Documentaries, old and new, with stills and notes for students, makers, and observers of documentary film and video. ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Friday, September 18, 2009
Martin Scorsese
A NYC appearance by the Rolling Stones during their "A Bigger Bang" tour is thoroughly documented by Martin Scorsese in Shine a Light (2008). The wrinkly but very high-energy band is the focus of the film -- few audience members are shown (in contrast to Town Bloody Hall or A Perfect Candidate) and the only visible ones, in the front rows, look like models hired for the occasion (bottom still). The "coverage" is phenomenal, with plenty of cameras capturing multiple angles. This over-the-top blanket-bomb coverage pays off with several lovely sequences, such as the "Champagne and Reefer" performance with Buddy Guy (middle). Albert Maysles (top still) shows his hand-held, chest-high camera technique.
Title:
Shine a Light