The Rolling Stones: Sympathy for the Devil

When Jean-Luc Godard showed up in England he either wanted to make a documentary on The Beatles or The Rolling Stones. The Beatles decline, but the Stones accepted, and it's probaly for the best -- the Stones are more in line with Godard's sensibilities anyway. Still this has to be the most unusual rock documentary ever made. Of course I'm not sure why I should expect anything from Godard to be conventional. The film juxtaposes recording sessions with the band as they go through the process of perfecting and recording their classic song, "Sympathy for the Devil" with various scenes of what basically amounts to political discourse on such topics as black power, pornography, fascism, communism, celebrity, and even filmmaking itself. Now these "parathetical" scenes that have nothing to do with the Rolling Stones actually end up outstaging the band (I'm sure Godard wouldn't have had it any other way). It's interesting that he choses to use a more controlled, locked down camera and long takes for his documentary as opposed to his typical early handheld "documentary" style. It's endlessly fascinating to watch Godard rail off his ideas and discourses one after another with such with and artistry. Oh yeah, and the Rolling Stones are cool too.