AmateurMovieReviews.com

One of America's most talented Country Western groups, the Dixie Chicks, has released a movie that seeks to determine what ever happened to one of our country's fundamental tenets, that of free speech. It is something the three singers have wondered about it for the better part of three years.

Once one of the most popular country music groups in America, the film features the trio of ladies as they experience the backlash that often accompanies political dissent. The ostracized group moved from the top of the music world to also ran status after one member of the group uttered a rather innocuous comment, at least by American standards. It was back in 2003, on a London stage, that Dixie Chick Natalie Maines offered a somewhat pointed, albeit mild opinion of President Bush. The singer offered the comment that she was ashamed President Bush was also fellow Texan.

For having the audacity to publicly share their political views the group was essentially blackballed by Country Western media folks. With Country Western fans strong supporters of the military and ultimately the President, the Dixie Chicks ended up being put into a position where their fan base was forced to make a decision about the politics of the group.

The criticism led to corporate media conglomerates influencing air time at outlets all across the country. According to the film, "Shut Up & Sing," the fuss created by the words led to the Chicks being banned from air play by management in various media outlets.

As the movie is set to premiere this weekend in both New York and Los Angeles, at least one film company has said that NBC wouldn't accept an ad for the film. Though the political season has been ripe with ribald ads and features several with notoriously false claims about candidates, the ad for Shut Up & Sing seems rather innocuous.

The ad shows some footage of the Iraq War then provides the basic context to Maines' 2003 remark about fellow Texan Bush. But the it also shows Maines calling Bush "dumb" for one comment he made about the group.

Shut Up & Sing chronicles the three years that members of the music group spent attempting to keep their once promising careers on track. The film is rated R for language.