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Shine a Light (2008)

tomatometer

86

Average Rating: 7.3/10
Reviews Counted: 123
Fresh: 106 | Rotten: 17

It may offer little new for fans, but Martin Scorsese's document of the Rolling Stones' electrifying live show should provide satisfaction to audiences.

89

Average Rating: 7.3/10
Critic Reviews: 35
Fresh: 31 | Rotten: 4

It may offer little new for fans, but Martin Scorsese's document of the Rolling Stones' electrifying live show should provide satisfaction to audiences.

audience

74

liked it
Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 36,408

My Rating

Movie Info

After exploring the careers of the Band and Bob Dylan in The Last Waltz and No Direction Home: Bob Dylan, respectively, acclaimed director Martin Scorsese turns his lens on rock & roll legends the Rolling Stones for this feature focusing on two concerts from the band's 2006 A Bigger Bang tour. In addition to extensive coverage of the band's two-night stand at New York's Beacon Theater (an engagement that was staged as part of President Bill Clinton's lavish birthday bash), the film also features

Jul 29, 2008

$5.4M

Paramount

Cast

All Critics (123) | Top Critics (35) | Fresh (109) | Rotten (17) | DVD (7)

The effect was intense and overwhelming, but I mean that in a good way.

April 7, 2008 Comment
Ebert & Roeper
Top Critic IconTop Critic

At times, the cutting shifts from the hasty to the impatient to the borderline epileptic, and, while never doubting Scorsese's ardor for the Stones, I got the distinct impression of a style in search of a subject.

April 7, 2008 Full Review Source: New Yorker | Comment
New Yorker
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The genius of Scorsese's film, which is being shown in IMAX in 93 theaters, is that it reveals the Stones' mortality while celebrating all that makes them more than mere mortals.

April 4, 2008 Full Review Source: USA Today | Comment
USA Today
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It's showbiz, after all. And the band still rocks like none other, true to their creed that if their adored blues masters can play into their dotage, then so can they.

April 4, 2008 Full Review Source: Toronto Star | Comment
Toronto Star
Top Critic IconTop Critic

He brings all his skills as a filmmaker to the film, but Scorsese did not achieve the monumental dimensions of his movie from cinematic savoir faire. Shine a Light is huge because the Stones are giants.

April 4, 2008 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | Comment
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Scorsese captures the Stones at their ancient, un-ironic best, bluesy showmen who leave it all on the stage every night, never for a moment letting on that they're playing, for the 10,000th time, 40-year-old hits.

April 4, 2008 Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | Comment
Orlando Sentinel
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Once the Rolling Stones push "Jumpin' Jack Flash's" tempo toward a cliff, Scorsese treats "Shine a Light" like a character piece about artistic give-and-take, not a mere concert film. As long as the Stones are ambulatory, they're ageless.

October 1, 2010 Full Review Source: Suite101.com | Comment
Suite101.com

Unanswered question: If this is what Keith Richards' face looks like when he goes on stage, what does he look like when he gets up in the morning?

May 6, 2010 Full Review Source: East Bay Express | Comment
East Bay Express

Note to self: Need more yoga ASAP.

September 1, 2009 Full Review Source: minnpost.com | Comment
minnpost.com

Sparkles like polished ember encasing dinosaur DNA, but Scorsese's best jukeboxes have little use for such reverence

August 27, 2009 Full Review Source: CinePassion | Comment
CinePassion

It's unfortunate that the unfairest criticism one can level at Shine a Light is arguably the most legitimate as well: it's no Gimme Shelter

August 27, 2008 Full Review Source: Film Freak Central | Comment
Film Freak Central

More than a concert film, Scorsese's Shine a Light not only throws yet another spotlight on the rockers but also carves out a story to pay tribute to the "Satisfaction" musicians.

August 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Movie Views | Comment

A whirlwind demo of technical proficiency. It's recommendable on camera choreography and seamless editing alone.

August 4, 2008 Full Review Source: Window to the Movies | Comment
Window to the Movies

Play it loud and enjoy. (Blu-ray Edition)

August 1, 2008 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis

The extras are disappointing, but you can't really go wrong with Scorsese and the Stones.

July 28, 2008 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | Comment
Slant Magazine

Even an average performance by the Rolling Stones isn't boring.

July 28, 2008 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | Comment
Slant Magazine

...an exhilarating and wholly engrossing event.

July 14, 2008 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis

The Stones aspire to project physical and musical agelessness, and a reinvented rebellion switched from anti-patriarchal authority to one against Father Time. You don't need a weathered man to know which way the wind blows.

July 12, 2008 Full Review Source: NewsBlaze | Comment
NewsBlaze

mia hliara entyposiaki, minimalistiki binteoskopisi mias hliara apolaystikis synaylias, poy se fernei arketa prosopo me prosopo me ton Jagger, ton Richards kai t' alla paidia, oste na moiazei me kati poy tha mporoyse na ehei skinothetisei o Romero, kai se

June 29, 2008 Full Review Source: Movies for the Masses | Comments (2)
Movies for the Masses

But the success of this documentary may ultimately qualify as faint praise since what it really confirms is that rock 'n' roll's greatest glories happened 40 years ago...

June 12, 2008 Full Review Source: IGN Movies | Comment
IGN Movies

I had a great time, and if you are actually a Stones fan, then you'll love it even more than I did.

June 8, 2008 Full Review Source: Sin Magazine | Comment
Sin Magazine

It's hard to imagine, I know, but Shine A Light gives us the Rolling Stones in a fresh way.

June 8, 2008 Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | Comment
Sydney Morning Herald
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Shine a Light

saw this on an IMAX screen

June 8, 2008
brooklynspo

Super Reviewer

Grandpa's tearing shit up.

October 28, 2011
Graham Jones

Super Reviewer

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