unconventional manner.
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Feb 07, 2008 10:38:55 PM CST
Harry, completely off topic but will Sly ever give this site his
by lyghthouse
I'd love to see what he thinks of the film.
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If you only see one film featuring smoking skeletons this year, make it "Shine a Light"! One downside I see is Christina Aguilera taking her fine, fine, FINE ass to all of these places she is not needed. She adds nothing to the Stones and completely ruined any Tony Bennett rendition of "Steppin Out with My Baby" for me forever.
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Aguilera's schlub husband looks like he should be making my chicken salad sub at W.G. Grinders.
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Feb 07, 2008 10:51:43 PM CST
Scorese+ The Stones: Worlds greatest director meets the Worlds G
by darth voodoo
The Stones have been such an influence on Scorsese's work that I'm sure he did them justice in this film. Dosen't get better than these two respective legends.
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It seems odd that Scorsese has "Gimmie Shelter" in every one of his films except the one he does about the Rolling Stones.
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Wow, Harrison is looking old.
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the stones are amazing!!!
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Wow, now that's a funny typo. Harry please fix that! Sorry Martin! Never write a review after a long day. One thing I forgot to mention was getting into the press screening was like the gates opening for General Admission at a concert. Imagine 1,000 press people pushing and shoving to get inside for the 300 available seats. It wasn't pretty and certainly not well organized.
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it was MARTIAN SCORSESE!
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As far as Aguilera goes there is just no fucking excuse. What is arguably the greatest band in the history of music doing sharing their stage with a hack like Christina Aguilera who has never made a memorable piece of music in her life, never written a decent song (or ANY song), and will be remembered in the same nostalgic realm as Debbie Gibson, only sluttier? That's fucking ridiculous. I can only assume Marty allowed it because he thought that maybe she's from a modern age of music that a guy of his years simply doesn't get. No Marty, Aguilera, like most epic selling modern music, is just prepackaged crap that the American public is suckered into buying because they are simpletons. With that said Jack White is pretty fucking great and as far as contemporary artists go deserves the stage. Is he a Dylan? No but Jesus Christ Mastidon that's sort of an impossible comparison. He's not the guitar genius that Clapton is but he's still pretty fucking great and arguably a better songwriter. It's at least a step up from Van Morrison (nothing against Van Morrison).
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The Stones did Champagne & Reefer with him. Not the song. They do that with Buddy Guy.
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Could nor agree with you any more - Christina will be long forgotten 30 years from now. Jack White certainly is a step up from Van Morrison. But you know, if THE LAST WALTZ was somebody else's movie, then ok. But come on, don't you think that one of the greatest bands in the history of music deserved to have better guests? Especially compared to a band that was too lazy to think up a real name and just rather call themselves THE BAND because that's what they were referred to as. Not to mention the fact that this is almost certainly The Stones final concert movie and certainly the last one where they will be just playing raw with no props.
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I still am a tech geek with a specialty in Internet security. Nice thing about Berlin is I have customers here so I can at least write part of this trip off.
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The list of cinematographers who worked on this is astounding. Andrew Lesnie, John Toll, Robert Elswit, Stuart Dryburgh, Robert Richardson. I think there's more. Simply Incredible.
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Saw em live in '02, and I'll never forget it. I'll see the film if it goes wide.
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Saw em live in '02 with my dad, and I'll never forget it. I'll see the film if it goes wide.
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Weird. I didn't think the first one went through.
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I hope I didn't sound obtuse. I agree with everything you said completely, especially as a fellow Stones enthusiast. That guest list is pretty weak, I don't know why they couldn't have gotten some fellow icons from that Golden Age of rock to help out. Is there really no comraderie from that era?? Have Jagger dial Bowie for Chrissakes, that would be incredible. But DON"T do "Dancing in the Streets". For the love of God and all that is holy NO "DANCING IN THE STREETS"!!! *shudders*
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Excited to see this now...How was Bob Richardson's cinematography?
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Any mention of MT in the film?
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...and i cant get up!
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Paul Weller was right to break-up The Jam when he did. Rolling Stones means nothing anymore, at least to me.
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everything that could be said about the stones was said in that 38 year old film...watch it online, rent it, get a bunch of friends together....the stones put a nail in the heart of the summer of love
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I mean, it's a Scorcese film...
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White is a product of hype as well. He's certainly not a good songwriter and merely a passable guitar player (painful vocalist). What he has is the post-modern, I-don't-have-to-be-good-because-I'm-cool posing down pat, and he's a decent showman. Nothing more. There are better talents out there. Though, perhaps not as well known.
