THE ROLLING STONES: HAVANA MOON (2016) ****
Ole’ Ole’ Ole’: A Trip Across Latin America documented The Rolling Stones' Latin America tour that culminated in the band playing their historical concert in Havana, Cuba. That flick more or less acts like a prequel (or perhaps an extended DVD supplement) to this awesome concert film. This one gives you some background on the events leading up to the show (some of which are regurgitated from Ole’ Ole’ Ole’), but the real meat of the movie is the performance itself.
What’s incredible about Havana Moon is that the band, now in their ‘70s, still has the goods. They run around on stage and play almost non-stop for 90 minutes, playing the hits, pumping up the crowds, and captivating thousands. I’m half Mick Jagger’s age and I don’t even know if I could physically do what he does on a nightly basis. (Not to mention all the travel that goes into a lengthy tour.)
Another great thing about the concert is the fact that Jagger goes out of his way to interact with the crowd. Most musicians when they travel to foreign countries just play the music, but Jagger actually took time to learn (some) of the language so he can talk with the audience and keep them engaged. That says a lot about the dedication he puts into his shows.
Of course, the music is the universal language. The heart of the movie is the music and the band proves to be in great form after all these years. They do all the hits (“Satisfaction”, “Brown Sugar”, “Honky Tonk Women”, etc.), and while I wish there were a couple more deep cuts (like “Out of Control”), the performance is truly great, so it’s hard to complain.
The band certainly shows no signs of slowing down, which in itself is cause for celebration. The film itself captures the electricity that flows between the band and the audience, which makes it even more special. This is definitely the Stones’ best concert movie of the millennium and a fine document to their continuing relevance on a global scale.