#99 - a classic Rock and Roll documentary. it's fascinating that this movie, which was supposed to document the Rolling Stones on their US tour in '69, inadvertently ended up capturing a moment that most define as the end of a generation - the free concert at Altamont in Dec, '69 where a young man was stabbed and killed.
The film starts off with concert footage, and then flashbacks post Altamont where the band is watching some of the footage and sound shot - there are recording sessions at Muscle Shoals, a couple performances by other acts, but the last 45 minutes are about Altamont - much of which we see was going to hell before the Stones took the stage.
It's hard to watch this footage and see the level of chaos and carnage going on in front of the performers - they're just trying to play a gig and you have fights, beatings, and violence going on in front of them and on stage - this was 4 months after Woodstock, and it had some of the same organizers and some folks thought this was gonna be West Coast Woodstock.
it's pretty clear that some of these folks were pretty deep into the drugs by this time - one of the most chilling scenes to me is where the camera holds on a Hell's Angel just off stage from Mick, slowly freaking out. You worry what he's going to do when two other HA's take him off the stage and you're just watching this thinking - shit - this really happened. - you can see the whole scene in a couple spots on YouTube.
Of course, the titular moment comes when the young man, Meredith Hunter, is stabbed - they play it back for Mick Jagger - He did have a gun, and they show him that too in the footage - it's clear between the two or three Stones seeing the footage that they're in shock about what happened.
But this was the end of a decade - the end of peace and love and community - the drugs got harder, the world got harder, and this was a moment that was supposed to encompass the best - a dream, and it went south - and it's a hell of a thing to see
Lots of essays and some extra features, commentary, a radio broadcast, and outtakes are available.
On a side note I am getting the Criterion Channel so we'll see how many of these show up and how many I have to keep Netflix'ing and library'ing - LOL - I do like Blu-Ray when I can get it
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