SHINE A LIGHT! THE ROLLING STONES LIVE AT THE BEACON IN NEW YORK CITY, 2006!

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese teams up with "The Worlds Greatest Rock N' Roll Band" to bring us the new DVD and Blu-Ray Disc release of July 29, 2008 in "SHINE A LIGHT"! I have screened this three times for you (a joy!). What we have here is an evolution of rocks bad boys to sheer survivors 46 years after their 1962 founding---basically as Brian Jones' band---during a brief break from touring in the fall of 2006 with a concert at Gotham’s Beacon Theater in New York City.

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If you are expecting Scorsese's ambitious “The Last Waltz” (previously featured here on FMSN) then set those expectations aside. The focus here is really on the Stones' always great performance and the durability of the boys from a then 63 year-old Jagger who takes "front and center" form running from one end of the stage to another amid screaming 20-something babes (and probably some bikers in the audience who are grandfathers by now). Who knows? You get a set list here of more than 20 numbers performed pretty much the same way they have been for more than 40 years. But somehow, it's always a fresh show! There are cut-aways of drummer Charlie Watts, guitarists Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards with long-time bassist Daryl Jones and keyboardist Chuck Leavell who adds fine electric piano fills. But Jagger is the star.

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There is some fun (and funny) interview footage from earlier decades. Key among them is a 1970's clip of former talk show host Dick Cavett asking Jagger if he could imagine doing what he does at 60. Jagger immediately replies, “Easily.” The drug busts of Mick and Keith are sort of tossed away and perhaps sadly, there is no mention of the late Brian Jones who started the band and eventually lost control of it before he was asked to leave and subsequently passed away.

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Duets include blues man Buddy Guy, and singers Jack White III and Christina Aguilera (who was truly a nice surprise here for me).

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The movie is dedicated to Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun, who took a bad fall at the recorded concert and died soon after from his injuries. Filmed with what amounts to a budget consisting of a blank check, we have Oscar-winning Cinematographer Robert Richardson ("JFK", "The Aviator") supervising a first-class camera team for 102 minutes of the best Rock N' Roll played open and loud. So, grab a DVD copy and enjoy!

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[My Complete Website is www.michaelmanning.tv]