Synopsis:
The Rolling Stones perform live in 1981 for audiences in Arizona and New Jersey.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Concert Films
• Hal Ashby Films
• Rock ‘n Roll

Response to Peary’s Review:
Peary accurately dismisses this “dull concert film” — which “captures none of the excitement of the events or the intensity of the Stones’ performances” — as perhaps an instance of director Hal Ashby “accidentally jettison[ing] the good stuff and [keeping] the reject material.”

He argues that “the camera seems incapable of achieving any intimacy with the performers”, and that “even Mick Jagger seems distant”. Indeed, I was surprised and dismayed to see what a lost opportunity this film is, given the possibility of concert films not only to not only give viewers an up-close view of their favorite performers in action, but to show behind-the-scenes interactions leading to or following the event. We don’t hear any dialogue here, and the few cutaways to non-performance footage are oddly interspersed. The one semi-cool scene shows a concert stadium being set up for the evening’s show in time-lapse:

As Peary notes at the end of his very brief review, “You’ll have better luck with Gimme Shelter” (I agree).

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

• Fine cinematography
  

Must See?
No; you can skip this one unless you’re a die-hard Stones fan.

Links:

• IMDb entry
• Onion AV Club Review
• Roger Ebert’s Review