The Commitments (1991)
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A music fanatic in Dublin assembles a group of working-class youths to form a soul band.
The story
In the Northside of Dublin, Ireland, Jimmy Rabbitte is a young music fanatic who aspires to manage an Irish soul and rock and roll band in the tradition of 1950s and 60s African-American recording artists. He places an advert in the local newspaper and holds auditions in his parents' home. After being deluged by several unsuitable performers, Jimmy decides to put together a band consisting of friends and people he encounters—lead singer Deco Cuffe, guitarist Outspan Foster, keyboardist Steven Clifford, alto saxophonist Dean Fay, bassist Derek Scully, drummer Billy Mooney, and female backing singers Bernie McGloughlin, Natalie Murphy and Imelda Quirke. Jimmy then meets trumpeter Joey "The Lips" Fagan, a veteran musician who offers his services, and has unlikely stories about meeting and working with famous musicians. Joey names the band "The Commitments".
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In the Northside of Dublin, Jimmy Rabbitte forms a soul band called 'The Commitments' with a group of local youths. After acquiring equipment and a rehearsal space, the band performs at a local community center and a roller disco. Tensions rise as members argue over roles and personal lives. During a performance, a dispute leads to the drummer leaving, and a bouncer, Mickah, takes his place. The band eventually performs at a venue where they are promised a guest appearance by soul legend Wilson Pickett. While the crowd is initially hostile to the band's internal bickering, they are silenced by a powerful performance of 'In the Midnight Hour'. Following a final confrontation where Mickah beats up Deco, Jimmy declares the band finished. However, it is revealed that Pickett arrived just after the show ended. In a final monologue, Jimmy reveals the fates of the members: Bernie joined a country band, Deco became a successful solo artist, Mickah joined a punk band, Outspan and Derek became buskers, Dean formed a jazz band, Steven became a doctor, Billy was injured by a horse, Imella married, and Natalie became a solo star, while she and Jimmy are in a relationship.
- First release year
- 1991
- Runtime (minutes)
- 118
- Production countries
- Ireland; United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Alan Parker
- Writers
- Dick Clement · screenplay; Ian La Frenais · screenplay; Roddy Doyle · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Robert Arkins · Jimmy Rabbitte; Andrew Strong · Deco Cuffe; Angeline Ball · Imelda Quirke; Maria Doyle · Natalie Murphy; Bronagh Gallagher · Bernie McGloughlin; Glen Hansard · Outspan Foster; Dave Finnegan · Mickah Wallace; Michael Aherne · Steven Clifford
- Genres
- musical; comedy; drama
- Themes
- ambition; artistic integrity; working-class identity
- Tone and mood
- gritty; humorous
- Premise and plot tags
- musical; coming-of-age
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1987 novel by Roddy Doyle
- Franchise connections
- The Barrytown Trilogy
- Reception
- The film received mostly positive reviews, with praise for its music, performances, and humor, though some critics noted issues with pacing.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 91% · scale: approval rating · review count: 53; Metacritic · score: 73 · scale: out of 100 · review count: 23
- Awards and nominations
- Best Film Editing · Academy Award · nominated; Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy · Golden Globe Award · nominated
- Production trivia
- The film's first soundtrack reached number eight on the Billboard 200 and achieved triple-platinum status.; The film's title is part of the Barrytown Trilogy.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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