MoeFOH's Movie of the Week... Week #27

[MoeFOH]

MoeFOH's Movie of the Week 🎥

Each week we're going to spotlight a movie... be it a classic, new release, hidden gem, or outright turd... and open it for discussion: i.e. post up your favourite quotes, clips, memories... or dive deeper and give us a critique on why you think it's great, overrated, or a complete train wreck... And finally score it for us...  

All contributors go into a monthly prize draw for a 3-cigar sampler! 

PM me with suggestions if there's a movie you want to nominate for next week's discussion. 

 

Week #27: The Commitments

Moe says: Possibly better known/remembered for its stellar soundtrack, in particular the track Mustang Sally and the discovery/launch of Andrew Strong's belter of a voice, I think the film itself is massively underrated. Perhaps that's just my perception... Anyhow, it's a great laugh and one of Alan Parker's best films, in my opinion. Interested to hear other's thoughts... and if you haven't seen it, do yourself a favour and track it down. (Note: for anti-musical film people, it's not a musical in the traditional sense that the songs form part of the narrative; the songs are simply the band rehearsing and performing.)  

Wiki says: The Commitments is a 1991 musical comedy-drama film based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Roddy Doyle. It was directed by Alan Parker from a screenplay written by Doyle, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais. Set in the Northside of Dublin, the film tells the story of Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins), a young music fanatic who assembles a group of working-class youths to form a soul band named "The Commitments". The film is the first in a series known as The Barrytown Trilogy, followed by The Snapper (1993) and The Van (1996).

Producers Lynda Myles and Roger Randall-Cutler acquired the film rights to the novel in 1988, and commissioned Doyle, a first-time screenwriter, to write an adaptation. Doyle spent one year working on the script before Myles brought in veteran screenwriters Clement and La Frenais to help complete it. Upon reading the novel, Parker signed on as the film's director in 1989. An international co-production between Ireland, the United States and the United Kingdom, The Commitments was the first film produced by Beacon Pictures, which provided an estimated budget of $12–15 million. The film's young lead actors were mostly inexperienced, and were cast because of their musical backgrounds and resemblance to the characters in the novel. Principal photography took place in Dublin, from late August to October, 1990.

The Commitments underperformed at the North American box office, grossing $14.9 million during its theatrical run. Reviewers praised the music, performances and humour, while criticism was occasionally aimed at the pacing and Parker's direction. The film resulted in two soundtrack albums released by MCA Records; the first reached #8 on the Billboard 200 album chart and achieved triple-platinum status, while the second album achieved gold sales status. At the 1992 British Academy Film Awards, the film won four of six BAFTA Awards for Best Film, Best Direction, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Editing. It also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Film Editing. The film has since gained cult status.

Over to you...

How do you rate it? Favourite scenes?

Best moments?... etc, and so on... post 'em up!!

Give us your score out of 10!

[MoeFOH]

 

[riderpride]

Fantastic movie and brilliant soundtrack. Easily a 9/10 and definitely underrated.  While many haven't seen the movie, it seems to be universally loved by those that have.

Fave sceens: electrocution, 'I'm black and I'm proud ', and heroine kills. 

I have to admit that i did have to re-watch some parts as the accents can be thick. 

Cheers!

[Doctorossi]

Feel-good fun. I'll give it a 7/10.

[bassistheplace]

I'm unfamiliar with this movie. Now it's on my list to see it! Thanks guys