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Directed by veteran filmmaker Barbara Kopple, this documentary will prove to be quite a rough ride for the dwindling number of supporters of the embattled current administration. There is no way to sugarcoat the underlying premise that free speech is what was on trial here, and that there were far too many in power in 2003 who could not grasp the fact that dissent is not disloyalty. On the eve of the Iraq invasion, Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines ad-libbed a comment at a concert in England that she was ashamed the president was from Texas. In those supercharged patriotic times, with the government's misleading and ill-conceived rush to war, this was an unthinkable statement, thoroughly unpatriotic and bordering on outright treason. What follows is the group's immediate fall from grace in the world of country music, from being the #1 group to becoming total outcasts, and how they managed to regain some semblance of popularity, albeit in new markets, during the ensuing three years. Restraint of trade on the part of country radio stations was so blatant that it generated a Senate Sub-Committee Hearing in Washington. And the insanity continues last winter when NBC refuses to carry ads for the DVD because they found them "disparaging to the President." It is also difficult to escape the anger - no, make that rage - of "Not Ready to Make Nice" from their 2006 comeback CD (try requesting that song from your local country music station and count the milliseconds before the phone is slammed in your ear) or not to hear the ache in "Take the Long Way." On these levels, the documentary succeeds wonderfully and without question. However, it does lose some steam and focus when it meanders a bit too long on personal issues in the lives of the trio. My only negative swipe of "Shut Up and Sing" is at the DVD film company itself for not releasing this in a widescreen format. If you lean anywhere from moderate to liberal in the political arena, you will warm to and appreciate this documentary. On the other hand, if far right wing politics describes a neocon point-of-view, then don't be "Bush-whacked" and avoid this DVD if only to keep your blood pressure in the acceptably safe range.Read full review
In 2003, Country music supergroup The Dixie Chicks were in the midst of a whirlwind life of million-selling albums, sold-out concert tours, and a string of hit songs that perfectly showcased their remarkable talents. However, it all seemed to come crashing down around them, when an infamous phrase about then-President George W. Bush was uttered, turning these ladies from the world's number one musical act into public enemy number one. 3 years later in 2006, the girls returned with a vengeance, releasing the album "Taking The Long Way" and its single "Not Ready To Make Nice". Join the Dixie Chicks on a rocking, rousing comeback journey, through three unforgettable years in the life of the #1-selling female band of all time. "Shut Up & Sing" takes you beyond backstage, into the Dixie Chicks' dressing rooms, homes, and recording studio, where they plan and create their latest hit album. Defying their critics, the Dixie Chicks stick up for themselves, stick together, and rock their way back to the top of the charts. This engaging, compelling and fascinating film is directed by two-time Academy Award winner Barbara Kopple ("Harlan County USA", "American Dream") and Cecilia Peck, and features a phenomenal soundtrack. Following the release of this film, the group would go on to dominate the Grammy Awards for the year 2006 with 5 wins - including Album, Song and Record of the Year. What you have here is a documentary that deserves a closer look. This great American story makes you want to stand up and cheer! Hooray for the Dixie Chicks!Read full review
*WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS* This is a great music documentary, which provides an excellent insight into the Dixie Chicks' lives, both personally and professionally, as well as the current state of affairs of the country music industry business and the United States more in general. For those of you that may not be quite so familiar with the Dixie Chicks: they are a contemporary country / pop band, made up of three galls from Texas (Natalie Maines (lead singer and guitar), Emily Robison (harmony vocals, dobro, banjo, lap steel, acoustic guitar) and Martie Maguire (harmony vocals, fiddle, viola, mandolin) plus their accompanying band. After signing up with Sony in the mid / late '90s, they made it big time. All of their CDs released (Wide Open Spaces, Fly, Home, Top of the World) are platinum best sellers. To date, they are the best selling female band in history. In 2003, they were at the top of their game -- they sang the National Anthem at the Super Bowl, their single "Travelling Soldier" was #1 at the charts. And then, all of a sudden, something very strange happened. Some background: early 2003, President Bush was getting ready for war against Iraq. At the time, most Americans were supportive of President Bush. Not all Americans though: there was a growing anti-war movement, especially in Europe, but also inside America and elsewhere around the planet. The Dixie Chicks were very much against the war - strangely so, when you consider their background as a traditional homegrown American country band - and had been discussing this for some time. Then, at a London venue (Sherpard's Bush), at the eve of the war, Natalie blurted out the following twelve words: "Just so you know, we are ashamed that President Bush is from the United States." This is commonly referred to as "The Incident". That quote was picked up the UK based newspaper The Standard, and subsequently reported in the US media. In short succession, the Dixie Chicks were widely dissed by conservative America: they were traitors since they were disrespectful of the American President, at the eve of a war of all things, they were unpatriotic, and moreoever they did all of this from a foreign country instead of on US soil. And then more happened: country music radio, mostly controlled by big corporations, widely boycotted the Dixie Chicks. Concerts of the Dixie Chicks were no longer fully sold out at every venue. In the end, they even received death threats. In spite of all that, the Dixie Chicks remained defiant, and this movie is about how they dealt with the aftermath of The Incident: they wrote the songs for their new album (Taking the Long Way), but on a more personal level also had children and raised families. They lost many fans, but they also gained many: especially people who admire the Dixie Chicks for their outspokenness and courage. It is a wonderful movie, and like I said, warmly recommended, both to music and non-music lovers. The Dixie Chicks are beautiful, wonderful, talented, admirable, and a force to reckoned with. *Disclaimer: this review is based on my review of the movie which I saw on the world premiere, last October, in Toronto, Canada - at the eve of their Toronto concert.Read full review
I saw it and thought it was well done. If it weren't for all the controversy, I probably never would have watched it. It held my interest. It let us see a "behind the scenes" side we don't normally get to. I love when Maines turns toward the camera and says Bush is a "stupid f*ck". Made me laugh - it's funny, cuz it's true. I'd normally give this feature a "good" rating, but I'm giving it an "excellent" to try to counteract some of the brainless, cowardly Bush traitors posting "poor" reviews for a movie they surely haven't even seen. "Bush is right. Everyone deserves a seventh chance." ?-- Jon Stewart, on Dumbya asking us to give his latest Iraq strategy a chance
Why glorify a group who shuns and ridicules their fan base? The country music fans brought you to a place where your voices could be heard and you spit on them. This is a waste of time. I don't want my politics from entertainers, and I don't want my entertainment from politicians (that includes Bill CLinton sax lessons). Find what you are good at and stick with it. Your political opinions are of no interest to me. This includes the Hollywood elite movie stars and producers. So change the title of this movie to Shut Up and Act, Shut Up and Direct, etc. We, the American People, are educatred and intelligent enough to form opinions without the help of the "elites" who are so much smarter and more "cultured" than we are. Sip your frickin Cappucino in Starbucks and talk to each other about it then. Leave the rest of us alone.Read full review
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