Anyone who loves the Rolling Stones has a special curiosity about Brian Jones, a founding member of the band, whose crazy trajectory through rock history ended in 1969 when his body was found floating in his swimming pool in Sussex.
He died, age 27, in the place where A.A. Milne wrote the “Winnie the Pooh” stories. His death was probably a drugs-and-booze misadventure, possibly exacerbated by asthma. Or, if you believe other theories, murder.
The makers of the new movie “Stoned” have enthusiastically embraced the latter idea. This is a chronicle of the last weeks of Brian Jones’ life, with copious flashbacks to his earlier downfall while a Stone.
Jones is played by Leo Gregory, a rising young British actor, who manages to impart some intensity amidst the general chaos of the film. While staying at his country manor, Jones hires a builder named Frank Thorogood (Paddy Considine, from “In America”) to re-arrange his estate.
Frank becomes a nanny to Jones, and gets a taste of the rock and roll lifestyle. But it’s a love-hate relationship, which the film suggests is what Brian Jones enjoyed with most of the people who knew him.
Flashbacks pick up key events of Jones’ Stones tenure, such as LSD experiences at the height of Swinging London (a phenomenon Jones had a big hand in shaping) and his abusive relationship with Anita Pallenberg (Monet Mazur).
Jones loses Pallenberg to Keith Richards (Ben Whisaw), who comes across in the movie as a wise, rather gentle soul. That Keith Richards ends up looking like the sane one in the bunch gives you some idea of Jones’ out-of-control behavior.
| Silly: A depiction of the events leading to the death of Brian Jones (Leo Gregory), whose life as a Rolling Stone is also flashed back to. Jones was an interesting, conflicted guy, but this movie is literal-minded and silly.
Rated: R rating is for nudity, language, subject matter Now showing: Varsity |
We see less of Mick Jagger, played by Luke de Woolfson, and hear nothing of Jagger-Richards songs, which gives you the idea that the Stones wanted nothing to do with this movie. Instead, the filmmakers use Rolling Stones songs that were written by other people, such as “Little Red Rooster” and “Time is on My Side.”
“Stoned” is the directing debut of Stephen Woolley, a longtime producer (especially of Neil Jordan’s films). Woolley shows a literal-minded approach to the material, and he hammers his points right on the head.
The re-creation of 1960s excess is fun, but we lose Brian Jones in the mix. There is an interesting film to be made from Jones, who had a profound interest in music, and whose pilgrimage to Morocco to record the mystic sounds of Jajouka musicians could make a movie in itself (it’s briefly depicted in the film). But “Stoned” is a silly trip.
Leo Gregory plays Brian Jones in “Stoned.”
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