Scorsese shines a light on Stones

It is almost 40 years since the Rolling Stones appeared in one of the most searing rock 'n roll documentaries ever, Gimme Shelter. Now Oscar winner Martin Scorsese takes the Stones as his subject for Shine A Light, a documentary that spans the band's 45-year career and includes footage from two intimate 2006 concerts in New York City.

The film was originally set for release this September, but Paramount Classics pushed it back to April 2008 because no marketing campaign was in place. Now there's a trailer circulating on the internet, packed with clues about what to expect: appearances by Bill Clinton, Buddy Guy and Christina Aguilera, to name a few; as well as plenty of footage of a frustrated Scorsese negotiating behind the scenes with Mick Jagger about the use of intrusive cameras and fretting about the lack of a pre-concert set list.

Scorsese has used many Stones songs on his soundtracks, for movies such as GoodFellas, Casino and The Departed, and he's no stranger to the music documentary genre. In 1976, he made The Last Waltz about The Band's final concert. The film is hailed as one of the best concert docs of all time. More than just a concert film, The Last Waltz is an essay about the legendary group's influences and their career.

First signs from the Shine A Light trailer are that the Stones have received the same reverential treatment. Just as in The Last Waltz, the acclaimed director has tapped the talents of top cinematographers. Robert Richardson, who won an Academy Award for shooting Scorsese's The Aviator, leads the camera team.

Shine A Light takes its title from a song written by Jagger in early 1970 after band member Brian Jones's death. The song was released on the Exile On Main Street album in 1972.