RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / Upcoming / Shut Up & Sing
Shut Up & Sing

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
  • Bookmark and Share

Shut Up & Sing (2006)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
90 %
Tomatometer

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted: 116

Fresh: 104

Rotten:12

Average Rating: 7.6/10

Consensus: Though ostensibly an intimate look at the Dixie Chicks after their 2003 anti-Bush remark, the film achieves broader relevance by exploring how media, politics, and celebrities intertwine.

Runtime: 1 hr 39 mins

Genre: Musical & Performing Arts

US Box Office: $1,072,805

Synopsis: This documentary captures the female country-&-western group the Dixie Chicks in performance around the U.S. and London between the years 2003 and 2006. While performing in 2003, singer Natalie... This documentary captures the female country-&-western group the Dixie Chicks in performance around the U.S. and London between the years 2003 and 2006. While performing in 2003, singer Natalie Maines ignited a maelstrom of controversy and red-state outrage when she declared--from a London stage on the eve of the Iraqi conflict--that she was ashamed that President George W. Bush was from her home state of Texas. When a rabidly right-wing group picked up on it, the band found themselves in the center of controversy regarding the nature of patriotism, freedom of speech, feminism, and the split between pro- and anti-war Americans. Filmmaker Barbara Kopple brings us the fly-on-the-wall view of the next three years, capturing Haines and sisters Emily Robison and Martie Maguire in dressing rooms, on stage, and in recording studios, bonding with each other, their families, producer Rick Rubin, and their supportive manager, Simon Renshaw. Through the crises, they keep their sense of humor and sisterhood, not backing down from their liberal stance, and turning the backlash into a triumph. They also make some great music, and the film includes plenty of riveting, intense footage of the band in performance onstage and in the studio. Among the faces appearing in archival footage are President Bush, Bill Maher, and right-wing country star Toby Keith. [More]

Starring: Natalie Maines, Emily Robison, Martie Maguire, Rick Rubin

Starring: Natalie Maines, Emily Robison, Martie Maguire, Rick Rubin, George W. Bush, Adrian Pasdar

Director: Barbara Kopple, Cecilia Peck

Director: Barbara Kopple, Cecilia Peck
Producer: David Cassidy, Claude Davies, Barbara Kopple, Cecilia Peck
Studio: Weinstein Company

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
  • Trailer
    >
1 of 1

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Reviews for Shut Up & Sing

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
Arrange By: Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

It isn't a disciplined doco, and the fragmentation of the throughline makes for occasional sags in the film, but the filmmakers mean well.

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
07/20/07
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
07/20/07
Sydney Morning Herald
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment 1 Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed

The most inspiring element of the film is the genuine fortitude and loyalty that Maines and her bandmates Emily Robinson and Martie Maguire exhibit outwardly and to one another.

Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com | comment Comment
04/24/09
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
11/20/08
Fred Topel
Hollywood.com

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
08/07/08
Jonathan Kiefer
Sacramento News & Review

Shut Up and Sing tells the story of three young women whose belief in America is bred in the bone, and it shames their critics.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
10/19/07
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Free speech and its ramifications are at the heart of "Shut Up & Sing," which recognizes that for the celebrity, engaging in a public exchange of ideas and opinions isn't always without its costs. The price can be dire.

Full Review Source: Bangor Daily News (Maine) | comment Comment
09/14/07
Christopher Smith
Bangor Daily News (Maine)

The movie isn't quite the idolatrous you-go-girl portrait one might expect.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
07/23/07
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com

Shut up & Sings shows that it is all about freedom of speech and expression and how we had better not forget it. Freedom of speech, speaking out and having a voice. Yeah! On to the Grammies Dixie Chicks. You go girls!

Full Review Source: Movie Magazine International | comment Comment
07/22/07
Moira Sullivan
Movie Magazine International

They do make a comeback of course – almost stronger than ever – in this, the best documentary of the year so far. ­Intelligent, honest, heartfelt and fascinating.

Full Review Source: thelondonpaper | comment Comment
06/29/07
Stuart McGurk
thelondonpaper

I came round to them by the end, but it's not a great introduction.

Full Review Source: Independent | comment Comment
06/29/07
Anthony Quinn
Independent

This a frank, and slightly scary film about one of America's most cherished democratic privileges - freedom of speech - and how you're more than welcome to it as long as you don't say anything controversial. Then you're off the air.

Full Review Source: Daily Telegraph | comment 1 Comment
06/29/07
Tom Robey
Daily Telegraph

A gold statue of the Dixie Chicks should be erected in Maines' hometown of Lubbock, Texas.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment 1 Comment
06/29/07
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It was a throwaway scrap of a comment tossed to an audience baying with appreciation.

Full Review Source: Times [UK] | comment Comment
06/29/07
Wendy Ide
Times [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Succeeds as a summation of America's shaky grasp of freedom. And while the footage of the girls at work and play sometimes seems inconsequential, there are moments that are as unexpectedly pleasing as the band's soft country sounds.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
06/29/07
Richard Luck
Channel 4 Film

A melodic wakeup call; where bluegrass meets grassroots politics.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
06/29/07
Stella Papamichael
BBC

Exposing almost as much small-mindedness as Borat did, this provides food for thought as well as some darned good ditties.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
06/29/07
Anna Smith
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
06/28/07
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

Truth is stranger than fiction, and often makes a better story, too.

