Ireland May Have Changed But The Music Lives Is Still Valid

Rating: 9/10 (8 December 2019)

It's been 28 Years since Alan Parker directed the 1991 film "The Commitments" and though Ireland has went through a major makeover in the last three decades, the music featured here has never lost its step. Based off of a novel by Roddy Doyle as part of his Barrytown Trilogy series about a folk band who's rise to fame was very short-lived, but the impact it had on the band member's lives was eternal. Much like the cobbling together a group is in similar fashion to Parker's other film "Fame", "The Commitments" looks into youth who live in destitute who have no music education program provided to them, so in order to make a name for themselves, they have to do all of this on their own, which is a very inspiring and satisfying movie.
Set in Dublin, Ireland in the late 1980's , we are introduced to Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins) as an aspiring talent agent who has a dream. Though fearing doubt from his Elvis loving father Jimmy Sr. (Colm Meaney), Jimmy sets out on journey to audition a band of musicians to play soul music inspired by the likes of Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding. With this new band, Jimmy hopes this band will become the next big breakout group this side of Emerson Isle.
Under the name "The Commitments", Jimmy's first acquisition is an older trumpet player named Joey "the Lips" Fagan (Johnny Murphy) who claims to have jammed with soul performers back in the 1960's, though it's questionable if he really did or if he's just looking for opportunity. Either way he is fond of Jimmy's dream and wants in feeling this is an essential calling for a long-awaited comeback. He would be the band's team leader.
As time goes on, other band members pass the auditions each bring their musical traits with them while all the members have diverse characterizations to keep the film rolling. As the band's lead singer is Deco Cuffe (Andrew Strong) is an enigma of character due to his high ego, uncouth mannerisms that are a turnoff towards the other band members but his vibrant singing pipes make up for all of his shortcomings. On drums we have Billy (Dick Massey) who's drums were obtained from a pawn shop. On bass there's Derek (Kenneth McCluskey) who practices during his free time when working at the slaughterhouse. On saxophone there's Dean (Felim Gromley) who has more interest in jazz than in soul. The group's guitarist Outspan Foster (Glen Hansard of the group Once) joins the fray. Finally we have keyboard player Steve (Michael Aherne) who performs the organ at the local church and has great fondness for Procol Harum. In addition to them, Jimmy hires three lady singers to provide backup for the group. They are Bernie (Bronagh Gallagher), Natalie (Maria Doyle) and Imelda (Angelina Ball) who everyone in the band seems to be attracted to the most.
The movie focuses in the immediate success of the band and also embodies the grave reality that all good things don't last forever. From the clunky rehearsals in the pool hall attic to the wowing of the fans in local pubs and nightclubs to the sad breakup due to personal reasons, massive egos, and bitter lack of co-existing from fellow band members. It shows that even though making a band looks easy at first glance is much harder to maintain. Aside from the musical standpoint of this movie, the audience gets a tour of the squalor conditions the musicians lived where their hopes and dreams were tarnished due the economic collapse back then. But performing as The Commitments, the singers and musicians have been offered something they never had before which was confidence. Through their confidence, they now can look back on their experiences as a way to guide them through whatever endeavors they wish to pursue in life. Aside from the musical performances and the dramas each individual are facing, there is some comedic moments in this movie as well. From Deco's erratic mannerisms to Jimmy's begging for favours, to the handling of their bouncer (Dave Finnegan) who Jimmy hires and later become the groups drummer, and Joey's fondling with the girl backup singers.
According to Alan Parker during an interview featured on the Blu-ray, he spent weeks looking for local talent to audition for his movie, which is amusingly similar to the scenes where Jimmy is listening in on the various genres of music each band member plays during his auditions. The musicians portrayed here may have had some musical experience, but a lot of them were first time actors, with the exception of Johnny Murphy who needed private lesson to play the trumpet. With combined singing and music to the tracks, Parker was able to successfully cover such soul classics like "Mustang Sally", "Try a Little Tenderness", and "Chain of Fools". In fact the sounds were so good, they eventually were made into a two albums that came out in 1991. When award season came up, Gary Hambling was nominated for Best Editing in a movie. This falls in the category of a great underdog story of ragtag destitute musicians finding their way through their doldrums in gaining the gift of confidence that was never given to them before. They pushed the boundaries they never thought they had and made something of themselves. Sure they're no Van Morrison, but the're no longer pathetic chumps.
If you are a fan of soul music, you might find this movie "The Commitments" will hold a special place in your heart. The film succeeds in keeping the music real, the characters believable and the locations real. In the end you will sing your hearts out.