Bring on the Night

Apted is a marvelous documentarian - he caught the spirit of rehearsals, and the personal, creative dynamics between gifted musicians. Unfortunately, he also captured Sting and his manager Miles Copeland during a variety of candid and staged interviews. The two of them have the worst personalities you'll ever see in a documentary - arrogant, pompous, pretentious and in Copeland's case, just down right mean spirited to the point where you feared for the man's emotional stability. It was a real eye opener to see that a supposedly 'spiritual' talent of Sting's stature would employ such a truly tacky, nasty piece of work such as Miles Copeland. If you love Sting's music as I do, you'll not rent this thing because you'll never listen to him the same way again.

Overall it's very interesting to follow the start of Sting's "new" music career after The Police. I think a lot of fans might have been disappointed, since the music he started playing after leaving The Police was completely different from what he used to do. However, I think this movie really shows what a incredible and talented musician Sting is. "Bring on the night" is a film that all fans of Sting & The Police MUST see. It's interesting to hear Sting talking about some of his experiences considering music. Yes, he seems a little arrogant in person - almost depressed. But his stage prescens is one of a kind. His voice sounds better and more clean than when he was in The Police and it's fun to see him play other instruments than bass guitar, like piano and electric guitar. Not many people know that he also plays the saxophone, oboe, banjo and several other instruments and is in fact very scilled in playing them.

Good documentary featuring Sting and his new band doing a lot of rehearsing in a grand old domicile. We are treated not only to the final touches of putting together a new set of songs, but a peek into the more relaxed moments together and a rousing concert finale. An eye opening look into the inner workings of a jazz band and the mind of a talented entertainer.

This film is a rare treat, a peek into the professional and personal life of one of the greatest musicians this world has ever seen. This film is about the solo venture of Sting after separating from The Police, into what became his first(if I'm not mistaken) solo album -'The Dream of the Blue Turtles'. I've been an avid fan of Sting's music especially since I heard his album 'The Soul Cages'. What I like about his music is the timeless and universal quality of his lyrics, the uniqueness of each and every song and at the same time a certain underlying uniformity of thought and tone. Listening to his music is like meditation...it's cathartic. I don't think there is any one aspect of human nature and human life he hasn't touched upon in his music. For this reason watching this film was really quite incredible. Paris, where Sting performed and rehearsed lends its own charm and personality to the film. There are funny moments as when these bunch of tourists are led by a tourist guide into the room of the chateau in which Sting and his band are rehearsing and the guide is telling them about the portraits hung on the walls! The sequence of the birth of Sting's son in the hospital to the tune of 'Russians' is the emotional high point of the film. The interview with Sting gives an insight into the mind of this complex man and musician. Altogether, an Experience!!

The version of "I Burn for You" is outstanding - Omar Hakim is incredible on drums in this version. I much prefer the video version of the song to the one on the "Bring on the Night" CD. Also, the scenes showing the component parts of "Children's Crusade" and how they fit together provide a whole new appreciation for the song. I also enjoy the lighter moments in the movie - for example, showing the entire band eating meals and joking around with each other is refreshing. With all of the garbage being released on DVD these days (see the bargain bin at any large volume discount store) - I cannot believe Bring on the Night has not been released on DVD yet! Please do so soon!