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Damn.
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which is one of the best Football chants there is.
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looking closer, that is a shitty setlist. and this film will forever be saddled with a "remember her?" datedness regarding xtina's appearance. It's cheap cashing-in on the moment to look relevant and since when were the stones worried about that?
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and regarding xtina- does anyone else think that the label "requested" that she get to do a number?
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was a live album/series of intimate concerts the boys did in support of voodoo lounge back in '95. mtv ran a special on it. pure greatness. look go see.
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End of story.
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Is Dieter Kosslick one of those people who work on their bad english to make it even more fucked up? (my bad english is not deliberate, btw)
Nice review. I'm looking forward to more Mastidon Berlinale stuff. -
Don't be silly.
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mind you, you've got fucking terrible taste in music. You fucking Spice Girls fan
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Before Scorsese did something on the Stones. Their music has always tied some of his best scenes together. If anyone should do a doc on them it Martin. But here's a trivia question for all those Scorsese/Stones geeks out there. In the Departed, when Billy Costigan sends Colin Sullivan the audio cd, it comes in a cd case with an album jacket inside. Name the Stones album. And don't just IMDB it. I'll know!
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movie from Scorsese, but instead we get concert footage of a fossilized, overrated band? Unfortunate. This is like James Cameron wasting all that possible moviemaking time with that Titantic documentary bullshit.
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The Stones or the lame Stones-Are-Old jokes? Jesus Christ, are you people on the Dylan-has-a-crappy-voice bandwagon too? To whoever, it's a kick-ass setlist, go listen to Hot Rocks and get your greatest hits fix if you don't like it. Second, sure Aguilera is modern pop, but she sure as hell has the pipes to sing backup on "Live with Me." Also, the Beacon Theater rocks. Used to make the trek there to see the Allman Bros there every spring. Uh Oh, another band too old for this hip crowd! Final note, Buddy Guy is the fucking MAN!!!!
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The Stones never toured in the mid 80's.
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He's a bad songwriter? You can't listen to Denial Twist or Icky Thump and tell me those aren't incredibly written songs. And painful vocalist? You sound like one of those people who bitch about Dylan because he "doesn't have a good voice." That just misses the point. White's voice is untraditional, but certainly carries the emotional weight with pinache.
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anything having to do with a band.
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Best. Rockumentary. EVAR! Seriously, its classic; really dark and twisted too. And real! With the band at their peak! As we all get to witness, in gory detail, the night the hippies ENDED. Sympathy for the devil, indeed.
Absolutely required viewing. -
...in HELL! I'd pay to see that. Not this. What's next for ol' Marty after Shutter Island, starring Leo? A Stones biopic starring Leo? Another four-hour documentary about Dylan going electric? Knighthood? Oh wait, it's a biopic of Teddy Roosevelt starring... WAIT FOR IT... YOU'LL NEVER GUESS... LEO!
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Icky Thump? Horrid song, actually. Unfocused and self-absorbed (but in a fey, "hip" way). I'm sorry. I don't see White's talent on display. There are a few passable tunes. He's The Hives, but without the sense of melody.
We'll agree to disagree. He certainly has his fans. -
As for "non-traditional voices", I'm a huge Afghan Whigs and Dulli fan. The man's voice, while unconventional, makes you see the dirt on the walls. He knows how to deliver and inhabit a song. White merely knows how to be "ironic". By the way, I'm a big Dylan fan, so nice call....
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Feb 09, 2008 1:57:55 PM CST
"Queen of pop'''s directorial debut? Michael Jackson made a mov
by mrmysteryguest
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What, is it actually possible to like all that great music from the sixties and seventies AND Mr. White? I guess the reason I find myself listening more so to bands like the White Stripes, The Raconteurs, Muse, Silversun Pickups, Band of Horses, Neko Case, and so forth, is because it's uh... NEW.
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from the 1972 tour. it was all downhill after that. marty is way too late.
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The whole neo-luddite elitism thing is fucking goofy and forced. Yes, yes, analog is 'better' then digital, but you can also do a fuck of a lot more with digital, a lot faster and cleaner, on no budget. I also agree that old blues 78s sound great, but I also like the sound of Autechre, My Bloody Valentine, Jesu, and Dan Deacon; all artists made more or less possible by technology and the digital process. They get discounted cause its not "olde timey"? Somehow they're invalid? Please. Don't embarrass thineownsadself.
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