sad 60's

I wouldn't ever want to have lived in the 60's. The music, the fashion, the movies... they just don't appeal to me. In class we watched the 1970 documentary Gimme Shelter about the Rolling Stones and it's reaffirms by belief. First, I don't like the Rolling Stones, what a shock!! Second, everyone looked like they were high on just about every drug possible. Third, Mick Jagger was wearing lime green velvet pants... that were skin tight.
Despite my dislike for that particular decade, I did enjoy the filming styles of the movie itself. In class we discussed most of the "found moments" we liked, but I'll reiterate mine here.

1. I liked seeing Mick Jagger's reactions to things. First, when he was on stage and asking people to calm down so they could play, he sounded whiny, but when a Hells Angel whispered something in his ear this brief moment of quiet terror passed over his face. It was almost imperceptibly quick, but there was something so beautiful about that moment. He was quickly realizing that he could very well be in danger, yet he chose to keep signing for the crowd. Second, when he was in the recording studio, watching the film for the first time. The look on his face was so sad, and when he asked for them to rewind again and asked questions, he almost had an incredulous but defeated look to him. Almost as if he couldn't believe that something like this could happen at his shows.

2. I enjoyed the odd moments. Like when a dog runs across the stage, a naked woman tries to climb onstage or when a man who is quite obviously on some serious drugs is doing some kind of strange dance. The crying girls pressed up against the stage seem to have so recognition for what they're crying about and the audience doesn't even really seem all that excited to be watching this world famous band play. It's almost as if even person is so drugged up that they're not thinking correctly.

3. Finally, I really enjoyed the ironic twist the filmmakers took on portraying the authority figures. Cops are seen shrugging and looking panicked. Hells angels are seen as glaring hoodlums and free spirited dancers. They make sure audiences know that they damage that they caused on the man who died was absolutely ridiculous, by kicking him and repeatedly stabbing him.

On a side note: I found it interesting that they didn't use George Lucas's tape in the final cut. Most of the filming didn't feel that professional or planned out and it seemed strange that they used so few angles and views of the stage. Getting more audience reaction shots that weren't pressed up against the stage seemed like a better idea from my perspective.