Sex and Dublin Soul (The Commitments (DVD))

Member Name: forrest

Product:	The Commitments (DVD)
Date:	31/08/01 (192 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great Music, Good Acting, Non Americanised

Disadvantages: The Kareoke effect while you are watching

Wow, yes I will say that again..WOW. I have had the DVD of this film for a few months and have never seen it before. I had been told that it was good but thought it was one of those that you had to be in the right mood for. Reluctantly over Dinner I agreed to watch it.

Right tray on lap, plate on tray, food on plate, beer nearby, phone close, remotes very close, DVD in player and I think im ready. No wait, turn the TV on.

The general story is about a lad (Jimmy) creating a band in the suburbs of Dublin. First thing to say is that there was no mention of the political tension between England and Ireland, what a relief. The story follows the creation of the band, their successes and their failings up to the point that they....no I had better not say anymore there may well be someone out there that hasn?t seen it. The manager and creator of the band wants them to be different and to sing a different style, so we get Dublin SOUL and do they manage it! The team that make the band are fabulous with renditions of famous Soul Tunes such as ?Mustang Sally?, ?Try a Little Tenderness? and many more. Now don?t let the style of music put you off, there is some great acting and superb one liners. But the cast bring more to the story than just the songs. You have the change in their situations as they become well known and the dream of them all to be stars and get out of their home life, but in saying that you are always waiting for the next tune to come along and get the foot tapping, there goes more of my dinner off the plate.

A few of my favourite scenes are their first concert, and the auditions (which come about by an add in the paper)

The cast of the film are mostly unknowns, well a couple of them I recognised, but that may well be because they have been in something since the film was produced.

The DVD has a few extras, scene selections, Trailer, behind the scenes, music video and a few sample tracks from the music CD.


By the end of the film I had managed to endure the problem of my dinner flying from my plate as I got into the music and had thoroughly enjoyed the film. It isn?t totally predictable and you find yourself siding with different characters at different times. The film moves at a fast pace and doesn?t tend to dwell on events. They happen, you see them and then they are gone. A lot is still left to the imagination but there is plenty of Sexy Soul (as they put it) to move you along.

The Director, Alan Parker, has a grand history of films including Fame, Bugsy Malone and Mississippi Burning, since The Commitments he has also directed Angela?s Ashes and Evita. The cast were put together by him and a number of auditions for singers to get the right band. He managed it and his efforts are immortalised in the film and now my memory.

Would I recommend this film to anyone who hadn?t seen it, anyone over the age of 15 as thats the certificate ;). Yes, Yes Yes, get out there and see it. To anyone who has seen it before ?I give you the hardest working band in Ireland....The Commitments?

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