Rock and roll’s greatest living band and film’s greatest contemporary filmmaker make for an amazing combination in the new rockumentary Shine a Light. At least, that’s the end result of this fantastic concert film capturing venerable rock statesmen and legendary bad boys The Rolling Stones performing a two-night 2006 benefit concert organized by President Bill Clinton at NYC’s landmark venue The Beacon Theatre. On hand to document this intimate, rockin’ event was none-other then Manhattan’s own movie magician Martin Scorsese, using his trademark visual flair and discerning eye to commit everything to celluloid.

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Rolling Stones in Paramount Vantages' Shine a Light

It begins in stark black and white with the band needling Marty about not letting him know the set list they’re going to perform until the last second (virtually sending the asthmatic auteur practically scrambling for his inhaler) suddenly bursts into color as the band takes the stage, the director and his troop of 18 premier cinematographers (including Oscar winners Robert Richardson and Robert Elswit) getting every conceived angle with razor-sharp snap and precision. It’s so magnificently done you’d almost never know Scorsese was on pins-and-needles up until the thirteenth hour wondering how they were going to pull it off, it obviously not hurting the director cut his rock documentary teeth lensing The Band’s swan song The Last Waltz back in 1978.

The Stones may not be aging gracefully (as witnessed by their wizened, leathery visages) but do not be fooled; like a fine wine they have ripened from the sweetest fruits of their labor (i.e. age) and prove to still be a massively entertaining force to be reckoned with. Led by their indefatigable front man and icon Mick Jagger (impossibly straw-thin and suggesting a hip Dorian Grey) who shimmies, shakes and gets his snake-hipped insouciance with energy still to spare, he kicks the jams out with a non-stop Energizer Bunny electricity sparking his onstage mates to their full-groove best. But it is legendary axe-man Keith Richards, looking like The Crypt Keeper with his madman’s grimace and Pirates of the Caribbean élan, who makes the whole affair a hoot and you can tell he knows he’s the king bee addressing his frenzied and buzzing beehive with rockabilly flamboyance.

The hits are all covered from “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” to “Shattered” to “Sympathy for the Devil” to, of course, “Satisfaction.” There are also three musical guest appearances by Jack White on “Loving Cup,” Christina Aguilera bumping-and-grinding with Mick to “Live with Me” and living legend Buddy Guy on Muddy Waters’ “Champagne and Reefer.” All-in-all there is something for everyone, even if you’re not a die hard Stones fan (but who isn’t?!).

Scorsese may seem to be doing a director-for-hire job but he knows what he’s doing delivering the goods here, he and the band smartly choosing one of the more intimate premiere New York City stages making for an breathtaking night to remember. Filmed in IMAX, I chose to see this at New York’s fabled last movie palace The Ziegfeld and it justifiably showcased these musical giants in all their larger than life glory and as nicely as the aforementioned format would as well.

In the end, it may be only rock and roll (and a documentary) but I definitely like it! You will, too.

Film Rating: êêêê (out of 4)

Additional Links:

-  Shine a Light Theatrical Trailer