Top Class Film

Rating: 9/10 (5 June 2005)

This is an absolutely superb film. Great lines, excellent music and fine actors.
Twenty-something Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins) lives with his parents in North Side Dublin, but he is determined to make something of his life and so he gets together with bassist Derek Scully (Kenneth McCluskey) and guitarist Outspan Foster (Glen Hansard) and form Irish soul band The Commitments.
Together they gather up three backing singers including the apple of everyone's eye Imelda. Plus the saxophonist with a bad haircut Dean Fay (Felim Gormley) elderly cornetist Joey "the lips" Fagan (Johnny Murphy)drummer Billy Mooney (Dick Massey) religious young pianist Steven Clifford and the psychotic Mickah Wallace (Dave Finnegan).
But by far the most talented was Deco Cuffe (Andrew Strong). Being only 16 at the time his singing is top notch and he has released 4 solo albums since.
There is not a weak link in that cast, but Robert Arkins was the star in my opinion. Clean and concise his delivery and expressions were just sublime. He has never made a film since. this was his perfect film. Apparently he beat a lot more experienced actors for hi part originally auditioning for the bassist and singing. By the way the opening song is him singing.
Brilliant direction and a very intelligent transition from book to film. In my top 5 films. I would recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind hearing a lot of "f" words. Masterpiece