Being Mick: You Would If You Could

Just as longtime Stones fans (i.e., those who don't think of Some Girls as an “early” album) cringe at the prospect of mediocre new releases, so they may wince at this tabloid TV profile of Rolling Stones front man and one-time media darling Mick Jagger. At a stage of his career when he seems to be interpreting the Norma Desmond character in rock music terms, this program serves up a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Jagger's first solo album in years and his preparations for the opening of the Jagger-produced movie Enigma. Viewers are treated to Jagger interacting with his kids in between shots of him looking pensive or noodling with various electronic devices, as well as hokey “impromptu” personal interaction scenes apparently designed to show that Jagger's just another tuneful bloke even as the captions helpfully inform us that his chatty phone conversation is with Sir Elton John (just another day knocking around the estate spinning off boss rhythms, don'tyaknow). And the pop cultural cognoscenti at the party scenes! Talk about Entertainment Tonight-level gratuitous glitz! If you consider E.T. a "news show," then this is a "documentary," but a more restrained view would suggest that this is really a lavish piece of promotional fluffery that'll quietly become a curio as yet another Jagger solo album slides into oblivion. Special features on the DVD include music videos, live performances, and home movies. A must-have item for Stones intensive collections (should any yet persevere), this is an optional acquisition otherwise. Aud: P. (M. Tribby)