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Essential for soul fans and entertaining for novices, Muscle Shoals offers a compelling, warts-and-all glimpse at one of the most fascinating stories in modern American music.
All Critics (84) | Top Critics (29) | Fresh (81) | Rotten (3)
Hall's backstory, riddled with tragedy, gets the proper attention and respect here. But it's the music that won't let you stop watching. Apr 21, 2014 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
Hall's backstory, riddled with tragedy, gets the proper attention and respect here. But it's the music that won't let you stop watching.
David Hinckley
The anecdotes work without the music, but if you like the music... Dang, it's a stairway to heaven. Oct 25, 2013 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
The anecdotes work without the music, but if you like the music... Dang, it's a stairway to heaven.
Charlotte O'Sullivan
A stubborn charmer whose life was a magnet for tragedy, Hall is the emotional centre not only of the Muscle Shoals sound but of this film. Oct 24, 2013 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
A stubborn charmer whose life was a magnet for tragedy, Hall is the emotional centre not only of the Muscle Shoals sound but of this film.
Chris Michael
The movie is more a collection of cool people telling great stories than it is a structured documentary (despite Camalier's attempts in that direction). But in this case, that's enough. Oct 24, 2013 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
The movie is more a collection of cool people telling great stories than it is a structured documentary (despite Camalier's attempts in that direction). But in this case, that's enough.
Bill Goodykoontz
Director Greg "Freddy" Camalier augments the talking heads with unusually evocative vistas ... Oct 24, 2013 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
Director Greg "Freddy" Camalier augments the talking heads with unusually evocative vistas ...
Joe Williams
Exceptional music, unexceptional documentary on the swampy sounds of the famous Tennessee backing band. Oct 24, 2013 | Rating: 3/5
Exceptional music, unexceptional documentary on the swampy sounds of the famous Tennessee backing band.
Matthew Thrift
There is an over-reliance on commentary by platitude-spouting rock stars...but the film's great virtue is that it will introduce and remind viewers of the wonderfully varied trove of music that came out of these studios. Mar 13, 2019 | Full Review…
There is an over-reliance on commentary by platitude-spouting rock stars...but the film's great virtue is that it will introduce and remind viewers of the wonderfully varied trove of music that came out of these studios.
Andrew Martin
It's the music here that shines brightest, and for fans of any of the artists involved, there's more than enough great content on show here to get feet tapping and hearts thumping. Mar 4, 2019 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
It's the music here that shines brightest, and for fans of any of the artists involved, there's more than enough great content on show here to get feet tapping and hearts thumping.
Daniel Green
The movie doesn't mention the contemporary Christian or gospel albums recorded at his studio. But what's there is so uplifting it's still well worth your time. Sep 6, 2018 | Full Review…
The movie doesn't mention the contemporary Christian or gospel albums recorded at his studio. But what's there is so uplifting it's still well worth your time.
Megan Basham
An occasionally doleful but otherwise lively trip, Muscle Shoals is yet another cinematic shout-out to those unsung heroes who came out of nowhere and made music that mattered. Oct 24, 2017 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
An occasionally doleful but otherwise lively trip, Muscle Shoals is yet another cinematic shout-out to those unsung heroes who came out of nowhere and made music that mattered.
Craig D. Lindsey
Camalier's tuneful if somewhat overlong anecdotal history does the most justice to the Muscle Shoals sound just by listening to it. Feb 4, 2014 | Full Review…
Camalier's tuneful if somewhat overlong anecdotal history does the most justice to the Muscle Shoals sound just by listening to it.
Jonathan Kiefer
Retrospective rockumentary deconstructs the secret of a legendary Alabama music studio's success. Jan 26, 2014 | Rating: 4/4
Retrospective rockumentary deconstructs the secret of a legendary Alabama music studio's success.
Kam Williams
Shortly after streaming this music documentary I also streamed The Wrecking Crew. I have rated this one a full star higher because every part of it is simply a step above that other rock doc. The studio session musicians at the center of this doc produced more essential tracks for more hit records and artists. The storytelling aspect is more interesting with great interview clips and archival materials. FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama was ambitiously, independently managed by Rick Hall. It is thrilling if you only know the big name singers/bands who recorded songs at FAME to get a behind the scenes peek and meet the work horse session musicians who are actually responsible for the sounds we know and love.
Super Reviewer
There have been a tremendous amount of music documentaries created over the last five years and Muscle Shoals adds to that memorable list. Here deep in Alabama, a unique sound emerges causing all the big names in music to come, record and pay homage. This is also a homage to those individuals who stayed in the community and contributed to that greatness.
Documentary explaining how two studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama became hit factories, supplying us with number one singles from Percy Sledge, Aretha Franklin, the Rolling Stones, and others. This goes deeper into the music business and its history than the more celebrated 20 FEET FROM STARDOM, and Anthony Arendt's unexpectedly great cinematography makes this tiny hamlet and its environs into a character every bit as intriguing as the rural music moguls.
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