Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are 64 years old. Ronnie Wood is 60, and Charlie Watts is 66. All four have done substantial damage to their bodies through substance abuse and the rock n’ roll lifestyle, and at this age should barely be able to move. And yet, they still put on a better rock concert than any band around. Shine a Light, the work of 65-year-old master filmmaker Martin Scorsese, is a celebration of the defiance of age and the youthful strength of the aging rock n’ roll spirit.
Defiance of Age
Rock n’ roll defiance of age has often been embarrassing. Think Tom Petty’s lifeless appearance at the 08’ SuperBowl. There comes a time when the physical talent and the energy just go, and the band should go accordingly. But then, there’s The Rolling Stones who, in raw energy and shining presentation, can blow any modern band out of the water. Mick Jagger’s famous agility and non-stop mobility on the stage is still incredible to watch, regardless of his age, but especially so because of it.
Jagger’s unabashed sexuality despite of his age is simultaneously inspiring and sad. As Jagger lifts his shirt, sings of needing a woman by his side and grinds with Christina Aguilera, one can’t help but smile at his determination. At the same time it is during these moments that the reality of his age is most painfully clear. He’s convincing enough, but the awkward juxtaposition of his deteriorated face with the expression of that most youthful of instincts is something that he cannot escape. We chuckle, we approve and join in the fun, but there’s a nagging reminder that regardless of what he may be trying to prove, it is essentially a game of pretend, and one he won’t be able to keep up for long.
The Rolling Stones Through the Years
Watching just how good these guys still are makes it difficult not to view them as good old-fashioned rock n’ roll’s final line of defense. The Rolling Stones have always been the archetypal rock n’ roll band: from their bluesy roots, to the psychedelic sixties, riff based seventies and the pop rock of the eighties they have always represented the state of rock n’ roll at a time. And Shine a Light makes one feel as if they now represent the genre’s twilight, the final glorious bang of a bygone era.
Although Shine a Light is primarily a concert film, Scorsese interjects some interview footage from the sixties, highlighting the passive aggressive humor of the band members during their youth. The effect is to ground the majesty of the band on display, and to provide a beginning to the narrative’s end. Hearing young Jagger smugly confirm that he expects to still be putting on shows at the age of sixty isn’t only comic in being prophetic; it makes the whole trajectory of the band’s long life feel downright epic.
Above all else, Shine a Light is a showcase of masterful showmanship by a group of dedicated performers. The songs, a good half of which belong in the “obscure” section of the band’s catalogue, all absolutely rock. The IMAX presentation multiplies the joyful energy of the performers; the experience isn’t quite like “actually being there,” something which involves too much interaction and jumping on chairs to ever be properly reproduced in film. In a way, it’s the opposite; rather than stare at a far away stage, you are bombarded by the faces and bodies of the performers, at least ten times your size, right in front of your face. It’s really unlike anything else.
