Whoever said rock n’ roll is dead was lying.

The live energy of The Rolling Stones and the meticulous ingenuity of Director Martin Scorsese’s filmmaking come together to create the ultimate cinematic experience, proving case in point the falsehood of the latter statement.

“Shine a Light” is essentially a concert on screen, featuring “The Greatest Rock n’ Roll Band in the World” on stage at the Beacon Theater in New York City during their Bigger Bang Tour in 2006. Interspersed throughout, however, are snippets of old interviews with The Stones, presenting an interesting rock n’ roll history lesson about the group’s development and zeitgeist throughout the years.

The film/concert stars, as would be expected, Mick Jagger on lead vocals, Keith Richards on lead guitar, Ronnie Wood on guitar, and Charlie Watts on drums. Together, the quartet puts on an electrifying show for both the on and off screen audiences.

Jagger’s performance is particularly energetic, letting loose his trademarked stage moves that help make The Rolling Stones one of the best bands to see in concert. During the song, “You Got the Silver,” however, Richards takes the spotlight in a rugged, bluesy performance while donning a “Pirates of the Caribbean” pin on his lapel.

Along with the four band mates, the solid lineup of backup musicians, including vocals, bass, percussion, saxophones, trombones, and trumpets, bring the show home, filling in the songs with that added complexity found in many classic rock bands’ music.

This already full stage is not complete at this, however. The concert features blues musician Buddy Guy, pop singer Christina Aguilera, and White Stripes singer/guitarist Jack White as guest musicians to perform on stage with the Stones.

Guy sings the edgy “Reefer and Champaign,” with a guitar duel with Richards that is nothing short of mind-blowing. Aguilera receives the highlight of her career as well, dancing with Jagger on stage and singing. In his number, White brims with excitement for having the opportunity to sing a duet with the Mick Jagger.

Perhaps the highlight of the entire experience is Scorsese’s brilliantly crafted cinematography that truly renders the whole feeling of “Shine a Light.”

To say the least, it is perfect, capturing the intensity and energy that is The Rolling Stones performing live. Scorsese places cameras everywhere, getting up close and personal on stage with some shots so close and well-defined, in fact, one can occasionally see the spit fly from the singer’s mouth.

Every cut or transition Scorsese makes adds to the fast pace concert scene, adding to the experience of the music. In one scene, the camera is focused on Jagger then it cuts to Richards and moments later, quickly pans back over to Jagger. In any concert, there is much to take in, yet in “Shine a Light,” Scorsese effectively shows the audience what is important.

By some miracle, nothing is lost or missed by the cameras and every important happening on stage is seen. This gives testament to Scorsese’s attention to detail and shows off his ability to plan absolutely everything ahead of time so the audience may enjoy this flawless execution of filmmaking.

The Rolling Stones, as always, create a jaw-dropping performance. The music lives and breathes, filling the audience’s ears with the some of the best music ever performed.

The Rolling Stones and Martin Scorsese stand together in “Shine a Light” and proudly state rock n’ roll is very much alive.