RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Found a Bug? Squash It! Report Bugs Here
  • 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
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:117

Fresh:105

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
 
 
21 - 40 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

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
Karina Montgomery
rec.arts.movies.reviews

A fascinating and well-executed hybrid: combining musical biopic and political examination to produce something more memorable than either would be on its own.

Full Review Source: Flipside Movie Emporium | comment Comment
03/01/07
Rob Vaux
Rob Vaux
Flipside Movie Emporium

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out New York | comment Comment
02/03/07
Melissa Anderson
Melissa Anderson
Time Out New York

The best documentary of 2006.

Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | comment Comment
01/19/07
Robert Roten
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope

What emerges is something of a cautionary tale for artistsand should spark discussions about exactly what the principles of free speech as guaranteed in the Constitution mean.

Full Review Source: Murphy's Movie Reviews | comment Comment
01/11/07
Ted Murphy
Ted Murphy
Murphy's Movie Reviews

[It]offer[s] little more than a portrait of a band struggling to save face and keep their financial position intact.

Full Review Source: Scene-Stealers.com | comment Comment
01/11/07
Eric Melin
Eric Melin
Scene-Stealers.com

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
01/04/07
Susan Tavernetti
Susan Tavernetti
Palo Alto Weekly

something more than just The Real World with platinum CDs and a twang

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
12/30/06
Joel Meares
Joel Meares
Filmcritic.com

The film captures plenty of behind-the-scenes banter and plenty of music, but it doesn't really dig very deeply into the frightening mob mentality that followed the comment.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
12/30/06
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

They make no apologies for who they are or what they've said. I may not agree with everything they say, but I admire them for their conviction and I enjoyed their movie.

Full Review Source: TheMovieChicks.com | comment Comment
12/27/06
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
TheMovieChicks.com

The film includes this remarkable, oxymoronic revelation by Cumulus Media's Lewis Dickey, that the decision to boycott the Chicks' songs "was a collaborative decision-making process. Everybody fell in line."

Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment Comment
12/21/06
Cynthia Fuchs
Cynthia Fuchs
PopMatters

...as divisive as George Bush himself.

Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | comment Comment
12/18/06
David Nusair
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews

Shut up & Sing is a primer on how controversy and pop music are manufactured.

Full Review Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | comment Comment
12/15/06
Duane Dudek
Duane Dudek
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Remember the people that the Borat film made fun of? They're in this film too, picketing outside of Dixie Chick shows...idiots.

Full Review Source: Supercala.com | comment Comment
12/15/06
John Venable
John Venable
Supercala.com

The Dixie Chicks are who we thought they were.

Full Review Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette | comment Comment
12/11/06
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

The film — a likely Oscar nominee — inspires with its story of loyalty and determination within the group.

Full Review Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | comment Comment
12/08/06
Jack Garner
Jack Garner
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

In today's polarized America, you pick who you stand with, even in pop culture. Kopple's film makes that choice stark...

Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | comment Comment
12/08/06
Roger Moore
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel

While Shut Up works great as music doc, progressive pep rally and neo-Capra triumph tale, it’s even better as a bighearted tale of the love between three extraordinary women.

Full Review Source: Orlando Weekly | comment Comment
12/07/06
Ian Grey
Ian Grey
Orlando Weekly

"Shut Up & Sing" evolves into an engrossing sociological study about brand perception, the fickle nature of fame, the perils of spiraling media mayhem, and de facto censorship spawning from industrywide groupthink.

Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star | comment Comment
12/07/06
Phil Villarreal
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star

We come to realize to what extent Natalie Maines ranks as an American heroine.

Full Review Source: Creative Loafing | comment Comment
12/06/06
Matt Brunson
Matt Brunson
Creative Loafing
 
 
21 - 40 (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 All

More Movies

Coming Soon in Australia
Tomatometer Percentage Movie Date

70% 70% Where the Wild Things Are 03/12
83% 83% Paranormal Activity 03/12
89% 89% Zombieland 03/12
76% 76% The Informant! 03/12
— The Strength of Water 03/12

What’s Hot On RT

Ban Them All!

Ban Them All!

10 Most Controversial Movies

Zombieland

Zombieland

Director Ruben Fleischer's favourites

New Avatar action

New Avatar action

Watch an exclusive chase clip from the film

Kids' Book Films

Kids' Book Films

We fly through 10 of the best

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • First Look (Sort Of) at New Nightmare's Freddy Source: ShockTillYouDrop.com
24
  • First Look at Shrek Forever After Source: USA Today
48
  • Woody Harrelson Will Battle Zombies in 3-D Source: Moviehole
26
  • Natalie Portman Says Kat Denning Is in Thor Source: MTV
34
  • Disney Restructuring Has Broad Implications Source: Los Angeles Times
10
  • Joel Silver Talks Ninja Assassin, Sgt. Rock, Lobo, and More Source: Collider.com
1
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
118
  • Idris Elba Joins Thor Source: Hollywood Reporter
112
  • Jackass 3D Coming in 2010? Source: Collider.com
32
  • 6 Reasons 'Twilight' Is Doomed Source: The Wrap
64
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: New Moon Shatters Records
178
  • Total Recall: John Travolta's Best Movies
85
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
59
  • Critics Consensus: Flee From Ninja Assassin
42
  • 5 Facts About The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
41
  • Friday Harvest: New Moon, Avatar, and more!
32
  • Ban Them All! 10 Infamously Controversial Movies
25
  • Five Favorite Films With Zombieland Director Ruben Fleischer
21
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
14
  • Total Recall: Children's Book Adaptations
3
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
14
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
10
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
20
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
7
  • RT on DVD: Wassup, Bruno
3
  • Scott Hicks Talks The Boys Are Back
0
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Richard Kelly chats about The Box
2
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
20
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
8
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

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

Fresh Links

Featured
Dressing Wonderland
Dressing Wonderland External Link

Tim Burton's costume designer talks to Movieline about her long collaboration with the filmmaker and Johnny Depp.

Wes Anderson on Fox
Wes Anderson on Fox External Link

The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox

Win Glee DVDs
Win Glee DVDs External Link

We've got 20 copies of the hit TV series' Pilot Episode to giveaway.

Win tickets to Cold Souls
Win tickets to Cold Souls External Link

Double passes up for grabs to the new comedy starring Paul Giamatti.

Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter
Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter External Link

Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.

Competitions
Win Star Wars prizes
Win Star Wars prizes External Link

Enough Prequel, Original Trilogy and Family Guy DVDs to fill a space cruiser

Win the entire 007 collection
Win the entire 007 collection External Link

Everything from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace could be yours.

Win Fight Club Special Editions and more
Win Fight Club Special Editions and more External Link

We're giving away the 10th Anniversary Blu-ray, plus Braveheart and the Rocky collection

 
 
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.