Movie Description
Alan Parker's THE COMMITMENTS, based on Roddy Doyle's buoyant debut novel, follows the enjoyable travails of a band cobbled together by young Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins), whose vision is to bring soul music to Dublin. After putting an ad in the local paper, Jimmy assembles an unlikely group of musicians who, though nervous, raw, and rough, make music that speaks to something very near the heart of their audience of curious kids and sharp-tongued, sarcastic relatives. As the band nears its big break, egos clash and expectations of fame and fortune start to tear them apart, forcing Jimmy to fight desperately to keep them together.
THE COMMITMENTS bubbles over with life, largely on the strength of the young, mostly unknown cast. Andrew Strong shines in the role of the lead singer exuding a volatile and irresistible charisma as he transforms rapidly from an unsure adolescent into an egotistical spotlight hogger. Colm Meaney contributes a hilarious cameo as Jimmy's father (a role that would expand in two later film adaptations of Doyle novels, THE SNAPPER and THE VAN). Pumped along by killer 1960s soul tunes and crackling throughout with quick-witted dialogue, THE COMMITMENTS is an effervescent, affecting tour through working-class Dublin.
| Credits | | Producer: | Lynda Myles, Roger Randall-Cutler | | Cast: | Dick Massey, Glen Hansard, Johnny Murphy |
| Details | | Edition: | 2-Disc Collector's Edition |
Notes
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Dolby Surround - French
Dolby Surround - Spanish
Disc One:
Widescreen - 1.85
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary - 1. Alan Parker - Director
Disc Two:
Additional Release Material:
Documentaries - 1. "The Making of THE COMMITMENTS"
2. "The Commitments: Looking Back"
3. "Dublin Soul: The Working Class & Changing Face of Dublin"
Featurette - 1. "Making of"
Music Video - 1. "Treat Her Right" - The Commitments (Intro by Alan Parker and Robert Arkins)
Theatrical Trailer
Original Songs - 1. "Before the Next Tear Drop Falls" - Andrew Strong
2. "Taking on the World" - Robert Arkins
6 TV Spots
4 Radio Spots
Text/Image Galleries:
Still Gallery (10 Stills)
Editorial Reviews
"...Doyle has a haunting loveliness..."
Rolling Stone - p.101 - Peter Travers (09/05/1991)
"...A group of talented newcomers....A hyperkinetic jumble, filling the air with song..."
New York Times - p.C11 - Janet Maslin (08/14/1991)
"...An infectious little movie....Robust performances..."
USA Today - p.4D - Mike Clark
"...There's no resisting THE COMMITMENTS....When that band starts to sing, the screen fills with genuine life..."
Los Angeles Times - Kenneth Turan (08/30/1991)
"[With] a stirring soundtrack and exuberant performances."
Uncut - Uncut Staff (08/01/2000)
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