ViewGuide

Created Sep 25, 2016 05:04PM PST • Edited Sep 26, 2016 11:49PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Very Good 3.5

   The Commitments retains its charm some 25 years after it premiered, even as Ireland and the music world have changed dramatically in the intervening quarter-century. That charm stems from a can’t-miss combination of sweet soul music, quirky characters coming together in a band, and some real sexiness.

   Surprisingly, only one cast member jumped from The Commitments to wider renown outside Ireland. That’s Glen Hansard, who went on to create Once and to create music for the even better Sing Street. Colm Meany was already well known before The Commitments for his role in Star Trek: The Next Generation. The fresh and sexy Angeline Ball, however, has languished as an Irish TV star. She deserved a bigger stage.

4. Acting

   Great 4.0

   The Commitments

   • Robert Arkins as Jimmy Rabbitte – manager
   • Andrew Strong as Declan “Deco” Cuffe – lead vocals
   • Angeline Ball as Imelda Quirke – backing vocals (The Commitmentettes)
   • Maria Doyle as Natalie Murphy – backing vocals (The Commitmentettes)
   • Bronagh Gallagher as Bernie McGloughlin – backing vocals (The Commitmentettes)
   • Johnny Murphy as Joey “The Lips” Fagan – trumpet
   • Glen Hansard as “Outspan” Foster – lead guitar
   • Kenneth McCluskey as Derek Scully – bass player
   • Félim Gormley as Dean Fay – alto saxophone
   • Michael Aherne as Steven Clifford – pianist
   • Dick Massey as Billy Mooney – drums
   • Dave Finnegan as Mickah Wallace – security and drums

   Other characters

   • Colm Meaney as Jimmy Rabbitte, Sr., Jimmy’s father.

5. Male Stars Great 4.0

6. Female Stars Great 4.0

7. Female Costars Great 4.0

8. Male Costars Great 4.0

10. Film

    Very Good 3.5

    The film is very Irish, even as its music is very American.

11. Direction Great 4.0

12. Play Good 3.0

13. Music Really Great 4.5

    Mustang Sally, Take Me To The River, Chain of Fools, I Can’t Stand The Rain, Try A Little Tenderness, Do Right Woman, Do Right Man, In The Midnight Hour, & Slip Away

14. Visuals Very Good 3.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Tame 1.5

17. Sex Titillating 1.7

18. Violence Gentle 1.0

19. Rudeness Salty 1.9

21. Reality

    Glib 1.3

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.9

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0