Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing (2006)

90% of critics liked it
(118 reviews)
83% of users liked it
(8,554 ratings)

Between 1998 and 2002, it seemed the Dixie Chicks could do no wrong. Their first major-label album, Wide Open Spaces, was a smash hit, topping the country charts and eventually selling 12 million copies, while their subsequent albums Fly and Home respectively moved ten and six million units. Their… More Between 1998 and 2002, it seemed the Dixie Chicks could do no wrong. Their first major-label album, Wide Open Spaces, was a smash hit, topping the country charts and eventually selling 12 million copies, while their subsequent albums Fly and Home respectively moved ten and six million units. Their concert tours were consistent sellouts, making them the most commercially successful female group in the history of the recording industry. However, things took an unexpected turn for the Dixie Chicks in March 2003; with the United States expected to invade Iraq in a matter of days, the group's Texas-born singer Natalie Maines said during a concert in England, "Just so you know, we're ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas." While the spontaneous quip earned cheers during the show, the Dixie Chicks soon found themselves at the center of a firestorm of controversy at home -- radio stations pulled their music from playlists, conservative political commentators organized boycotts and protests against the groups, and during shows the Chicks became the targets of death threats. As Maines and her bandmates Emily Robison and Martie Maguire weathered the storm, they had things of their own to deal with, including marriages, childbirth, and making a new album with producer Rick Rubin. Award-winning documentary filmmaker Barbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck teamed up to follow the Dixie Chicks as they recorded their 2006 album Taking the Long Way, fought back against the accusations lobbed against them, and struggled to hold on to their personal lives in the midst of intense media scrutiny. Dixie Chicks: Shut Up & Sing (titled for a comment shouted at them by a fan) was the result; the film became the first documentary to enjoy its world premiere as a Gala Presentation at the 2006 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By: Barbara Kopple, Cecilia Peck
Genres: Documentary, Special Interest

In Theaters: Nov 10, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Feb 20, 2007
Studio: Weinstein Company

Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
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.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
In today's polarized America, you pick who you stand with, even in pop culture. Kopple's film makes that choice stark...
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
A fascinating look at the intersection of commerce, celebrity, and controversy.
Joel Selvin, San Francisco Chronicle
[Natalie Maines] makes it clear in this astonishingly candid, intimate film that she doesn't think she has anything to apologize for.
Andrew Lewicky, Houston Chronicle
These two movies - one about family and one about freedom - never quite dovetail.
Tom Long, Detroit News
The Dixie Chicks certainly don't shut up, but they do sing in Shut Up & Sing; and while some may wish they'd done more of one or the other, there's no denying the power of this documentary.
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
The thrust of the movie lies in the trenchant mix of image-rebuilding strategies and genuine politicization the Chicks undergo
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
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.
Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media
Chicks chirp about free speech in passionate docu.
Christopher Smith, Bangor Daily News (Maine)
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.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
The movie isn't quite the idolatrous you-go-girl portrait one might expect.
Moira Sullivan, Movie Magazine International
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!
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
It isn't a disciplined doco, and the fragmentation of the throughline makes for occasional sags in the film, but the filmmakers mean well.
Stuart McGurk, thelondonpaper
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.
Anthony Quinn, Independent
I came round to them by the end, but it's not a great introduction.
Tom Robey, Daily Telegraph
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.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
A gold statue of the Dixie Chicks should be erected in Maines' hometown of Lubbock, Texas.
Wendy Ide, Times [UK]
It was a throwaway scrap of a comment tossed to an audience baying with appreciation.
Richard Luck, Film4
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.

Read all 19 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jeff "

As a music fan, I'm learning towards heavy metal music and rock. However this documentary on country all female band Dixie Chicks is a phenomenal film surrounding the controversy around a comment that Natalie Maines made during a concert. This film chronicles the ordeal the band… More
As a music fan, I'm learning towards heavy metal music and rock. However this documentary on country all female band Dixie Chicks is a phenomenal film surrounding the controversy around a comment that Natalie Maines made during a concert. This film chronicles the ordeal the band to face, the numerous threats they had to endure to regain a foothold in country music. This documentary is terrific, and shows the ignorance of some people perfectly. Even though I don't like Country music, I find what these gals have gone to be atrocious, and I respect them for saying what I believe is a good thing. The film has some sad moments, but also funny moments as Natalie Maines has an intense feud with Toby Keith (she wears a shirt that says F.U.T.K) We all know what that could mean. As a documentary on a band, this is just as entertaining as say Rush Beyond the Lighted Stage and Anvil the story of Anvil! I thought it was a very entertaining documentary, and even for a metalhead like me, I enjoyed this film. This is a terrific music documentary. If you enjoy documentaries of this style give it a shot.
Sanjaya &

This film is my first documentary film I've watched... And my feeling is how great this documentary was... Dixie Chicks to go from hero to zero only with a one second word... It's hard if I had to have a hard time like they had... And for Natalie, the lead singer, she's… More
This film is my first documentary film I've watched... And my feeling is how great this documentary was... Dixie Chicks to go from hero to zero only with a one second word... It's hard if I had to have a hard time like they had... And for Natalie, the lead singer, she's great... And of course the single 'Not Ready To Make Nice' get them back on the track... A great comeback for them with 5 Grammy this year, nothing would be nicer than that... And of course, this movie is 'nice' too...
Red L

I had no idea how much of an effect Natalie's comments had on the band. Dixie Chicks are the only country and western band I will listen to.
Nate Z

