Poetry

Rating: Null/10 (3 August 2004)

What's not to like about The Commitments? An absolutely brilliant film in terms of story, acting and, last but not least, fantastic music.
Director Alan Parker delivered a wonderful film with an ensemble cast that give outstanding performances. Ironically, most of these talented actors weren't actors at all, but rather musicians. Parker took the brave step of casting singers and musicians in the hope that they could act rather than the other way around. And the gamble pays off brilliantly.
One of the things I like most about The Commitments are the small, non-sequitur moments peppered here and there throughout the film. Like the boy waiting at an elevator in a highrise tenement holding on to a horse. "You're not taking that thing in the elevator," Jimmy Rabbitte says. "Yeah, I have to," comes the reply "The stairs would kill him." Like The Snapper, The Commitments is full of real, surreal and beautiful moments. Mix them together with an outstanding cast and great music and you've got a perfect film.