The Commitments Movie Review 1991

Convinced that they can bring soul music to Dublin, a group of working-class youth form a band. High-energy production paints an interesting, unromanticized picture of modern Ireland and refuses to follow standard showbiz cliches, even though its lack of resolution hurts. Honest, whimsical dialogue laced with poetic obscenities, delivered by a cast of mostly unknowns. Very successful soundtrack features the music of Wilson Pickett, James Brown, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Percy Sledge, and others, and received a Grammy nomination. Based on the book "The Commitments" by Roddy Doyle, part of a trilogy which includes "The Snapper" and "The Van."

Distribution

Image Entertainment, 20525 Nordhoff St., Ste 200, Chatsworth, CA 91311, Phone: (818)407-9100, Email: inquiries@image-entertainment.com, URL: http://www.image-entertainment.com

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 116 minutes.
Originally from Irish.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Price of Fame, Dublin, Rock Flicks

Screenplay

Dick Clement, Roddy Doyle, Ian La Frenais

Cast

Andrew Strong, Bronagh Gallagher, Glen Hansard, Michael Aberne, Dick Massey, Ken McCluskey, Robert Arkins, Dave Finnegan, Johnny Murphy, Angeline Ball, Felim Gormley, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Colm Meaney

Cinematography

Gale Tattersall

Director

Alan Parker

Music

Paul Bushnell

Producer

Beacon Films

Awards

British Acad. 1991: Adapt. Screenplay, Director (Parker), Film.