The Commitments (1991)

Director:

Alan Parker

Writers (WGA):

Roddy Doyle (novel)
Dick Clement (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

28 elokuu 1991 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music

Tagline:

They Had Absolutely Nothing. But They Were Willing To Risk It All.

Plot:

The travails of Jimmy Rabbitte to form the "World's Hardest Working Band," The Commitments, and bring soul music to the people of Dublin, Ireland.

Plot Keywords:

Band | Ireland | Elvis | Fictional Band | Vulgarity

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 10 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Robert Arkins	...	Jimmy Rabbitte
Michael Aherne	...	Steven Clifford, Piano
Angeline Ball	...	Imelda Quirke, Backup Singer
Maria Doyle Kennedy	...	Natalie Murphy, Backup Singer (as Maria Doyle)
Dave Finnegan	...	Mickah Wallace, Drums
Bronagh Gallagher	...	Bernie McGloughlin, Backup Singer
Félim Gormley	...	Dean Fay, Sax
Glen Hansard	...	Outspan Foster, Guitar
Dick Massey	...	Billy Mooney, Drums (quit)
Johnny Murphy	...	Joey 'The Lips' Fagan, Trumpet
Ken McCluskey	...	Derek Scully, Bass (as Kenneth McCluskey)
Andrew Strong	...	Deco Cuffe
Colm Meaney	...	Jimmy Rabbitte, Sr.
Anne Kent	...	Mrs. Rabbitte
Andrea Corr	...	Sharon Rabbitte

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

Ireland | UK | USA

Language:

English | Irish Gaelic

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:PG | Australia:M | Finland:K-8 | Germany:12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Ardmore Studios - Herbert Road, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland

Company:

Beacon Communications

Trivia:

Jimmy is asked if he has brought Mississippi Burning (1988) (also directed by Parker) with him on the train. He is also asked if he has any "Hothouse Flowers", a band in which Maria Doyle Kennedy (Natalie) once sang backup for.

Goofs:

Continuity: As Andrew Strong is about to go into the main Chorus towards the end of "Try A Little Tenderness", when the drums kick in, the piano player goes for a strike down the keys, but in the next shot he's playing it normally.

Quotes:

Deco: If I'm gonna front the band, I like the sound of "Deco."
Billy: Deco the bus conductor. Is that "top-Deco" or "bottom-Deco"?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Movie Connections: The Commitments (#1.2)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Try A Little Tenderness

"This way it's poetry..."

This is the simple and captivating story of Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins, fantastic like the whole cast), a young guy who decides to form a soul band in Dublin, and all the amazing people who join him. They've got musical talent and big dreams, but is that enough to climb to the top (and stay there)?

Alan Parker has made some very diverse films ("Midnight Express", "Angel Heart", "Mississippi Burning", "Angela's Ashes") in his long career, but you can see that music is in his blood and one of his favourite themes ("Bugsy Malone", "Fame", "Pink Floyd The Wall", "Evita"). He orchestrates a mostly unknown cast (which includes a very young Glen Hansard, from the recent hit "Once") in a tale of hope, determination, and great music. The British have a great eye for the bittersweet side of life and misfits in general ("The Full Monty", "Little Voice", "Billy Elliot" are fine examples), often with music as an important factor in the background (coincidence? I don't think so!). "The Commitments" is a beautiful, cheerful film, as passionate and memorable as Cameron Crowe's masterpiece "Almost Famous", and certainly one of the best music films of all time. 10/10.