Review of Shine a Light (2008) by Larry M — 19 Aug 2008

I'm sure in Scorsese's mind there was a reason why we needed another Stones concert film, but I'm hard pressed to imagine what that reason might be. Maybe he thinks that because they're still touring well into their 60s it needs to be documented right up until they quit (or die).

Hopefully not. There's no doubt it's amazing that they're still doing what they do, but we already have Four Flicks (2003), which makes anything that comes after it pretty redundant. I don't think the shows are a whole lot different now than they were back then, other than the fact that everyone is 5 years older.

I sure as hell don't want to see Mick Jagger performing when he turns 70, and I probably could have done without seeing him at 65. I've always been a huge Stones fan, but after having seen this film, I actually think it might be time for them to retire from the road.

Mick's voice has become somewhat of an annoying whine, and Keith appears to have lost much of the manual dexterity in his left hand. He seems to be able to play chords all right, but whenever he breaks into a solo, the song comes to a grinding, screeching halt.

Best leave the soloing to the 'young' Mr. Wood, Keef. And, this might be irrelevant, but someone should tell Keith that whatever that thing is he wears on his head, it makes him look like someone's grandmother.

Does he actually think that looks GOOD? Has his dementia advanced that far? We all love him anyway, but does he have to have things dangling from his head, for God's sake? It's an embarrassment to himself and to Stones fans everywhere.

Take it off, pleeeeeease! Also, someone should tell him never to sing again. OK, I got that off my chest. Anyway, the film is not that terrible, I guess. There's a rather nice version of Far Away Eyes with the 'young' Mr.

Wood doing a nice turn on pedal steel. Some Girls rocks pretty nicely, and Jack White joins the boys for a decent version of Loving Cup. But (here I go again), the day you see The Stones sharing a stage with CHRISTINA AGUILERA, you can be pretty sure the end is near! I mean WTF? I'd like to know whose brilliant idea it was to have her on stage.

And then Mick embarasses himself by practically dry humping her from the rear. She's a sexy thing, yes, but have some dignity, sir. You're 65 years old! She's 27! Oh, what the hell. If it feels good do it, I guess.

It's only rock 'n' roll.