[center][img]http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/6784/prestige6so5.jpg[/img][/center] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Shut Up & Sing - With the clarity that a few years offer, can we all agree that what happened to the Dixie Chicks on the eve of the Iraq War was insane? Lead singer… More
[center][img]http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/6784/prestige6so5.jpg[/img][/center] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Shut Up & Sing - With the clarity that a few years offer, can we all agree that what happened to the Dixie Chicks on the eve of the Iraq War was insane? Lead singer Natalie Maines, in concert in London, told the crowd that the group was not for war and was ashamed President Bush hailed from Texas. What followed was a maelstrom of irrational behavior; boycotts beckoned, people protested, and long-time Dixie Chicks fans threw out their CDs and called the group traitors, my God, someone even sent a death threat, all for disagreeing with a country’s march to war. [i]Shut Up & Sing[/i] chronicles their lives at the time of the 2003 controversy and their 2006 follow-up album, mostly compromised of songs inspired by the anger and frustration they felt. The documentary itself is nothing too slick or overproduced; it really just follows a headlining group through the most volatile time of their life. For that, it’s intensely fascinating and bizarre to watch the Chicks backlash, but there’s little else as compelling. Several of those in protest questioned the Dixie Chick’s patriotism for questioning whether the war was necessary, and some said they should be strapped to bombs over in Iraq. Four years later, 3500 American deaths, no WNDs, scandal after scandal, no discernable way out, a civil war, and a president that can’t even get the time of day, I wonder how many of those decrying the Chicks would be apologizing to them today. Another highlight of [i]Shut Up & Sing[/i] is the most ludicrously ignorant statement I may have ever heard, courtesy of Toby Keith defending his songwriting skills: “She said ‘We’ll put a boot up your ass’ is ignorant, and that anyone could write that. Well, she didn’t write it.” Bravo Mr. Keith, bravo.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Nate’s Grade: B[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]The Prestige - Christopher Nolan can do no wrong in my book. The director of [i]Memento[/i], [i]Insomnia[/i], and [i]Batman Begins[/i] has bewitched me with his clever non-linear storylines and artistic vision. [i]The Prestige[/i] is 2006’s second period set magician movie, and in my opinion it’s the better of the two. Nolan’s film lacks the magic of [i]The Illusionist[/i], instead focusing more on the bitter realties of obsession, self-destruction, and the lengths that men will travel for vengeance. The script centers on a pair of dueling magicians (Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman) that are each trying to discover the other’s trick and top them. The storyline is as twisty as a pretzel and told in Nolan’s familiar non-linear fashion, building to a very dark reveal. Whereas [i]The Illusionist[/i] sweeps viewers up with the wonder of magic, [i]The Prestige[/i] is all about how tricks are orchestrated, both on and offstage. The results are a tad cold; you don’t really feel for either magician. The movie is itself a trick, but one grandly told with excellent slight of hand. The final act takes a step outside of the film’s tone but it works for me, and it’s been weeks since I last saw the haunting final images and I still cannot get them out of my mind. [i]The Prestige[/i] is another notch on my Nolan love meter.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Nate’s Grade: A-[/color][/font]
William G

Since when did taste in music and politics need to be exclusive?
Ina S

I like documentaries that observe rather than comment, as this one does. The nonlinearity adds to understanding the emotional turmoil the band goes through and makes this a very compelling documentary. The moment when they prepare for the Dallas concert after having received a death… More
I like documentaries that observe rather than comment, as this one does. The nonlinearity adds to understanding the emotional turmoil the band goes through and makes this a very compelling documentary. The moment when they prepare for the Dallas concert after having received a death threat is extremely touching.
Patrick D

Yah, that's right, stick it to the man!!! Well.... Kudos to the Dixie Chicks for speaking out, for sure. But as this documentary shows, they (/Natalie Maines) are kind of shit-disturbers, BUT that being said, free speech is free speech, and right on. Being not a country fan and… More
Yah, that's right, stick it to the man!!! Well.... Kudos to the Dixie Chicks for speaking out, for sure. But as this documentary shows, they (/Natalie Maines) are kind of shit-disturbers, BUT that being said, free speech is free speech, and right on. Being not a country fan and in Canada, this issue didn't effect me when it came out, accept that I thought the Dixie Chicks were a little of alright for saying what they did. This documentary is well done for sure, and gave me a chance to sample their music without actually having to make the effort to listen. It held my attention and is quite interesting. However, being left wing, in my beliefs, I could still see that this documentary was one sided, but what doc isn't. And there was a kind of a story arc too, that reached a climax a bit too early and seemed to drag on at the end. Overall it was pretty decent and enjoyable.
Robert F

The tagline for this documentary perfectly summs it up: "Freedom of speech is fine, as long as you don't do it in public." I love the Dixie Chicks and I love their music, and this movie made me so angry. I wish I could be more articulate, but I just can't believe… More
The tagline for this documentary perfectly summs it up: "Freedom of speech is fine, as long as you don't do it in public." I love the Dixie Chicks and I love their music, and this movie made me so angry. I wish I could be more articulate, but I just can't believe how many fucked up people there are in the world!!! The level of rage that was directed at them was unbelievable. And not a single person in the whole movie gave a valid reason as to why they disagreed with what was said at the concert. Their only comebacks were that they were "dumb bimbos" or "ignorant". It's people like Bill O'Reilly (who said that they are "callow, foolish women who deserve to be slapped around") that should be getting the death threats, not Natalie Maines, for god's sake. At least now she can say, 'I told you so'.
Sarah P

Showed me a prejudice in myself, judging the Dixie Chicks as just another redneck country act and until the "incident" didn't think otherwise. It was enraging to see all of the idiots interviewed with their blind and zombie-like patriotism for the worst administration… More
Showed me a prejudice in myself, judging the Dixie Chicks as just another redneck country act and until the "incident" didn't think otherwise. It was enraging to see all of the idiots interviewed with their blind and zombie-like patriotism for the worst administration in history.
Wu C

Interesting doc on the Chicks.