Movie Review - Shine A Light

The Rolling Stones in concert at the Beacon Theater in New York. Need I really say anymore?

 

Any of you out there who think the Stones have lost it, think again! Put it up on the IMAX screen and as Jerry Lee said, you have flat out got something!

 

Make no mistake about it; this is a movie of a Rolling Stones concert. There may be little tidbits of the Stones in their early years including Mick saying he could see doing what he was doing at 22 at age 60. There is Mick, Keith, Charlie and Ronnie along with regulars Chuck Leavell and Bobby Keyes and other singers and musicians. It is the power of “The Worlds Greatest Rock and Roll Band” in an intimate setting and plowing the road and taking everyone for a great ride. I myself wanted to get up and dance as the band ripped through number after number giving their all.

 

I’ve seen the band twice at the Dome and it didn’t do them justice. I imagine I’d go again if they were here, but it would take great seats. I’d much prefer to see them in a setting like the Beacon.

 

The movie may have been directed by Martin Scorsese, but make no mistake, it is Mick Jagger who is in charge. Even the set list isn’t delivered until minutes before the show to the director.

 

Jagger dominates the stage and the camera, but there is plenty of “Keef”. And let me tell you something, he can be quite scary on a 6 story tall screen, but he’s as great as he is scary. Man, that is one rode hard and put away wet dude and us Stones fans love him for it. Ronnie and Charlie get less screen time, but their talents are audibly present the whole time. As I said, they just flat out kick ass the whole time.

 

The movie does start with about 10 minutes of the band and director making their way through the tour before they get to the Beacon and even backstage when they arrive. Be aware that Slick Willie and his family make an appearance before the show and talk with the band. But don’t let that deter you from seeing this, especially if you are a Stones fan. And I suppose if you are also a Clinton fan, it’s an added bonus. The show is a benefit/birthday party for Clinton, but honestly he’s only on for a couple of minutes. Like I said, don’t let it keep you away.

 

The bottom line is that the Stones still got it. If any of you have seen the Four Flick’s DVD that came out a couple of years ago you’d know that. As it is, I can’t wait until this one comes out on DVD!

Welcome Coach Crean

This morning, Tom Crean will be introduced as the new coach of the Indiana University basketball program. Crean, who has been coaching at Marquette, apparently came to terms with the school and when asked why he was leaving Marquette for Bloomington, he replied, “Because it’s Indiana”. I wish coach Crean all the luck in the world in turning this once proud program around and putting it back where most of us Hoosier fans believe it should be. But Crean’s hiring is only the first step in what promises to be a long, hard battle to not only get the team back to the top, but to repair the bad feelings and general apathy of the fans who have been treated to a shitload of bad basketball, bad coaching, cheating and various other scandals with very little good ball thrown in.

Good luck coach!

And for those players who can't make up their mind whether or not to stay the course down in Bloomington, well, may God bless you and help you make the right decision. If you stay, great, I'll root for you next season. If you decide to leave, so be it and good luck in your future endeavors. But if any of you assholes think you are bigger than the program itself then you can go fuck yourselves, and I can post this reasonably sure there are those who do think they are bigger than the programor the team.