Customer Reviews

The Commitments

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is a great movie. The storyline is solid while the actors/musicians are unknown. The music pulls everything together. It is hard to understand why these group of unknown artists did not make it big. It is a rags to riches, back to rags story. A must see!

An old favourite to enjoy over and over again. the movie was a used one, but in great shape. I am very satisfied with my purchase.

One of the better movies you've probably never heard of... The music is simply outstanding, but with or without the music, the movie itself is excellent. Very funny, although I had a bit of a hard time at first with the accents (my shortcoming, I'm sure)... I would have given it 5 stars, but unfortunately, the DVD is atrocious - full frame, horrible picture, no 5.1 re-mix, and no extras to speak of... We need this movie done right !

Alan Parker once again put together a previously unknown cast and has produced a fantastic movie with some stellar individual performances.

"The Commitments" is the story of the struggle to escape unemployment and poverty, set in Dublin but equally relevant in any major city this movie chronicles the efforts of a new band to achieve fame and glory. The band choose soul music as their vehicle out of the ghetto at a time when James Brown is just a memory adding spice to an already engaging tale. After a faltering start the band start to pull it together only for their lack of discipline and focus to abort their chances at the very moment when real opportunity is at their door.

The music is the star of the show with fantastic numbers such as "At the Midnight Hour", "Mustang Sally" and "Try a Little Tenderness" littered through the movie. The musical performances of Mary Doyle Kennedy (Natalie)and Andrew Strong (Deco)and the acting of Robert Arkins (Jimmy) are really superb.

This movie is enhanced by this new format on widescreen DVD, but what makes it work is the screenplay, great acting and wonderfull music regardless of format.

This is perhaps one of the greatest music-themed movies ever made. You will find yourself spellbound at the talent and energy these first-time actors bring to this film. Lead singer Andrew Strong was only sixteen years old when this film was made, yet he has a voice which sounds like its seen a world of pain. Twentieth Century Fox has taken a diamond and smashed it to bits by not offering this DVD in a widescreen format (with DTS stereo). It could be a reference DVD if done properly. Maybe the Criterion folks will do it. Until then, don't bother with the full-screen version.

"The Commitments" is a raucous and joyful celebration of music. It's a gloriously simple and lovable tale, told with passion, profanity, and a deep understanding of how music can infect even the most despairing life with joy. About time the movie got its proper release on DVD.

If you've never seen "The Commitments" because you cringe at the notion of white Dubliners singing American soul tunes, well, I hear ya. I fully expected watered-down music along the lines of Michael Bolton butchering Percy Sledge. However, I was wrong - the music, in the context of the movie, is pure and genuine, and performed by young actors who understand that you don't have to pretend to be anything you're not to get soul. Besides, Jimmy Rabbitte, the mastermind behind the band, gives them all a thoroughly convincing speech that assures the lads and lasses from Dublin that they, too, are qualified to sing soul.

The movie - well, it's wonderful. Hilarious, free, sometimes moving, life-affirming. I almost wish the movie let the characters develop a little more before the inevitable and mythical ending, but then Joey the Lips gently reminds me (and Rabbitte), "this way, it's poetry." He's right - this is the proper ending for these guys, and the movie.

The DVD offers some great extras, including a revealing making-of doc, where we learn that director Parker combed the nightclubs of Dublin nightly, looking for fresh talent. I also love the 10-years-later feature, where we get to revisit our old friends again. These are suitable extras for a movie that just plain makes you feel glad to be alive - how much more can you ask of a movie than that?

The Commitments is one of the few movies I saw more than once in the theaters. It's the story of a bunch of down on their luck characters who all are searching for a reason to belong somewhere, and find themselves on stage whooping it up playing the best music to come out of the 60s. This is a really entertaining film. Regardless of the fact that you can't always understand what is being said, when the singing starts, you can understand, and appreciate the renditions of the 60's soul and R&B music. The singer, Andrew Strong, has an amazing voice and even though the rest of the cast seems to not appreciate him to much, when he's singing you can't resist him. The only flaw about this film is the ending, it just kind of ended without much resolution to any of the characters. I think they could've done more with it. but it's got one of the best soundtracks of all time, and is a movie you will want to see again and again...

This is one on my all time favourite movies...the direction is terrific and the writing is just as good. If you like "Almost famous" you will love this movie since it preceded "Almost Famous? as has a level of humour not found in many band movies.

I was excited to find out they were releasing this movie again with some more behind the scenes interviews. I was surprised to see that the cast they did recently interview, looked relatively unchanged. It was like seeing a long lost friend. I remember seeing this movie the first time in the theatres being shocked at their monumental use of the f-word. This time, it just seemed to be natural. Maybe it's because I'm in my thirties now and it takes a lot to shock me or maybe it's because I've had a chance to read the short story the movie is based on. Roddy Doyle's adaptation of his story of a Dublin soul band was, for the most part, straight out from the page. There were a few parts that could have made it into the film, and a few parts in the movie that didn't need to be there, but on the whole I LOVED IT AGAIN! Seeing these actors come together as a real band was fun. I hope they re-release the last of the Barrytown Trilogy, The Van to DVD soon also.

On the north side of Dublin lives an enterprising young man by the name of Jimmy Rabbitte who has the bright idea of becoming a manager for a band. Through a selective process he hand picks the band musicians and vocalists as he wants to bring soul to the working class of Dublin. After many struggles he finds a way to bring a band together named the Commitments, which was chosen by Joey 'The Lips' Fagan. However, the many different personalities within the group begin to pull in different directions as the band slowly becomes more successful, and it is up to Jimmy to keep the band together. The Commitments is a terrific film with a solid plot that is supported with a cast that provides a real atmosphere to the film leaving the audience with a great cinematic experience.