Bring on the Night (1985)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Michael Apted

Writer:

Michael Apted (writer)

Release Date:

8 November 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Music

Tagline:

The story is, he risks it all on a dream. The problem is, he's not acting.

Plot:

Documents the preparation and rehearsals for Sting's first solo concert, as well as his supporting band's opinions on their leader and his controversial efforts.

Plot Keywords:

Tour | Sting Operation | Interview | Concert Film | France

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Miles A. Copeland III	...	Himself
Omar Hakim	...	Himself
Darryl Jones	...	Himself
Kenny Kirkland	...	Himself
Branford Marsalis	...	Himself
Dolette McDonald	...	Herself
Janice Pendarvis	...	Herself
Lou Salvatore	...	Himself
Sting	...	Himself
Trudie Styler	...	Herself
Jake Sumner	...	Himself
Kim Turner	...	Herself
Kim Turner	...	Himself
Max Vadukul	...	Photographer

Also Known As:

Sting: Bring on the Night (Europe: English title) (video title)

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track

Certification:

Iceland:L | West Germany:o.Al. | Australia:PG | Singapore:PG | USA:PG-13

Company:

A&M Films

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: There are numerous mismatches between the soundtrack music and the performances on stage and in rehearsal, including cymbal crashes and drum fills that are heard and not seen, and vice versa.

Movie Connections:

References "The Flintstones" (1960)

Quiet Simply One of the Best Music Documentaries Ever Made

They don't get much better than this. This is one of those films that after viewing, you want to thank the producers for capturing and preserving the events for all of us to repeatedly enjoy.

I came to this project knowing little of Sting and his music and being more familiar with the work of the Saxophonist, Brandford Marsalis, of the renown New Orleans Marsalis music family. I later learned that Sting was receiving much of the same criticisms Mr. Marsalis and his fellow musicians were receiving for joining in on this project of merged rock/jazz/blues/funk idioms. However, as we all know, the critics travel at a slower speed than the artists and often require time to catch up. One need only reflect on Gershwin's 'Porgy and Bess,' 'Charlie Parker with Strings,' or any other project that breaks from traditional established patterns.

Twenty years later, this is still some of the best music made. It rocks in the full sense of the word. This group of personnel were only together for a relatively short period of time, but fortunately, we have this event and period captured on video. When the pianist in this film, Kenny Kirkland, past away at such a young age in 1998, I was reminded of the great work of all the musicians in this film.