Did you ever blast your favorite music in your bedroom without a care in the
world? Behind those closed doors, you could give life to the dream of being
a rockstar in your own band, with the sounds of adoring, screaming fans ringing
in your imagination. Yet how many of us could truly start our own band from
scratch and follow that dream of becoming famous? In Alan Parker’s film
The Commitments, Jimmy Rabbitte does just that. He devotes
all his time and energy to manage a successful, beloved soul band and proves
to young hopefuls everywhere that it can be done…Or can it?
When we first meet Jimmy (Robert Arkins), an ambitious young man from Dublin,
he is struggling to make ends meat selling rock-and-roll paraphernalia at street
fairs and on public buses. Meanwhile, his good pals Derek (Kenneth McClusky)
and Outspan (Glen Hasard) are keeping busy playing tiresome gigs at weddings.
Clearly, the three are looking for more out of life. Jimmy puts an ad in the
paper calling for skillful musicians, and it doesn’t take long for the
knocks to come at his door. The auditions that follow are even more delicious
and funny than American Idol, as Jimmy’s house is filled with painful
attempts at heavy metal, folk, and even musical theater. But it doesn’t
take long before the real talent finds Jimmy, and soon he has the key elements
for creating his dream group – a brass section, guitars, keyboard, three
female vocalists, and a lead singer with a powerhouse voice.
So what are a bunch of working-class kids from Dublin doing in a soul band?
Jimmy is not swayed by any doubts, only led by the drive in his heart to follow
the standards set by James Brown, Otis Redding, and Aretha Franklin. Like a
chef gathers the necessary ingredients for his best recipe, Jimmy brings together
a group of nine people with raw talent, pure desire, and all the heart (and
soul) that is needed to play good music. Thus, “The Commitments”
are on their way to greatness!
Jimmy has just the right mix of charm and luck to get The Commitments
off on the right foot, buying equipment, booking gigs, and finding costumes.
Steven (the keyboardist) happens to play organ at church, and his minister helps
Jimmy set up their first gig at the community center. Meanwhile, Jimmy vigorously
rehearses the band in a spacious room above his friend’s pool hall. They
certainly are an unlikely bunch—inexperienced, not very attractive, and
all struggling to survive on low paying jobs—but they are more than committed.
One of the most endearing parts of the film is a montage of the band members
as they practice on their own time. Derek plays the guitar at the meat market
among the carcasses, Dean plays his saxophone on the bus to a group of unimpressed
young girls, and the three girls (Imelda, Natalie, and Bernie) sing and practice
dance moves in the backyard filled with clotheslines.
As the band gets better, the struggles in their lives start to unfold. Jimmy
and Dean run into each other on the unemployment line, as the possibility of
making profit from the band is still in the works. Bernie starts missing rehearsals
on account of helping her mom raise her many brothers and sisters. And some
of the men in the group find themselves lusting after their female peers. Romance
even brews between the trumpet player, Joey “The Lips”, and more
than one of the girls. It’s no longer about just the music but the harsh
reality of life in a poor, working-class environment.
There are so many aspects of this film that are worthy of praise. Roddy Doyle’s
screenplay beautifully depicts the gutsy, gritty demeanor of these Irish kids
and their desire for something to distract them from their daily hardships.
Alan Parker chose ten unknown actors to play the roles of the band members,
and each brings an authenticity to the film with their honest performances.
While many typical rock-and-roll movies illustrate the rise and fall of a superstar,
this is a simple story about simple people. There are no drugs, sex scandals,
or destructive biographies. Instead, Parker lets us see great musicians doing
what they do best—play great music. Throughout the three live performances
in the film, I found myself grooving to the band’s soulful rhythms along
with their joyful, smiling fans.
However, like many successful bands, triumph is often followed by tragedy.
Just when The Commitments are at their musical best, things
begin to go terribly wrong. An accident injures one of the performers on stage,
and off stage personalities emerge and begin to clash. In a muddle of rage,
jealousy, and downright frustration, the band meets its destiny…and what
becomes of the ten soulful youths is suggestive of the reality of the music
industry. It’s not as easy as it looks!
Included in the two-disc set is a DVD of special features. Among these are:
Making of Alan Parker’s Film – Director Alan Parker talks about
his search to find the perfect group of musicians to create the band and his
pleasure in the use of non-actors rather than movie stars to maintain truthful
to the story. I was intrigued to learn how much trust he put in each actor,
teaching them the techniques necessary to work on camera. Even better, all the
musical numbers were shot live. So what you see and hear is the real thing!
“The Commitments”: Looking Back – Ten years after the making
of the film, the creative team and the actors give their perspectives on the
experience. Parker explains his work on the movie as an organic process, from
finding the right cast to watching their characters develop on screen with the
help of improvisation and trial and error. As the actor’s reflect on their
favorite memories, their own true musical talents are revealed. I enjoyed seeing
where they all got started, how the film challenged them professionally, and
most of all where they all ended up years after The Commitments.
Dublin Soul: The Working Class & Changing Face of Dublin – A gritty
look at Dublin, Ireland and its struggle as a poor country in need of better
living conditions. The streets and neighborhoods where the film was shot are
displayed in all their undesirable glory, emphasizing the truthful nature of
the characters and where they come from. I especially enjoyed this feature for
reflecting the film’s voice. It shows that despite their commonness, working-class
Irishmen should feel blessed for who they are.
“Treat Her Right” Music Video – Check this out! Robert Arkins
gets his chance to shine as a musician, since he was given a pure acting role
in the film and didn’t get to play in the band. Also worth listening to
are the Original Songs by Cast Members. Both Andrew Strong, who plays the lead
singer of the film’s band, and Robert Arkins share recent recordings with
us.
The Commitments is one of those films that you’ll want
to watch time and time again. Now be prepared—it is an Irish film, which
means the accents are thick and they talk pretty fast. After a few minutes (and
some rewinding) you’ll get used to it, and I hope you’ll fall in
love with these characters and their music as much as I did!
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