The Commitments
The Commitments

The Commitments

1991Movie118 minEnglish

Jimmy Rabbitte, just a thick-ya out of school, gets a brilliant idea: to put a soul band together in Barrytown, his slum home in north Dublin. First he needs musicians and singers: things slowly start to click when he finds three fine-voiced females virtually in his back yard, a lead singer (Deco) at a wedding, and, responding to his ad, an aging trumpet player, Joey "The Lips" Fagan.

Read Reviews

Insights

IMDb7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes96%
Metacritic84/100
Google Users93%
Director: Alan ParkerGenres: Comedy, Drama, Music

Plot Summary

A group of working-class Dublin youths decide to form a soul band. Despite their lack of musical training and immense challenges, they strive to bring the sound of American soul music to the Irish capital. The journey is filled with humorous struggles, internal conflicts, and unexpected triumphs as they navigate their quest for musical stardom.

Critical Reception

The Commitments was met with widespread critical acclaim, lauded for its vibrant energy, authentic portrayal of Dublin's working-class community, and infectious soundtrack. The film was praised for its humor, heart, and charismatic performances, resonating with audiences for its uplifting story of pursuing passion against all odds.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its energetic and authentic depiction of a Dublin soul band.
  • Applauded for its humor, heart, and fantastic soundtrack.
  • Celebrated for its charismatic cast and uplifting underdog story.

Google audience: Audiences loved the film's authentic feel, the humor derived from the characters' struggles, and the incredibly energetic and soulful music. Many found it an inspiring and feel-good movie that captures the spirit of pursuing a dream.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Film Editing and the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Won several awards internationally, including Best Foreign Film at the César Awards.

Fun Fact

The actors who played the band members were largely untrained actors, and the director, Alan Parker, encouraged them to develop their characters and relationships organically, contributing to the film's raw authenticity.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

"Jimmy" (Robert Arkins) is a bit of a restless, creative, spirit and a man who is bored with the Dublin music scene. To rectify matters, he and his pal "Joey" (Johnny Murphy) - aka 'The Lips" decide to hold auditions to create a band. A ban...