The Commitments (1991) [R]

A great music movie. This movie is a real delight from the first moment to the last. The story is about a young man who decides to put together a soul music band...in Dublin! We know we are in for a treat when the movie starts with Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins) interviewing himself, while in the tub, for his imagined interview with Rolling Stone Magazine. Periodically, throughout the movie, he continues this imaginary interview.

The story seems to be a typical story of a group coming together and then falling apart. But what a band this is! We go through the entire adventure with them, from the hilarious auditions, to the founding of the group of 10, including 3 female back-up singers, to the eventual falling apart, through egos and romance.

The music is fantastic. The lead singer, Andrew Strong, sure can wail. He was only 16 when the movie was shot! The rest of the musicians hold their own. You will find yourself tapping your feet, if not actually singing along, to the excellent old-school soul music.

The movie is full of unknown actors. The only face you may recognize is Colm Meany, best known for playing Miles O'Brien in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He is hilarious as Rabbitte's father, an Elvis-crazy cursing fan, and so far removed from the character O'Brien that it adds to the fun.

This movie was voted in 2005 as the best Irish film of all time. 

DIRECTOR: Alan Parker.  CAST: Robert Arkins, Michael Aherne, Angeline Ball, Maria Doyle, Dave Finnegan, Bronagh Gallagher, Felim Gormley, Glen Hansard, Dick Massey, Johhny Murphy, Kenneth McCluskey, Andrew Strong, Colm Meany.

AWARDS: Nominated for Oscar. Another 10 wins and 4 nominations.