Movie musicals and musical comedies can sometimes be considered too schmaltzy, too kitsch, or even get branded as too unrealistic (because people don’t break out in song in real life?).But they are also fun.So very fun. Rarely does someone leave the cinema having seen a movie musical without a smile on their face.The nature of the genre is simply to be fun. It helps when films of such quality asWicked,West Side Story,andThe Sound of Musicare produced too, creating a great synergy between art and entertainment.
But every musical comedy can be considered a dreary tragedy when it’s compared toThe Commitments,the riotous 1991 film by British directorAlan Parker,the master of versatility. Few films have been as fun as this story ofa wannabe band manager from Dublin, Ireland and his establishment of a soul bandin the vein of African-American music from the ’50s and ’60s. Adapting the novel by acclaimed Irish writerRoddy Doyle, the story is set in Dublin in the 1980s and captures a version of the city that most definitely no longer exists. In capturing that time and place, Parker created one of the most entertaining films not just of the ’90s, but of all time.
What Happens in ‘The Commitments’?
The Commitmentsbegins with Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins) placing an advert in the local newspaper for musicians. Inundated with applicants, he eventuallydigs through the weedsto form a band of singers, instrumental players and a rhythm section.Jimmy secures their gear from a black market dealer as the band rehearses above a pool hall.Tensions grow among the band members as they seduce one another and personalities clash. Joey “The Lips” Fagan (Johnny Murphy), the band’s trumpeter and most experienced member, promises Jimmy that he can getWilson Pickettto sing alongside the band because he played with the musician earlier in his career. Jimmy tips off journalists about this in the run-up to their next gig. The band protest that Jimmy misled them at the gig and fights break out between them and the crowd members, leading Jimmy to storm off, seeing a limousine pull away, mirage-like, in the distance.
‘The Commitments’ Is More Fun Than You Can Possibly Imagine
The Commitmentsis one of the most fun films of all time becauseit’s a wild, hilarious, music-filled ride that captures the chaos and joy of chasing a dream. The film’spredominant theme of pursuing a passionis all over the film. No matter how dysfunctional the band gets, their love for soul music shines through. Their passion cultivates an infectious energy in the film, sweeping the viewers up alongside them for their journey to stardom.
10 Movie Soundtracks That Rock From Beginning to End, According to Reddit
Music to our ears.
The soundtrack is the film’s real star above all else,the true heart and soul of this rowdy film. It’s a powerhouse collection of classic soul hits, performed with raw energy and passion by the cast. Songs like ‘Mustang Sally’ and ‘Try A Little Tenderness’ have never sounded the same since Deco Cuffe (Andrew Strong) performed them so soulfully. Films can oftenbecome synonymous with just one song, butThe Commitmentsis forever twinned with its soundtrack, thanks tothe work of music supervisor G. Marq Roswell, the brilliant live performances of the cast, and the raw and unpolished energytheir shows generate. With the possible exception ofThe Blues Brothers,there are next to no films that match the chaotic energy ofThe Commitments.
The film’s soundtrack peaked at number 8 on the Billboard 200 when first released, and the film earned nominations at the BAFTAs, Golden Globes, and Oscars. ButThe Commitments’immortality lies inits cult status. A touring band featuring actors from the film played more than 1,000 shows worldwide and finally played alongside Wilson Pickett.It spawned a successful stage musical, released a second soundtrack, and led to record deals for many of its cast members. The filmwas even immortalized on a stampby the Irish postal authorities in 1996.
Many films have tried, but few have matchedThe Commitmentsforhow much fun you can havewhile watching it.The songs will make you dance, the band members will keep you royally entertained, and their unique brand of Irish humor will shock you into non-stop laughter. Its feel-good atmosphere is unlike any other, and is bound to leave a wide, broad smile upon the faces of all its viewers.
The Commitments
