About The Movie
Based on the novel by Roddy Doyle, originally a schoolteacher in deprived North Dublin, The Commitments is something of a rags-to-riches story that sees the group fall just short of stardom – mainly due to inter-band bickering – but offers them a glimpse of hope.
It is through the wily leadership of ambitious manager Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins) that the band comes together, and his influence directs the Commitments’ soul sound. It seems a perplexing choice – how can a bunch of white, North Dublin teenagers identify with a predominantly African-American style of music? But Jimmy’s logic is persuasive: “The Irish are the blacks of Europe. Dubliners are the blacks of Ireland. North Dubliners are the blacks of Dublin.”
Themes of class and dreams of escape from poverty run through the film. On the council estate on which Jimmy lives, kids watch tires burn, derelict cars litter the street, dogs run wild and the desolate unemployed struggle to fill their days.
The band offers its members a taste of camaraderie (however brief) and, perhaps for the first time, a sense of purpose. As Bernie (Bronagh Gallagher) protests when Jimmy threatens her with expulsion from the band: “I need something to look forward to.”
The film and DVD has been seen by an estimated 1000 million people world wide. In 2016 the 25th Anniversary Edition – The Commitments film is released on Blu-Ray and HD digital – With 25 years later feature, Four Behind–the-Scenes, Featurettes, Collectible Booklet, Images Galleries and More…
"thats a Jazz haircut"
Coffee time for the girls
Derek gets a nasty shock!
Band Cast Members
(in alphabetical order):
Michael Aherne (Steven Clifford – keyboards)
Robert Arkins (Jimmy Rabbitte – manager)
Angeline Ball (Imelda Quirke – vocals)
Maria Doyle (Natalie Murphy – vocals)
Dave Finnegan
(Mickah Wallace – body guard and drummer)
Bronagh Gallagher (Bernie McGloughlin- vocals)
Felim Gormley (Dean Fay – saxophone)
Glen Hansard (Outspan Foster – guitar)
Dick Massey (Billy Mooney – drums)
Kenneth McCluskey (Derek Scully – bass)
Johnny Murphy (Joey ‘The Lips’ Fagan – trumpet)
Andrew Strong (Deco Cuffe – vocals)
Kenneth McCluskey as Derek ‘Meatman’ Scully
Other Cast Members:
Colm Meaney (Mr Jimmy Rabbitte, Sr)
Anne Kent (Mrs Rabbitte)
Andrea Corr (Sharon Rabbitte)
Gerard Cassoni (Darren Rabbitte)
Lindsey Fairclough (Rabbitte Twin)
Ruth Fairclough (Rabbitte Twin)
Phelim Drew (Robbie Craig – The Reporter)
Alan Parker (Eejit Record Producer)
Triva
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In casting the band at the centre of what was his fourth musical, director Alan Parker auditioned over 3,000 musicians, picking the top 12. It’s the old manufactured pop band trick, but Parker also manufactured his cast – 10 of the main players had no previous acting experience.
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The Corrs, the highly successful Irish band, got their start by auditioning for the film, and they each won small roles. Andrea Corr (lead vocals & tin whistle) plays Jimmy’s little sister Sharon. Jim Corr (guitar) is part of the Avant-Garde-A-Clue Band. Caroline Corr (drums) appears in the audience during the performance of “I Never Loved A Man”. Finally, Sharon Corr (violin) can be seen playing violin with the country & western band that Bernie joins at the end of the film. John Hughes, the film’s musical coordinator, became the band’s manager. Director Alan Parker later asked Andrea to appear in the film/musical Evita (1996).
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The kid on the skateboard who appears outside Robert Arkins’ (Jimmy’s) window during the first third of the movie when the band are recruiting members is the (now grown up) boy from the covers of U2’s “Boy” (1980) and “War” (1983) albums. At the time The Commitments was filmed, he owned a skate shop in Dublin and was a champion skateboarder.
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The film runs for 113 minutes. In that time, the word “f**k” is used 145 times.
"I'm black and i'm proud"
Awards
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BAFTA (1992):
Winner of Best Director; Best Film; Best Editing; Best Screen Play – Adapted.
Nominated for Best Actor in a supporting role (Andrew Strong) and Best Sound. -
Academy Awards (1992):
Nominated for Best Editing -
Brit Awards (1992):
Winner of Best Soundtrack -
Evening Standard British Film Awards (1992):
Winner of the Peter Sellers Award for Comedy -
Golden Globe Awards (1992):
Nominated for Best Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical -
London Critics Film Awards (1992):
Winner ALFS Award for Best Director (Alan Parker);
British Producer of the Year and British Screen Writer of the Year. -
Tokyo International Film Festival (1991):
Winner for Best Director (Alan Parker) -
Writers Guild Of America (USA) (1992):
Nominated for WGA Award for Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium -
Jameson Awards (14th July 2005)
Winner for the Best Irish Film Of All Time