SXSW Review: Shut Up and Play the Hits

In the midst of alleged Kanye West sightings, rumors of a Girl Talk show, and the overall chaos of the second day of the Music fest at SXSW, Shut Up and Play the Hits, a documentary chronicling the last days of the band LCD Soundsystem, was able to fill up the Stateside Theatre on Thursday afternoon. The film is centered on James Murphy, the eclectic leader and brain-child of LCD Soundsystem. Directors Will Lovelace and Dylan Southern weave together a personal interview with Murphy, footage from their last show at (a sold-out) Madison Square Garden, and footage shot of Murphy the morning after the final show.

Murphy's internal struggles are laid bare in the film as he discusses briefly the history of LCD Soundsystem, but mainly talks about his creative process, when something can be considered art, and his reasons for quitting. The rapid success of LCD Soundsystem came late in life for Murphy and it is extremely interesting to hear his thoughts on fame, popularity, and what inspires him to create art.

What makes Shut Up and Play the Hits stand out from the usual music documentary is the juxtaposition between the show at Madison Square Garden and the footage of Murphy on the following morning. The concert alone is enough to merit watching this film, especially for devoted fans, but to see Murphy the morning after completely alone in his apartment, seeming to struggle with this new mundane reality, is fascinating. Rumor has it that this aspect of the film may have been scripted, and oftentimes his dramatic bouts with his kitchen appliances and French bulldog do seem staged. Even if staged, the scenes create a meaningful look into what Murphy must be going through internally: the struggle to figure out if quitting is right decision or the biggest mistake of his career.

Shut Up and Play the Hits is a delicate, powerful, and energetic tribute to a truly influential and unique band. Infectious beats and soaring hooks create an all-out dance party in Madison Square Garden, proving their original purpose for creating music did not die in vain. Lingering shots of the band (and many fans) weeping at the end of the film show the devotion and love that was the driving force behind the music of LCD Soundsystem.

Michael Davenport is the Marketing Apprentice at the Austin Film Society.