The Commitments | |
---|---|
Theatrical release poster
|
|
Directed by | Alan Parker |
Produced by |
|
Screenplay by | |
Based on |
The Commitments by Roddy Doyle |
Starring |
|
Cinematography | Gale Tattersall |
Edited by | Gerry Hambling |
Production
companies |
|
Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release date
|
|
Running time
|
118 minutes |
Country |
|
Language | English |
Budget | $12–15 million |
Box office | $14.9 million |
The Commitments (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | |
---|---|
Soundtrack album | |
Released | 13 August 1991 |
Genre | Soul |
Length | 46:16 |
Label | |
Producer | Paul Bushnell, Kevin Killen, Alan Parker |
The Commitments, Vol. 2: Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | |
---|---|
Soundtrack album | |
Released | 17 March 1992 |
Genre | Soul |
Length | 35:53 |
Label | MCA |
Producer | Paul Bushnell, Kevin Killen |
The Commitments is a 1991 Irish-British-American musical comedy-drama film directed by Alan Parker. The film is an adaptation of Roddy Doyle's 1987 novel of the same name, the first book in his Barrytown Trilogy. The story follows Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins), a young music fanatic living in the Dublin Northside who assembles a group of working-class youths to form a soul band named "The Commitments".
In 1988, producers Lynda Myles and Roger Randall-Cutler acquired the film rights to the novel, and commissioned Doyle to write an adaptation. Doyle spent one year working on the script before Myles brought in Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais to help complete it. In 1989, Clement and La Frenais discussed the project with Parker, who signed on to direct the film after reading the novel. The project continued development at a newly established film company, Beacon Communications, which provided an estimated budget of $12–15 million. The actors appearing as The Commitments were mostly inexperienced, and were cast due to their musical backgrounds and resemblance to the characters in the novel. Principal photography commenced in late August 1990 and concluded in October of that year. The film was shot on location in Dublin, Ireland.
Upon release, The Commitments received generally positive reviews, and grossed $14.9 million during its North American theatrical run. The film received various awards and nominations; it received an Academy Award nomination for Best Film Editing, and won four BAFTA Awards, including Best Film and Best Direction. While only a modest success with North American audiences, The Commitments has since been regarded as a cult film and one of the best Irish films ever made. The film is the first in Doyle's Barrytown Trilogy of films, followed by The Snapper (1993) and The Van (1996).