The Commitments (1991)
Average Rating: 7.5/10
Reviews Counted: 40
Fresh: 35 | Rotten: 5
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 6.4/10
Critic Reviews: 11
Fresh: 8 | Rotten: 3
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 27,575
My Rating
Movie Info
"The Irish are the blacks of Europe, Dubliners are the blacks of Ireland, and the North Siders are the blacks of Dublin ... so say it loud -- I'm black and I'm proud!" Or so Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins) tells his slightly puzzled friends as he tries to assemble a rhythm & blues show band in a working class community in Dublin in Alan Parker's film The Commitments. Jimmy is a would-be music business wheeler and dealer, and he's decided what Dublin needs is a top-shelf soul band. However,
Aug 14, 1991 Wide
Nov 2, 1999
Cast
-
Robert Arkins
Jimmy Rabbitte -
Michael Aherne
Steven Clifford -
Angeline Ball
Imelda Quirke -
Maria Doyle Kennedy
Natalie Murphy -
Dave Finnegan
Mickah Wallace -
Johnny Murphy
Joey "The Lips" Fagan -
Andrew Strong
Deco Cuffe -
Bronagh Gallagher
Bernie McGloughlin -
Felim Gormley
Dean Fay -
Glen Hansard
Outspan Foster -
Kenneth McCluskey
Derek Scully -
Colm Meaney
Mr. Rabbitte -
Jezz Bell
Heavy Metal Singer -
John Michael Bolger
Community Center Kid -
Philip Bredin
Ray -
Paul Bushnell
Avante-Garde-A-Clue Ban... -
Jody Campbell
Cajun Trio Member -
Liam Carney
Duffy -
Gerard Cassoni
Darren Rabbitte -
Andrea Corr
Sharon Rabbitte -
Jim Corr
Avante-Garde-A-Clue Ban... -
Lance Daly
Kid with Harmonica -
Emily Dawson
Punk Girl Singer -
Winston Dennis
Man in Limousine -
Phelim Drew
Roddy the Reporter -
Derek Duggan
Photographer -
Lindsay Fairclough
Tracey Rabbitte -
Ruth Fairclough
Linda Rabbitte -
Sheila Flitton
Church Cleaner -
Patrick Foy
Cajun Trio Member -
Ronan Hardiman
Dance Hall Manager -
Kristel Harris
Coconuts Trio Member -
Derek Herbert
Duffy's Sidekick -
Larry Hogan
Avante-Garde-A-Clue Ban... -
Sean Hughes
Dave from Eejit Records -
Philomena Kavanagh
Rabbitte's Neighbor -
Bernard Keelan
Avante-Garde-A-Clue Ban... -
Anne Kent
Mrs. Rabbitte -
Aoife Lawless
Imelda's Sister -
Pat Leavy
Unemployment Official -
Josylen Lyons
Deco's Fan -
Brian Mac Aodha
Uileann Pipe Player -
Colm Mac Con Iomaire
Fiddler Auditioner -
Eanna Mac Liam
Failed Drug Buyer -
Conor Malone
Protest Song Singer -
Dick Massey
Billy Mooney -
Mikel Murfi
Music Journalist -
Bob Navan
Regency Pub Barman -
Mick Nolan
Imelda's Father -
Eamon O'Connor
Only De Lonely Singer -
Paddy O'Connor
Rock Salmon Man -
Owen O'Gorman
Duffy's Sidekick -
Rynagh O'Grady
Bernie's Mother -
Maura O'Malley
Joey's Mother -
Mark O'Regan
Father Molloy -
Michael O'Reilly
Greg -
Maria Place
Coconuts Trio Member -
Eileen Reid
Imelda's Mother -
Peter Rowen
Shy Skateboard Audition... -
Ger Ryan
Pawnbroker -
Blaise Smith
Pool Hall Manager -
Tricia Smith
Les Miserables Singer -
Canice William
Smiths' Song Singer -
Alan Parker
Eejit Record Producer -
-
Dave Kane
Coconuts Trio Member -
Alan Murray
Cajun Trio Member -
John Cronin
Kid with Horse -
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All Critics (41) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (37) | Rotten (5) | DVD (22)
The film offers no message, no solutions, only a great time at the movies.
Top CriticDirector Alan Parker's story of a band of young Dubliners playing American '60s soul is fresh, well-executed and original.
This is probably Alan Parker's best film, in part because it's one of his most modest.
Foul-mouthed, fast-talking and very funny, this is Parker's best to date.
Mr. Parker is capable of whipping a series of quick, well-edited snippets into a happy collage of musical high spirits.
Parker keeps going for the glitz. He may have shot The Commitments in Ireland, but his soul never left Hollywood.
It's a relaxed, colorful creation, remaining true to rascally human behaviors while respecting the unifying power of music. Downright irresistible.
Does a remarkable job of balancing a feel of lower-class life with the sheer exuberance the music brings.
This typically slick but largely enjoyable Alan Parker offering is the story of the rise and demise of a young Irish soul band.
Sharply written and executed with real verve, this is an enduring and enjoyable comedy-drama that showcases some great performances both on and off-stage.
High-energy fun
Based on Doyle's first novel, Alan Parker's movie offers a fresh, captivating portrait of a new band whose goal is to bring 1960s soul music to working-class Dublin.
Has the raw power of a documentary and a driving musical soundtrack.
Audience Reviews for The Commitments
There is little in the way of comedy, "littler" in the way of drama, and too many musical sequences for my taste, but it's hard to fault the movie for any of these things. Suffice to say that I mildly enjoyed the experience of watching this film, and there's little to complain about.
Super Reviewer
-
- Failed Drug Buyer: I saw the queue down the street, I thought you was selling drugs...
-
- Jimmy Rabbitte: The Irish are the blacks of Europe, Dubliners are the blacks of Ireland, and the North Siders are the blacks of Dublin ... so say it loud -- I'm black and I'm proud!
-
- Jimmy Rabbitte: He says God sent him
- Mr. Rabbitte: On a fucking Suzuki?
Discussion Forum
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Foreign Titles
- Die Commitments (DE)
- Les Commitments (FR)
In a seperate issue, I can't help thinking this discredits the film ONCE ever so slightly I had thought their performances were really good, I hadn't known Glen Hansard had already appeared in this film.