The Commitments (1991)

Director:

Alan Parker

Writers (WGA):

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

Release Date:

28 August 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:

Irish | Elvis | Elvis Presley | Fictional Band | Band

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 10 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

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

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:L | 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:

One of the audition songs is the title song from Fame (1980) (also directed by Alan Parker).

Goofs:

Factual errors: When listing famous rock stars who died, "the guy from Free" was listed as "died choking on vomit." Paul Kossoff actually died of drug-related heart problems.

Quotes:

Unemployment Official: Mr. Rabbitte, you've been collecting unemployment benefit for two years. Are you trying to tell me you can't get a job?
Jimmy Rabbitte: We're a third world country - what can you do?

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Try A Little Tenderness

Brilliant!

I first heard of the Commitments when I heard someone playing the soundtrack on their car radio. I quickly bought myself a copy and played it about 10 times a day - the music and the singing were unlike anything I'd ever heard before, even though all the songs are covers.

It wasn't until about 6 months later that the film was on an obscure cable channel, and I literally got goosebumps as soon as the opening credits rolled with "Treat her right". It was so incredible to actually see the characters performing the songs that I'd grown to love. It all became complete actually seeing the story unfold, and by the end you're really rooting for the band to succeed. When they perform "Try a Little Tenderness" I've never managed to watch that scene without tears in my eyes, it's such a fantastic version of the song and the energy Andrew Strong brings to it is just incredible, especially as he was only 16 at the time.

Anyone who loves music has to see this film, even you're not familiar with soul music - I promise you'll be hooked after seeing The Commitments!