Feature
length: 70 minutes
Extras:
Live Performance Video, Home Movies, and Music Videos
Languages:
English Dolby Stereo
Subtitles:
English Captions
Packaging:
Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 17
Sound:
Dolby Stereo Sound
Year
of DVD Release: 2002
Home
Video Distributor: Lions Gate Home Entertainment
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
“Being
Mick: You Would If You Could” chronicles Mick Jagger’s recording of his solo
album as well as a producing a feature film while dealing with the day in day
out rigors of being a rock & roll star and pop culture icon. Executive
Produced by Jagger, I suppose this might be as close as a candid look at the
behind-the-scenes life and work of Jagger’s as one will ever get on film and
video, but how candid or unpolished a look we are getting of Jagger can never be
quantified so I’d describe “Being Mick: You Would If You Could” as a what
you see is what you get documentary film.
Those
looking for some deep insight into the man’s character should look elsewhere
because Jagger wisely just does his thing on camera as we watch him meet with
various musicians like Lenny Kravitz, Pete Townsend, and Bono, all of whom
collaborated on his new solo album. We see Mick recording in the studio and at
Kravitz’ “Clockwork Orange”/“2001” inspired Florida residence. We see
him going to a meeting to discuss the next “Rolling Stones” album and
jumping from one limo into the next going to various places, meeting with fans
and whatnot.
To
be a wealthy rock star… What might it be like? Well we watch Jagger meet with
who knows how many daughters and lovers, got to the doctor and get a gross out
look at Jagger’s tonsils, buying books more expensive than most HD Televisions
as gifts for his kids, and attending the MTV Video Music Awards just to walk
down the isle and then leave without ever even entering the theater. These
scenes plus his lamenting about waiting for Prince Charles to arrive at his
premiere makes me think of one word, “EGO!”
Whether
or not he cares, the impression I got from watching “Being Mick: You Would If
You Could” is here is a guy who is trying to be candid, but honestly I think
he comes off more full of himself than his fans would ever guess. I mean why
couldn’t the documentary title just be called “Being Mick?” Did he have to
add “You Would If You Could” in the opening credits? Maybe I’m wrong, but
I suggest this film only for his die-hard fans.
Lions
Gate Home Entertainment’s DVD edition presents “Being Mick: You Would If You
Could” in the (1.33:1) full-framed aspect ratio in which it was shot. Much of
the quality is purposely grainy with a mix black and white and color footage
with only the ending live performance appearing in motion picture quality
clarity so keep in mind that it is not the authoring of the DVD, this is the way
the film is intended to be seen. The English Dolby Stereo Soundtrack is full and
vibrant sounding and optional English Captions are encoded on to the DVD, but
there are no Closed Captions for the hearing impaired.
Extra
features include “Goddess In The Doorway,” which is some extended videotaped
performance material seen briefly in the film with some interview clips between
the songs. This featurette has a running time of about 17-minutes. There are
some home movies that run just over 18-minutes and there are music videos for
“God Gave Me Everything” and “Visions Of Paradise.” A clip of Jagger
singing “Don’t Call Me Up” wraps up the extra features on this DVD.
The
menus feature full motion scene selections and animated transitions and all of
the interactive menus are easy to navigate. Still interested? “Being Mick: You
Would If You Could” is available for pre-order at retailers on and offline and
will be distributed on DVD-Video by Lions Gate Home Entertainment.
©
Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.