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The Commitments

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Ireland, United Kingdom, United States · 1991
Rated R · 1h 58m
Director Alan Parker
Starring Robert Arkins, Michael Aherne, Angeline Ball, Maria Doyle Kennedy
Genre Comedy, Drama, Music

In this musical comedy-drama, young music fanatic Jimmy, inspired by the sound of African American artists in the ’60s, puts a soul band together in the slums of North Dublin. A joyful tale about the power of music to cross cultural boundaries. Based on the 1987 novel by the same name.

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What are critics saying?

60

TV Guide Magazine by

For all its emphasis on working-class integrity, The Commitments is really Fame wrapped in streetwise packaging.

88

Washington Post by Desson Thomson

Commitments, adapted by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais from the Roddy Doyle book, exults in its own world. The characters, with their foibles and verbal joustings, are everything. There's something poetically sardonic in every sentence they utter.

100

Washington Post by Hal Hinson

Alan Parker's sexy, hilarious, exuberantly energetic new film, The Commitments, has so much rhythmic juice that it's nearly impossible to stay in your seat.

78

Austin Chronicle by Kathleen Maher

The movie isn't about the band, really; it's about having a chance when the cards are stacked against it. It's about climbing out. When they sing those great soul songs, it feels like a better world for everyone and that's how Parker manages to get us into his box with him.

50

Rolling Stone by Peter Travers

It’s the old Monkees trick: If you can’t find a band, manufacture one. British director Alan Parker (Fame, Mississippi Burning) lucks out. The dozen unknowns he’s chosen — ten with no previous acting credits — make a joyful noise and rousing company. Parker, however, hasn’t made much of a movie.

75

Chicago Sun-Times by Roger Ebert

The movie is filled with life and energy, and the music is honest. The Commitments is one of the few movies about a fictional band that’s able to convince us the band is real and actually plays together.

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