Stars: Andrew Strong, Robert Arkins, Michael Aherne, Angeline Hall, Maria Doyle

Director: Alan Parker

Summary: THE COMMITMENTS follows the enjoyable travails of a band cobbled together by young Jimmy Rabbitte, whose vision is to bring soul music to Dublin. After putting an ad in the local paper, Jimmy assembles an unlikely group of musicians who, though nervous, raw, and rough, make music that speaks to something very near the heart of their audience of curious kids and sharp-tongued, sarcastic relatives.

Alan Parker's THE COMMITMENTS, based on Roddy Doyle's buoyant debut novel, follows the enjoyable travails of a band cobbled together by young Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins), whose vision is to bring soul music to Dublin. After putting an ad in the local paper, Jimmy assembles an unlikely group of musicians who, though nervous, raw, and rough, make music that speaks to something very near the heart of their audience of curious kids and sharp-tongued, sarcastic relatives. As the band nears its big break, egos clash and expectations of fame and fortune start to tear them apart, forcing Jimmy to fight desperately to keep them together. THE COMMITMENTS bubbles over with life, largely on the strength of the young, mostly unknown cast. Andrew Strong shines in the role of the lead singer exuding a volatile and irresistible charisma as he transforms rapidly from an unsure adolescent into an egotistical spotlight hogger. Colm Meaney contributes a hilarious cameo as Jimmy's father (a role that would expand in two later film adaptations of Doyle novels, THE SNAPPER and THE VAN). Pumped along by killer 1960s soul tunes and crackling throughout with quick-witted dialogue, THE COMMITMENTS is an effervescent, affecting tour through working-class Dublin.

WIN DVDs by rating this DVD

Average User Rating:

WIN DVDS by being amongst the first to review this DVD. Reviewing DVDs earns you bonus entries and lets you WIN DVDs!Please login before reviewing this DVD. If you're a new user, register for free and enter to WIN FREE DVDs!

As enjoyable now as it was when it was originally released at the start of the 90s, Alan Parker’s The Commitments is the tale of an Irish soul band, from start through to very messy finish.

There are several reasons why it works so well. The first is a corking script by Roddy Doyle (who wrote the book the film is based on) in conjunction with British sitcom legends Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais (Dad’s Army, among many other credits). Extremely witty and the rock-solid foundation for the film, the script is then enhanced by a selection of super performances from then-unknown actors (most of whom have never enjoyed the same success again).

And then there’s the factor that the film is most fondly remembered for, the quite brilliant music. Not for nothing did The Commitments generate two top-selling soundtrack albums, and the inspired choice of classic numbers are as enjoyable to hear now as they were then. From "Mustang Sally" and "Chain of Fools" through to the quite sublime take on "Try A Little Tenderness", you wouldn’t say the music makes the film, but it does significantly lift it. In short, The Commitments is a film that time has been kind to, and one that remains as downright entertaining and enjoyable as it always was. This Special Edition DVD is a great way to get into it all over again…--Simon Brew

Aspect Ratio:	1.85 Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Commentary By Director Alan Parker, Two Making Of Featurettes, The Commitments Looking Back Documentary, Dublin Soul The Working Class And Changing Face Of Dublin Featurette, Treat Her Right Music Video With An Introduction By Alan Parker And Actor Robert Ark
Year:	1991
Release Date:	March 6, 2006
Runtime:	113 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	0190601034
Keywords:	Special, Comedy, Two, General, Edition, Wide, Screen, Commitments, Discs
Genre:	Comedy