Studio: 20th Century Fox
Director: Alan Parker
Starring: Robert Arkins, Johnny Murphy, Com Meaney, Andrew Strong, Maria Doyle
Original Release: 1991
I don't remember hearing about it at the time, but the movie, The Commitments, is actually based on a book by Irish author, Roddy Doyle. It's the first part in his 1987 book, The Barrytown Trilogy. Parts two and three were also turned into films, The Snapper (1993) and The Van (1997).
The Commitments, for those of you who may have missed it (I don't know why you would have though) is about a group of working class kids from Dublin who find themselves out of work, out of money and out of touch with the world at large.
The film follows a guy named Jimmy Rabbitte as he struggles to put together the world's greatest soul band. And, since Jimmy lives in Dublin, Ireland the availability of rhythm and blues musicians is somewhat limited. But, that makes for one of the funnier scenes in the movie, the string of people who traipse in and out of his parent's house auditioning for the band.
Eventually, Jimmy picks his musicians and with the help of Joey "The Lips" Fagan, the only true musician in the group, Jimmy manages to put together a working soul band.
The film then follows the trials and tribulations that face all young bands as they go from gig to gig trying to get noticed and trying to get established. Sometimes, the only thing holding them together is their love of American soul music, sweet soul music. They cover the best from Otis Redding to Jackie Wilson and Aretha Franklin to Wilson Pickett.
One of the main plotlines, although there really isn't much of a plot, revolves around whether the legendary Wilson Pickett will turn up at a Commitments gig and join them on stage.
I don't know if it's true or not, because I've always been fan of soul music, but I have a friend who says this film is responsible for the resurgence of soul music in much the same the same way The Blues Brothers brought blues music back to the forefront.
One thing is certain, The Commitments shows the power of music, especially soul music, to bring people together and give them hope.
The Commitments proves that soul ain't just a black thing, it's an everybody thing...so, like Jimmy asks in his ad for band members...Have you got soul?
The Commitments proves that soul ain't just a black thing, it's an everybody thing...so, like Jimmy asks in his ad for band members...Have you got soul?
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