RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
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 / On DVD / MC5 * A True Testimonial
MC5 * A True Testimonial

Rate this Movie Help Icon

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

MC5 * A True Testimonial (2004)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
94 %
Tomatometer

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted: 16

Fresh: 15

Rotten:1

Average Rating: 7.2/10

Rated: Not Rated

Runtime: 1 hr 59 mins

Genre: Musical & Performing Arts

Theatrical Release:Apr 23, 2004 Limited

Synopsis: One of the most electrifying acts to ever storm a Rock'n'Roll stage, the MC5's Detroit performances in the late 60s are legend. Their debut album, Kick Out the Jams, set a high-energy sonic... One of the most electrifying acts to ever storm a Rock'n'Roll stage, the MC5's Detroit performances in the late 60s are legend. Their debut album, Kick Out the Jams, set a high-energy sonic standard rarely matched in the thirty years since its release. The MC5's uncompromising stance and radical affiliations placed them, briefly, at the musical forefront of a generation bent on political and cultural change. In the midst of the most turbulent years in our nation's history, the MC5 embraced the promise and embodied the possibilities of a real American Revolution. For their efforts the MC5 were rewarded with critical indifference, broken contracts, police hassles and the censorship and suppression of their music. The MC5 became, in their own words, "perfect targets for the double-cross." Relegated to some dark and forgotten corner of rock history, they have become little more than a curiosity, a footnote, victims of the American Ruse. But their legend has lived on, and while the influence of the MC5 continues to resurface in Punk, in Heavy Metal, in Grunge, entire generations know little of their actual story. ...Right Now, ...it's time to Get Down With It, ...it's time to Testify, ...it's time to tell the true story of one of the most unique and influential American Rock'n'Roll bands: ...the MC5, their place in rock history, and their place in American History. Through rare film and television footage, still photographs and interviews, the whole story of the MC5 will come to life again. This is a story of stars and bars and dragstrips and riots; Panthers and pot-busts; Art and Revolution and the FBI; this is the real story of five genuine American heroes. This is the story of a revolution fueled by twin guitars and decked out in sequined suits; this is a story of the fire and of the smoke behind the American Dream. [More]

Starring: Michael Davis, John Sinclair, Dennis Thompson, Becky Tyner

Starring: Michael Davis, John Sinclair, Dennis Thompson, Becky Tyner, Sigrid Dobat Smith, Wayne Kramer

Director: David C. Thomas

Director: David C. Thomas
Producer: Laurel M. Legler
Studio: Avatar Films

[See More Credits]

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Nov 30, 1999

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for MC5 * A True Testimonial

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View
Arrange By: Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

...captures the gritty charisma of Detroit as it informed the quirky and colorful personalities of a band that many fans still remember today.

Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com | comment Comment
05/08/09
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

No review available.

comment Comment
12/09/07
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

Never less than fascinating.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
08/08/04
Lewis Beale
Film Journal International
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
06/05/04
Hollywood Reporter
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Though raw and sometimes slapdash, MC5: A True Testimonial goes a long way in explaining why that happened, most notably through the raw power of the band's music and the fiery passion that was bound with its image.

Full Review Source: Seattle Times | comment Comment
04/23/04
Ted Fry
Seattle Times

Like the band itself, the movie is loud and noisy and undeniably eye-catching. But like them, too, it fatally can't see beyond the immediate to realize there's a better way of making its point then simply shouting louder than anyone else.

Full Review Source: Newark Star-Ledger | comment Comment
04/23/04
Stephen Whitty
Newark Star-Ledger
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

MC5: A True Testimonial should please die-hard fans as well as viewers who have never heard the band and its anthem, 'Kick Out the Jams.'

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
04/22/04
V.A. Musetto
New York Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A success in that it might help introduce the group to Gens X and Y.

Full Review Source: Planet Sick-Boy | comment Comment
04/22/04
Jon Popick
Planet Sick-Boy

A riveting, all-elbows- and-knuckles documentary about the proto-punk warriors known as the MC5.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
04/22/04
Elvis Mitchell
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A vivid evocation of a moment when even the ugliest guitar feedback could be taken as a serious political statement.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | comment Comment
04/22/04
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Bassist Michael Davis, way Lynchian on his desert land, and drummer Dennis Thompson, who brandishes a rifle at one point, provide jolts of pathos and aggression that remind us these were never art-school pretenders to the skids.

