THE COMMITMENTS (FILM)

'''The Commitments''' is a 1991 film adaptation of the novel of the same name by Roddy Doyle, which tells the story of some unemployed Dubliners who form a soul band. It was directed by Alan Parker from a screenplay adapted by Dick Clement, Ian Le Frenais and Doyle himself. The film was an international co-production between companies in Ireland, the UK and the USA.
''The Commitments'' stars Robert Arkins as Jimmy Rabbitte, Johnny Murphy as Joey "The Lips" Fagan, and Colm Meaney as Jimmy Rabbitte Sr. The members of the band are played by Michael Aherne, Angeline Ball, Maria Doyle, Dave Finnegan, Bronagh Gallagher, Félim Gormley, Glen Hansard, Dick Massey, Kenneth McCluskey, and Andrew Strong as Deco.
The film was very successful at the box office and introduced a new generation to rhythm and blues, much as ''The Blues Brothers'' had in the 1980s.

Contents

Synopsis

Cast

Awards

Aftermath

References

External links

Synopsis

Jimmy Rabbitte aspires to be the manager of the world's greatest rock 'n' roll band, with only one kind of music in mind: soul. Disgusted with the current state of bands in Ireland, he decides to assemble an old school Dublin soul band in the tradition of greats like Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett. Jimmy holds auditions at his parents' house and soon assembles his group of young musicians. With the help of Joey "The Lips" Fagan, the only veteran musician in the band, Jimmy begins to whip the rest of the members into stage-ready shape - only to have the group fall apart due to a clash of egos.
The great contradiction in the film is that most of it was shot on the Southside, which went against the popular myth that purports the rich live on the South and the poor live on the north of the River Liffey.

Cast

The cast were mostly unknown before filming, and were mainly chosen on the strength of their musical, rather than acting, ability.^[1]

★ Robert Arkins as Jimmy Rabbitte, Manager. Arkins was initially considered for the role of Deco until the filmmakers discovered Andrew Strong.

★ Andrew Strong as Declan "Deco" Cuffe, Lead Singer. Strong was only 16 at the time of filming but demonstrated a notable singing ability. He went on to become a popular singer.

★ Bronagh Gallagher as Bernie McGloughlin, Backup Singer

★ Angeline Ball as Imelda Quirke, Backup Singer

★ Maria Doyle Kennedy as Natalie Murphy, Backup Singer (as Maria Doyle)

★ Glen Hansard as Outspan "Fender Bender" Foster, Guitar. Hansard is lead singer of The Frames.

★ Kenneth McCluskey as Derek "Meatman" Scully, Bass

★ Johnny Murphy as Joey "The Lips" Fagan, Trumpet

★ Félim Gormley as Dean Fay, Sax

★ Michael Aherne as Steven "Soul Surgeon" Clifford, Piano

★ Dave Finnegan as Mickah "Don't F
★ ck With Me" Wallace, Drums

★ Dick Massey as Billy "The Animal" Mooney, Drums

★ Andrea Corr as Sharon, Jimmy's younger sister. Corr and her siblings went on to become chart-topping band The Corrs. In fact, The Corrs' first public performance was auditioning for parts in ''The Commitments''; they impressed the film's music coordinator, John Hughes, who became their manager.

★ Peter Rowan as the skateboarding boy who wants to audition for the band. Rowan can also be seen on the cover of U2's albums ''Boy'' and ''War''.^[2]

★ Colm Mac Con Iomaire as an auditioning fiddler. Mac Con Iomaire is the violinist for The Frames.
Niamh Kavanagh unsuccessfully auditioned for a role as a backup singer, but went on to win the Eurovision Song Contest for Ireland.

Awards

The film won the BAFTA Award for Best Film, as well as BAFTA Awards for Best Director, Best Editing, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy and for the Academy Award for Best Film Editing.
In 2005 it was voted the best Irish film of all time in a poll sponsored by Jameson Irish Whiskey. ^[3].

Aftermath

Some of the band members from the film (including the bassist and the original drummer) formed a group that tours under the name The Commitments.

References

1. Alan Parker, DVD commentary.
2. http://www.thecommitments.net/movie.html
3. http://www.thecommitments.net/pdf_files/best_film.pdf

External links

★

★ Official site of the touring band The Commitments

★ Official site of the DVD