The Commitments (1991)

When Jimmy Rabbitte wants to start a band, he has open auditions at his house.

Director:

Alan Parker

Writers:

Roddy Doyle (novel), Dick Clement (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert Arkins, Michael Aherne, Angeline Ball

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 11 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Arkins	...	Jimmy Rabbitte
Michael Aherne	...	Steven Clifford
Angeline Ball	...	Imelda Quirke
Maria Doyle Kennedy	...	Natalie Murphy (as Maria Doyle)
Dave Finnegan	...	Mickah Wallace
Bronagh Gallagher	...	Bernie McGloughlin
Félim Gormley	...	Dean Fay
Glen Hansard	...	Outspan Foster
Dick Massey	...	Billy Mooney
Johnny Murphy	...	Joey 'The Lips' Fagan
Ken McCluskey	...	Derek Scully (as Kenneth McCluskey)
Andrew Strong	...	Deco Cuffe
Colm Meaney	...	Mr. Rabbitte
Anne Kent	...	Mrs. Rabbitte
Andrea Corr	...	Sharon Rabbitte

Storyline

Funny, musical and occasionally dramatic, this is the story of tumultuous rise and fall of a Dublin Soul band, The Commitments. Managed by Jimmy Rabbitte, an unemployed wheeler and dealer with a vision to create "The Worlds Hardest Working Band".

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Plot Keywords:

title same as book | band | audition | singer | song | 

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Taglines:

They had nothing to lose, they risked it all.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site of the Commitments band

Country:

Ireland UK USA

Language:

English Irish

Release Date:

13 September 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Camino a la fama

Filming Locations:

Ballymun, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$14,919,570

Company Credits

Production Co:

Beacon Communications,Beacon Pictures,Dirty Hands Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film runs for 118 minutes. In that time, the word "fuck" is used 169 times.

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Goofs

When we first see the band take off in the Mr. Chippy van, we see them go around a corner and off into the distance. The sign on the building at the corner is Bo Dollerns pub. Next, we have the flatulence scene in the van, then we're on the sidewalk as the van stops and the window is thrown open. What building do you see over the shoulder of "rock salmon" man? You guessed it -- Bo Dollern's pub -- guess the band's driving in circles.

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Quotes

Outspan Foster: There's a band around called "Free Beer". Always draws a big crowd.
Derek: I like "A Flock of Budgies".
Jimmy Rabbitte: We have to be "the" something. All the great sixties bands were "The Somethings".
Outspan Foster: We could be... The Northsiders.
Derek: Or The Liffy Lads.
Outspan Foster: How about... The Fucking Eejits?

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Connections

Referenced in The Boys & Girl from County Clare (2003)

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Soundtracks

Destination Anywhere
Written by Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson
Performed by Niamh Kavanagh, with Angeline Ball, Maria Doyle Kennedy and Bronagh Gallagher

User Reviews

committed to greatness

In what may have been Alan Parker's (happy birthday, Alan!) best movie ever, a gaggle of working-class youths in Dublin decide to form a soul band. It's hard for say which is the movie's best aspect: the look at working-class life in Ireland, or the soundtrack. You feel a little depressed seeing people's lives - as expected, families have more children than anyone cares to count - but also feel like jumping up and dancing as they play their music.

Anyway, "The Commitments" is a really great little movie. The great soundtrack, fascinating characters, and other things combine to create something that everyone should see. I guess that any Roddy Doyle novel adapted into a movie starring Colm Meaney is sure to come out masterful (the others were "The Snapper" and "The Van").