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The Commitments (1991)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
28 August 1991 (France)
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Tagline:
They Had Absolutely Nothing. But They Were Willing To Risk It All. more
Plot:
The travails of Jimmy Rabbitte to form the "World's Hardest Working Band," The Commitments, and bring soul music to the people of Dublin, Ireland. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar.
Another 10 wins
&
4 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(9 articles)
'The Commitments' star on life after the iconic Irish film (IrishCentral)
(From IrishCentral. 2 October 2009, 11:18 AM, PDT)
5 Movie Clips from The Damned United Starring Michael Sheen
(From Collider.com. 28 September 2009, 12:39 PM, PDT)
(From IrishCentral. 2 October 2009, 11:18 AM, PDT)
5 Movie Clips from The Damned United Starring Michael Sheen
(From Collider.com. 28 September 2009, 12:39 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Funny, heartbreaking and true
more (94 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Robert Arkins | ... | Jimmy Rabbitte |
| Michael Aherne | ... | Steven Clifford, Piano |
 | Angeline Ball | ... | Imelda Quirke, Backup Singer |
| Maria Doyle Kennedy | ... | Natalie Murphy, Backup Singer (as Maria Doyle) |
| Dave Finnegan | ... | Mickah Wallace, Drums |
| Bronagh Gallagher | ... | Bernie McGloughlin, Backup Singer |
| Félim Gormley | ... | Dean Fay, Sax |
| Glen Hansard | ... | Outspan Foster, Guitar |
| Dick Massey | ... | Billy Mooney, Drums (quit) |
| Johnny Murphy | ... | Joey 'The Lips' Fagan, Trumpet |
| Ken McCluskey | ... | Derek Scully, Bass (as Kenneth McCluskey) |
| Andrew Strong | ... | Deco Cuffe |
 | Colm Meaney | ... | Jimmy Rabbitte, Sr. |
 | Anne Kent | ... | Mrs. Rabbitte |
| Andrea Corr | ... | Sharon Rabbitte |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
118 min
Language:
Colour:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Iceland:L |
Canada:PG |
Australia:M |
Finland:K-8 |
Germany:12 |
Spain:13 |
Sweden:11 |
UK:15 |
USA:R |
Singapore:PG
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When the group is singing in their new location and the pool hall bully comes in to take the money from Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins) a fight develops and the bully is taken down. As he is led out he screams "You're F***king dead Robert" instead of using the actors stage name of Jimmy.
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Quotes:
Unemployment Official:
Mr. Rabbitte, you've been collecting unemployment benefit for two years. Are you trying to tell me you can't get a job?
Jimmy Rabbitte: We're a third world country - what can you do?
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Jimmy Rabbitte: We're a third world country - what can you do?
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in Sammy the Screenplay (1997) (V)
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Soundtrack:
Try A Little Tenderness
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FAQ
What were the nicknames that Jimmy gave each band member?What other names were suggested for the band before they chose "The Commitments"?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
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more (94 total)
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| News articles | IMDb Comedy section | IMDb Ireland section |
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Who needs expensive movie stars when a group of unknowns can light up the screen like this lot?
On paper, it sounds like a failure - a cast comprising almost entirely of untrained and untested performers, set in working class Dublin, based on the novella by Roddy Doyle. By God, does it defy expectations.
Jimmy Rabbitte is a working class Dublin lad who's been collecting unemployment benefits for two years. But he dreams of bigger things, namely making it big in the music industry. He sets out to form a soul band, and assembles a motley crew of musicians and singers, most of whom don't know each other and many of whom can't stand each other.
The look of the film is gritty and realistic - nothing is glossed over. North Dublin is presented in all it's glory. The home lives of the band members are depicted warts and all - their private lives set the scene for the inevitable personality clashes that are almost as explosive as the music. In the mix is the unique character of the Irish people - at one point Jimmy enters a tenement block and, as he waits for the lift, looks over to see a boy with a horse. "You aren't taking that in the lift, are you?" he asks. "I have to," the boy replies. "The stairs would kill him."
The real star of the show is the music - this film spawned two hugely successful soundtrack albums. The band members were cast partly due to their musical ability, and the results are superlative. The stand out is Andrew Strong as Deco - would you believe this kid was only 16 when the film was made? His amazing voice belies his tender years, and suggests that he's been smoking a packet a day since the age of about four. At the end of the day with is a fine ensemble piece, much like the band. The acting may be a little wonky at times, but the hysterical dialogue makes up for that.
Most remarkably, this is a feel good film that does not rely on any of the conventional feel good plot devices. There are no group hugs, no plot conveniences, no trite happy endings. Just a shrewdly observed and wittily captured human story about people who dream of making it out of their dreary world. And isn't that something we can all relate to?