Full Review Source: Village Voice | comment Comment
04/13/04
Laura Sinagra
Village Voice
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The film is a touching, detailed portrait of an important and often overlooked band.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
04/09/04
Joel Selvin
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Intelligently combines rarely shown film, TV news, home footage, stills and interviews in a complete package.

Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews | comment Comment
04/07/04
Donald J. Levit
ReelTalk Movie Reviews

Like other commercial flops such as the Velvet Underground and the Stooges, the band's influence continues. This definitive documentary shows us why.

Full Review Source: Boston Herald | comment Comment
03/24/04
Paul Sherman
Boston Herald
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
03/16/04
Chicago Reader
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Thompson has lassoed the short, wild, luminous life of a rock band that crystallized a mirror-image cultural moment.

Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
03/12/04
Joan Anderman
Boston Globe
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Thomas unearths fabulous TV and home-movie footage of the group, and his interviews with the band capture the sense of loss.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
09/07/03
Kevin Courrier
Boxoffice Magazine
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
08/05/03
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment Comment
05/24/03
Adam Williams
PopMatters

the story of the MC5 is one that is trapped between art and politics... just like they were

Full Review Source: Greg's Previews at Yahoo! Movies | comment Comment
05/02/03
Greg Dean Schmitz
Greg's Previews at Yahoo! Movies
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View
See More Topics...

Related Forums for MC5 * A True Testimonial

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

See All

More DVDs

Close
Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
79%
79%
Gran Torino
30%
30%
12 Rounds
23%
23%
Confessions of a Shopa…
—
The Code
39%
39%
Inkheart

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
22%
22%
Push
12%
12%
The Unborn

More New Releases…

RT On Current TV

What’s Hot On RT

Deconstructing Harry

Deconstructing Harry

Pt. 3: Cuaron's darker Prisoner of Azkaban

Best Mockumentaries

Best Mockumentaries

From Borat to Spinal Tap, this one goes to 11

Humpday Clip

Humpday Clip

An exclusive peek at the indie comedy!

Half-Blood Prince

Half-Blood Prince

How good is the 6th Harry Potter?

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Weekly Ketchup: T.J. Hooker Film in Development
18
  • Warners Shortens Green Lantern Wishlist Source: Hollywood Reporter
94
  • Harold Ramis Talks Ghostbusters 3 Source: MakingOf.com
32
  • Spider-Man 4 Gets Its Third Writer Source: Latino Review
60
  • Warners Wins Favorable Ruling in Superman Case Source: Variety
18
  • Remo Williams Rides Again Source: Risky Biz
10
  • Mortal Kombat 3 Filming in September? Source: Slashfilm
82
  • MacGruber Gets a Director Source: Variety
39
  • PG-13 Turns 25 Source: VideoETA
8
  • Weekly Ketchup: Universal Takes on Asteroids
92
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Deconstructing Harry, Day 1: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
67
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Transformers and Ice Age Tie for Top Spot
59
  • Deconstructing Harry, Day 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
51
  • Weekly Ketchup: Universal Takes on Asteroids
46
  • Total Recall: Mock Docs That Rock
41
  • Critics Consensus: Bruno is Certified Fresh
41
  • Five Favorite Films with Kathryn Bigelow
39
  • RT on DVD: Knowing, Push, The Unborn Unleashed
26
  • Five Favourite Films with Jaime Winstone
19
  • Deconstructing Harry, Day 3: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
16
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

  • MC5 * A True Testimonial at Rotten Tomatoes
  • MC5 * A True Testimonial at AskMen

Fresh Links

Featured
Point-Counterpoint: Bruno
Point-Counterpoint: Bruno External Link

MSN's David Fear and Frank Paiva go head to head discussing the pros and cons of Bruno star Sacha Baron Cohen.

The New Cult Canon
The New Cult Canon External Link

The AV Club's Scott Tobias takes a second look at David Lynch's cult classic, Lost Highway.

Tom Cruise's 10 Best Roles
Tom Cruise's 10 Best Roles External Link

TIME takes us on a 25-year long journey into the superstar's career, giving us a look at his 10 best roles.

A Baywatch Comedy?
A Baywatch Comedy? External Link

BuzzSugar reports on Paramount's plans to rebirth the iconic TV show as a comedy film.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| 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.