Alan Parker's THE COMMITMENTS, based on Roddy Doyle's buoyant debut novel, follows the enjoyable travails of a band cobbled together by young Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins), whose vision is to bring soul music to Dublin. After putting an ad in the local paper, Jimmy assembles an unlikely group of musicians who, though nervous, raw, and rough, make music that speaks to something very near the heart of their audience of curious kids and sharp-tongued, sarcastic relatives. As the band nears its big break, egos clash and expectations of fame and fortune start to tear them apart, forcing Jimmy to fight desperately to keep them together.

THE COMMITMENTS bubbles over with life, largely on the strength of the young, mostly unknown cast. Andrew Strong shines in the role of the lead singer exuding a volatile and irresistible charisma as he transforms rapidly from an unsure adolescent into an egotistical spotlight hogger. Colm Meaney contributes a hilarious cameo as Jimmy's father (a role that would expand in two later film adaptations of Doyle novels, THE SNAPPER and THE VAN). Pumped along by killer 1960s soul tunes and crackling throughout with quick-witted dialogue, THE COMMITMENTS is an effervescent, affecting tour through working-class Dublin.

Excerpt: "The Irish are the blacks of Europe. Dubliners are the blacks of Ireland. North Dubliners are the blacks of Dublin" -- Jimmy Rabbitte (ROBERT ARKINS)

"Elvis was not a Cajun!" Jimmy's dad (COLM MEANY)

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Dolby Surround - French, Spanish
Disc 1: THE COMMITMENTS - Widescreen
Widescreen - 1.85
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary - Alan Parker - Director
Disc 2: THE COMMITMENTS - Supplemental Material
Additional Release Material:
Behind the Scenes - "Making of"
Documentaries - 1. "The Making of THE COMMITMENTS"
2. "The Commitments: Looking Back"
3. "Dublin Soul: The Working Class & Changing Face of Dublin"
Music Video - 1. "Treat Her Right" - The Commitments (Intro by Alan Parker and Robert Arkins)
2. "Before the Next Tear Drop Falls" - Andrew Strong
3. "Taking on the World" - Robert Arkins
Trailers - 1. Theatrical Trailer
2. TV Spots (6)
3. Radio Spots (4)
Text/Image Galleries:
Stills/Photos - Gallery (10)

Robert Arkins: Irish Actor/"Commitments"
Michael Aherne: Irish Actor/"Commitments"
Angeline Hall: 
Maria Doyle Kennedy: Actress
Dave Finnegan: Irish Actor/"Commitments"
Bronagh Gallagher: Irish Actress
Felim Gormley: 
Glen Hansard: 
Dick Massey: 
Johnny Murphy: Irish Actor
Andrew Strong: Irish Actor/"Commitments"

Alan Parker: British Director/Screenwriter/Producer, EVITA

Lynda Myles: 
Roger Randall-Cutler: Producer, THE COMMITMENTS (1991)

Roddy Doyle: Novelist/screenwriter - The Barrytown Trilogy
Dick Clement: British Screenwriter/Director
Ian La Frenais: 

"...Doyle has a haunting loveliness..."
"...A group of talented newcomers....A hyperkinetic jumble, filling the air with song..."
"...An infectious little movie....Robust performances..."
"...There's no resisting THE COMMITMENTS....When that band starts to sing, the screen fills with genuine life..."
"[With] a stirring soundtrack and exuberant performances."