IMDb > The Commitments (1991)
The Commitments
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The Commitments (1991) More at IMDbPro »

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The Commitments (1991) -- The travails of Jimmy Rabbitte to form the "World's Hardest Working Band," The Commitments, and bring soul music to the people of Dublin, Ireland.
The Commitments (1991) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.4/10   12,511 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 12% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Roddy Doyle (novel)
Dick Clement (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Commitments on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
28 August 1991 (France) more
Genre:
Tagline:
They Had Absolutely Nothing. But They Were Willing To Risk It All. more
Plot:
The travails of Jimmy Rabbitte to form the "World's Hardest Working Band," The Commitments, and bring soul music to the people of Dublin, Ireland. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 10 wins & 4 nominations more
User Comments:
"You raised their expectations of life, you lifted their horizons!" more (94 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Robert Arkins ... Jimmy Rabbitte
Michael Aherne ... Steven Clifford, Piano

Angeline Ball ... Imelda Quirke, Backup Singer
Maria Doyle Kennedy ... Natalie Murphy, Backup Singer (as Maria Doyle)
Dave Finnegan ... Mickah Wallace, Drums
Bronagh Gallagher ... Bernie McGloughlin, Backup Singer
Félim Gormley ... Dean Fay, Sax
Glen Hansard ... Outspan Foster, Guitar
Dick Massey ... Billy Mooney, Drums (quit)
Johnny Murphy ... Joey 'The Lips' Fagan, Trumpet
Ken McCluskey ... Derek Scully, Bass (as Kenneth McCluskey)
Andrew Strong ... Deco Cuffe

Colm Meaney ... Jimmy Rabbitte, Sr.

Anne Kent ... Mrs. Rabbitte
Andrea Corr ... Sharon Rabbitte
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Additional Details

Runtime:
118 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Alan Parker said that the reason he chose this project was because it combined two elements that make him the most comfortable: staging musical scenes and working with young people. more
Goofs:
Continuity: In the scene where they are driving in the fish'n'chips truck joey has a girl on the back of his Suzuki but when it cuts to the inside of the truck, Bernie is sitting inside the truck with everyone else. more
Quotes:
Unemployment Official: Mr. Rabbitte, you've been collecting unemployment benefit for two years. Are you trying to tell me you can't get a job?
Jimmy Rabbitte: We're a third world country - what can you do?
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in The Commitments: Looking Back (2004) (V) more
Soundtrack:
Mustang Sally more

FAQ

Who are, and in what order did Jimmy put together, the musicians for The Commitments?
Is "The Commitments" based on a book?
What other names were suggested for the band before they chose "The Commitments"?
more
37 out of 49 people found the following comment useful.
"You raised their expectations of life, you lifted their horizons!", 12 March 2004
10/10
Author: Marty Munjak (mmmyv@q.com) from Tucson, Az

My one line summary consists of the most profound statement in the movie. "Jimmy "The Lips" Fagin telling "Brother Rabbitte" what he has achieved, when Jimmy thinks he has achieved "Nuttin'".That being said, I am overjoyed at the amount of people giving their wonderful comments about my favorite movie of all time.I can't tell you all the people I've turned on to this movie. I remember I didn't see the movie when it first came out, then they came out with some god-awful TV series kinda based on the movie (Americanized, of course),which,thank god, met a quick & merciful death. I bought the VHS version, then the Laserdisc version, then the DVD, and am now awaiting the 2 disc special DVD, just released, to come in the mail.I have watched this film countless times & never get tired of it. I've even pretty much deciphered the dialogue(try reading the book sometime,if you think the movie is hard to understand!)One of my most prized possessions is a "Commitments" Promotional kit consisting of a "Making of" tape and a booklet about the movie in a photo-illustrated 6x15 box that I bought from a long-closed video store about 10 yrs ago. I also found the ellusive "Commitments Vol.2" CD in a "cut-out" bin about the same time.Anyway,I love the movie, and the whole premise of taking a bunch of unknown,talented, singers & musicians,with pretty much no hope of rising above their surroundings individually,and put them together to form "The Hardest Working Band in Show Business".To me, the highlight & peak of the band(and movie) was when they played "Try a Little Tenderness". It still gives me goosebumps & brings a mist to my eyes,whenever I see it.I'm still in love with Natalie & Imelda!! And Deco(Andrew Strong) only being 16yrs old!!I always hoped there would be a "Part 2", but as Joey said to Jimmy(after the band broke up) "The success of the band was irrelevent.You raised their expectations of life, you lifted their horizons. Sure, we could have been successful, & made albums & stuff, but that would have been predictable. This way...it's poetry". What a wonderful philosophy. That whole scene will never leave my mind.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Commitments (1991)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
The best Irish film is definitely....... John5515
Help from those who know Dublin PLZZ! AutisticItGirl
Thetatre Adaption Hollywood-Jack
How Ireland has changed in sixteen years... molloy1986
Song help PLZZZZ AutisticItGirl
a song natalie sings rafrafi
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