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
03/20/07
Karina Montgomery
rec.arts.movies.reviews
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
all

Latest News for Shut Up & Sing

October 31, 2006: RTIndie: Can Indie Studios Survive Without Big Studio Backing?
With the sale of independent-minded ThinkFilm last week, can indie film distributors survive without big studio backing? More...

October 26, 2006: Box Office Guru Preview: Saw III Brings The Pain
Blood will flow and screams will be deafening at North American multiplexes this weekend when the horror sequel "Saw III" buzzes its way into theaters. While there... More...

October 26, 2006: Critical Consensus: "Fire" Blazes; "Scissors" Isn't Sharp Enough; "Saw III" Not Screened: Guess The Tomatometer!
This week at the movies, we've got the return of Jigsaw ("Saw III," starring Tobin Bell), a tale of rebellion in apartheid-era South Africa ("Catch a Fire,"... More...

October 21, 2006: click for trailer and trailer review in Greek Opens in new window
More...

See More Topics...

Related Forums for Shut Up & Sing

Click here to be the first to post a message on this forum.

See All

More Movies

Coming Soon in Australia
Tomatometer Percentage Movie Date
—
Harry Potter and the H… 15/7
12%
12%
My Life in Ruins 16/7
72%
72%
The Escapist 16/7
—
Mes Amis, Mes Amours 16/7

What’s Hot On RT

Directors transform

Directors transform

What if Michael Bay wasn't director?

New Alice Pics

New Alice Pics

Glimpse Tim Burton's vision of Wonderland.

Public Enemies Clips

Public Enemies Clips

Latest videos from Depp and Mann

Best Movie Robots

Best Movie Robots

We pick the 50 best 'bots of all time

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Weekly Ketchup: Universal Takes on Asteroids
88
  • Brandon Routh Talks Superman's Future Source: Moviehole
90
  • Sony's Amy Pascal Explains Moneyball Balk Source: Los Angeles Times
6
  • Three Theaters Getting Harry Potter in IMAX Opening Day Source: Collider.com
18
  • Weekly Ketchup: Adam Sandler joins The Zookeeper, David Fincher joins Facebook
72
  • Zak Penn Talks The Avengers Source: Sci Fi Wire
20
  • Watchmen Director's Cut Headed to Theaters Source: Collider.com
32
  • Lorenzo di Bonaventura Talks G.I. Joe, Beverly Hills Cop 4, More Source: Collider.com
14
  • (Teaser) Trailer Bulletin: The Last Airbender Source: MTV
61
  • Johnny Depp Talks Alice, Pirates 4, Dark Shadows Source: Collider.com
12
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Critics Consensus: Solid Public Enemies Doesn't Quite Bring The Noise
104
  • Total Recall: Johnny Depp's Best Movies
88
  • Five Favorite Films with Fred Durst
87
  • RoboGeisha: 2009's Most Insane Trailer?
79
  • Weekly Ketchup: Universal Takes on Asteroids
44
  • RT on DVD: Street Fighter, Transmorphers 2, and Uwe Boll's Tunnel Rats!
36
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Transformers and Ice Age Tie for Top Spot
32
  • Academy Invites Tyler Perry, Michael Cera, Seth Rogen to Join Oscar Ranks
28
  • Box Office Guru Preview: Dinosaurs and Gangsters Spark Fireworks
23
  • Karl Malden: 1912-2009
17
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • RT Interview: Director Carlos Cuaron on Rudo and Cursi
0
  • RT Interview: Tony Scott on The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
10
  • Cannes 2009: RT Interview - Sally Hawkins on We Want Sex
2
  • RT Interview: Tilda Swinton on Julia
5
  • Hollywood Legend Debbie Reynolds Reflects On her Life in Showbiz
10
  • Exclusive: McG Talks Terminator Salvation
24
  • Georgia Groome - Fresh Talent on RT
5
  • RT Interview: Reading The Reader with Stephen Daldry
11
  • RT Interview: Oscar Nominee Melissa Leo
7
  • Carey Mulligan - Fresh Talent on RT
7
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Shut Up & Sing at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Shut Up & Sing at IGN

Fresh Links

Featured
10 Questions for JJ Abrams
10 Questions for JJ Abrams External Link

J.J. Abrams has done it all: writing, producing, and directing for TV and movies. He answers reader questions here for TIME.

50 Greatest Movie Trailers
50 Greatest Movie Trailers External Link

IFC channel counts down the best film trailers, ever. Allegedly...

Shut the f**k up, Donny
Shut the f**k up, Donny External Link

Forget the AFI, here's the other 100 Greatest Movie Quotes...

Competitions
Win <em>Transformers</em> Generation One Packs!
Win Transformers Generation One Packs! External Link

Prime old-school animation action to win, thanks to Madman

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.