Family. There is one phrase in the film that serves as the perfect answer to the question of what the Rollings are to thousands, if not millions of people around the world. Context: There are three people in the room, a correspondent, Keith and Ronnie. Joint interview. Unstressed, with cigarette smoke and pricking. A journalist either jokingly or seriously asks a question of interest to everyone, the discussion of which ends with the same remark.
Ronnie, who plays the guitar better, you or Keith?
Ronnie: He knows I am.
Keith, what would you say?
Keith: Nobody wants to be the best.
Whew: But he said he was definitely the best!
Keith: I know what I said. We both play like shit, but the two of us are better than the other ten.
The Rolling Stones are a true musical family. They were like that in living Jones, they were like that in troubled times, and they are still like that now. There is more to each other than just friends (or colleagues). It was never the Beatles or Pink Floyd. Such were Led Zeppelin, who after Bonzo’s death simply could not continue to work as a band, although they could record with a new drummer a dozen more great albums. Such were Black Sabbath, who forgave Ozzy all the unbearable daughter he had done, and finished the discography of the band with Osbourne's vocals.
If it were not for this family atmosphere and the favor of an old woman with a scythe, who for a very long time allowed the group to have four permanent members, the Rollings are hardly who they are. Just as Keith and Ronnie admit that they have never been great guitarists, Micah is hardly the “golden voice” of any generation that made love and gave birth to his music. And when I ask them what they've brought to the world, I'll be scratching my turnips for a long time. But I love them not for their innovation, but for their dedication to each other and their faith in themselves and their music. The best example of musical synergy.
Dilemma in viewing – did Scorsese put any global concept into the film? And how it should be perceived. The fact is that although the film is everywhere marked as a documentary, it is a concert book, only interrupted by inserts with rare archival shootings. In the share ratio, the live performance takes 80 percent of the timekeeping, the rest is preparation for live, including with the director behind the scenes, and several interruptions from interviews of different years. Of course, due to the combination of the loud name of the director and the group with a world name, the film became popular and sold out on YouTube cuts.
Asked if it was more than just a movie or just a well-shot live performance, there was no answer. It seems that Scorsese did not pursue any high goals with this film. Why did “Let There Be Light” decide to shoot it? From a great love for the band or music? Or maybe just Keith lost at cards, with the condition of the bet was shooting a full meter. In the introductory part there is not a word about it.
As a live, it's actually a pattern. Everything is level: scenery, camera work, sound, effects, crowd reaction. The performance itself. In informative terms, the film is unlikely to make you love the Rollings more, knowledge will not enrich. From the combination of The Rolling Stones + Scorsese expect something more, food for further reflection. But just to spend an evening in the company of this concert and hot drinks is a great experience.