Directed by: Alan Parker
Starring: Robert Arkins, Andrew Strong
Alan Parker has an affinity for musicals. He directed Evita, Pink Floyd The Wall, and now The Commitments, which is about a local Dublin band specializing in American blues and soul put together by an ambitious young Dubliner named Jimmy Rabbitte (Arkins). Jimmy dreams of superstardom for his band and practices mock interviews with himself in the shower. He gathers up a group of young adults who love soul and blues and soon enough they become the toast of Dublin. They don't always get along and many are disgusted by the antics of the lead singer Deco (Strong), who can belt out a tune with the best of them.
The Commitments is a rags-to-not-quite riches story. The group gains a strong local following and even catches the eye of Wilson Pickett (who is never seen in the film), who promises to perform with the band the next time he is in Dublin. He attempts to make good on his promise, but by then the band is in freefall and nearing a breakup. Somehow, though, The Commitments never gets off the ground for me. There's plenty of music and good times, but that doesn't necessarily translate into riveting material.
Like Purple Rain and other movies about groups trying to make it, the performances are so professionally done that they lack realism. I was clearly aware I was listening to a soundtrack, even if the actors themselves do the singing. Despite Rabbitte's attempts, The Commitments can't stop the in-fighting after the show. "Fuck" is thrown around a lot (pronounced "fook" in Irish dialect), but I can't help but feel a been-there, done-that aura about the whole thing.
It's strange. The Commitments seem to be pretty good. The performances are fine and everyone is having a good time, but I just didn't care much. Maybe it's the formula of cliche, musical number, cliche, musical number that stripped away at my patience. Or perhaps I'm just not a big blues and soul music fan.
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