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The Commitments Details

1991 Certificate 15
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 9743 members

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, .. Read more

Starring Andrew Strong, Robert Arkins, Michael Aherne, Angeline Hall
Director Alan Parker
Genres Comedy

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The Commitments

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.

Starring Andrew Strong, Robert Arkins, Michael Aherne, Angeline Hall, Maria Doyle
Director Alan Parker
Studio 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time DVD: 1 hr 53 mins
Certificate Certificate 15
Genres Comedy
Language DVD: English
Hearing-impaired English
Released DVD: 14 Mar 2005
Production year: 1991
Format DVD

The Commitments (1991)

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  • Critics' reviews (2) of The Commitments

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  • 4 stars out of 5

    The soundtrack album from this musical drama sold like hot cakes, it walked away with Bafta awards for best film, best direction and best adapted screenplay, and it should have made bigger stars of several of its cast than has actually been the case. It was also Alan Parker's first feature on this side of the Atlantic since Pink Floyd — the Wall nearly a decade earlier and it brought the work of future Booker Prize-winning author Roddy Doyle to the attention of the chattering classes. Laced with Irish charm and blessed with some superb music sung with passion by Andrew Strong, Bronagh Gallagher, Angeline Ball and Maria Doyle, it's very funny, especially during the band auditions held by the excellent Robert Arkins.

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006
  • 2 stars out of 4

    Lively and energetic account of backstage traumas, troubles and triumphs.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
    • Posted 02 Mar 2006

  • Most helpful member's review of The Commitments

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  • 9 out of 9 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Beautiful film, a joy to watch

    I first saw this three or four years ago, and the characters and the beauty of the film shone in my mind so vividly I couldn't help watching it again. Superb acting, the setting and casting is brilliant, and Roddy Doyle's dialogue is sheer genius.

    One of the funniest films I can remember seeing, the dialog is sharp, witty, and cutting, keeping you rolling along with the fantastic story line. Even with such a funny script, the film is powerful in other respects - and the characters are so strong and well-developed you can't help being taken along with them for the ride.

    Without doubt one of the funniest, most powerful, moving, and memorable films of all time. See it. Now.

    10/10 - Sheer brilliance

      • Moose from Greater London
      • Posted 14 Oct 2003 03:53

  • Most recent members' review of The Commitments

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  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Introduces you to soul

    A wonderfully real life film about the creation of Irish soul music.The script is delightfully profane, the accent carries the swearing in an unoffensive way that just made me laugh. The acting is so real it appears to be like a documentary slice of life

      • Bally from Basingrad
      • Posted 12 May 2004 12:07

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Rating breakdown

9,743 Member ratings
  • 100
1,118
  • 90
1,101
  • 80
2,301
  • 70
2,045
  • 60
1,539
  • 50
802
  • 40
386
  • 30
231
  • 20
145
  • 10
75

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