The Commitments (film)

The novel The Commitments was made into a film in 1991, directed by Alan Parker. It starred Robert Arkins as Jimmy Rabbitte, Johnny Murphy as Joey "The Lips" Fagan, and Colm Meaney as Jimmy Rabbitte Sr. The members of the band were played by Michael Aherne, Angeline Ball, Maria Doyle, Dave Finnegan, Bronagh Gallagher, Félim Gormley, Glen Hansard, Dick Massey, Kenneth McCluskey, and Andrew Strong as Deco (who was only 16 years old during filming). The cast were mostly all unknown before filming, and were mainly chosen on the strength of their musical, rather than acting, ability.

Some of the band members from the movie (including the bassist and the original drummer) have since formed a group that tours under The Commitments name. The film was important in that it introduced a new generation to rhythm and blues much as The Blues Brothers had in the 1980s.

In 2005 it was voted the best Irish film of all time. 1