Take my hand

It's the 80's, Setting: Dublin, Plot: The worlds hardest- workin' band.

"I'd like to introduce you to the hardest-workin' band in the world. On bass, Derek "Meatman" Scully. On piano, Steven "Soul Surgeon" Clifford. Dean "Mr Nipple" Fay on sax. Joey "The Lips" Fagan on trumpet. Our gorgeous chanteuses are Bernie, Imelda, and Natalie. Deco "Deep Throat" Cuffe on vocals. On lead guitar, Outspan "Fender bender" Foster. Finally, on drums, Mickah "Don't Fuck With Me" Wallace. Ladies and gentlemen, The Commitments."

In 1987 Roddy Doyle wrote a tale about an unemployed group of young north side Dubliners (If that's a word). Who started a band, not just any band at that they would be playing soul. In 1991 he's debut novel was adapted to the silver screen. "Do you not get it, lads? The Irish are the blacks of Europe. And Dubliners are the blacks of Ireland. And the Northside Dubliners are the blacks of Dublin. So say it once, say it loud: I'm black and I'm proud."


Jimmy Rabbitte brings the group together with a simple vision of bringing soul to Dublin. He puts together a very unlikely band of musicians who somehow manages to make music that touches the audience. "Soul is the music people understand. Sure it's basic and it's simple. But it's something else 'cause, 'cause, 'cause it's honest, that's it. Its honest. There's no fuckin' bullshit. It sticks its neck out and says it straight from the heart. Sure there's a lot of different music you can get off on but soul is more than that. It takes you somewhere else. It grabs you by the balls and lifts you above the shite." As the band nears its big break, ego's clash and expectations of fame and fortune starts to tear them apart. This forcing Jimmy to fight desperately to keep them together.

The commitments bubbles over with a life provided by a young and mostly unknown cast. They're atleast unknown to me, but that's part of what gives the film its charm. The film also crackles along with a music that takes a hold and shakes you til' you beg for more. We're talking 60's soul. At the end of the film you find you're self searching for more of those magical tunes, I know I did. Besides nothing can really beat the rough Dublin language.


TheGr3yZon3
The Commitments - Dark end of the Street, originally preformed by James Carr