The Commitments is a 1991 film adaptation of a novel of the same name by Roddy Doyle. It tells of
unemployed Dubliners who form a soul band. It was directed by Alan Parker from a screenplay adapted
by Dick Clement, Ian Le Frenais and Doyle himself. The film was an international co-production
between companies in Ireland, the UK, and the United States. It was filmed on location in Dublin.
The Commitments stars Robert Arkins as Jimmy Rabbitte, Johnny Murphy as Joey "The Lips" Fagan,
and Colm Meaney as Jimmy Rabbitte Sr. The members of the band are 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
Plot
Jimmy Rabbitte aspires to manage the world's greatest band, with only one music in mind: soul.
Disgusted with bands in Ireland, he assembles a soul band in the tradition of Otis Redding, Aretha
Franklin, James Brown and Wilson Pickett. Jimmy auditions at his parents' house and assembles young
musicians. Unlike his idols, Jimmy's band is all white. With the help of Joey "The Lips" Fagan, the
veteran musician in the band who has unlikely stories about meeting and working with famous musicians,
Jimmy begins to whip the rest of the members into shape - only to have the group fall apart in a clash
of egos.
Cast
The cast were mostly unknown before filming, chosen for their musical rather than acting ability.
Robert Arkins as Jimmy Rabbitte, manager. Arkins was initially considered for the role of Deco until
the filmmakers discovered Andrew Strong. He sings only in the film's video.[2]
Andrew Strong as Declan "Deco" Cuffe, lead singer. His father, Rob Strong, was brought in as a vocal
coach and Parker heard his son singing and auditioned him for Deco.[3] Strong was 16.
Bronagh Gallagher as Bernie McGloughlin, backing singer. Born in Derry, Northern Ireland, Gallagher
had to learn a Dublin accent.
Angeline Ball as Imelda Quirke, backing singer.
Maria Doyle Kennedy as Natalie Murphy, backing singer (as Maria Doyle).
Glen Hansard as Outspan Foster, Guitar.
Kenneth McCluskey as Derek "Meatman" Scully, bass.
Johnny Murphy as Joey "The Lips" Fagan, trumpet. A number of established musicians were considered,
including Rory Gallagher and Van Morrison. Morrison insisted his songs be used in the film.[4] Parker
insisted that an established actor mentor the largely untrained cast.
Félim Gormley as Dean Fay, sax.
Michael Aherne as Steven Clifford, piano.
Dave Finnegan as Mickah Wallace, drums
Dick Massey as Billy Mooney, drums.
Colm Meaney as Jimmy Rabbitte Sr.
Andrea Corr as Sharon, Jimmy's younger sister, who does not sing in the film.
Peter Rowan as the skateboarding boy who wants to audition for the band.
Colm Mac Con Iomaire as an auditioning fiddler
Format : AVI
Format/Info : Audio Video Interleave
File size : 701 MiB
Duration : 1h 53mn
Overall bit rate : 866 Kbps
Writing application : VirtualDubMod 1.5.4.1 (build 2178/release)
Writing library : VirtualDubMod build 2178/release
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Format settings, BVOP : Yes
Format settings, QPel : No
Format settings, GMC : No warppoints
Format settings, Matrix : Custom
Codec ID : XVID
Codec ID/Hint : XviD
Duration : 1h 53mn
Bit rate : 740 Kbps
Width : 560 pixels
Height : 416 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 4:3
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Resolution : 8 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.127
Stream size : 598 MiB (85%)
Writing library : XviD 1.2.1 (UTC 2008-12-04)
Audio
ID : 1
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 3
Mode : Joint stereo
Format_Settings_ModeExtension : MS Stereo
Codec ID : 55
Codec ID/Hint : MP3
Duration : 1h 53mn
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 113 Kbps
Nominal bit rate : 128 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 91.7 MiB (13%)
Alignment : Aligned on interleaves
Interleave, duration : 24 ms (0.60 video frame)
Interleave, preload duration : 545 ms
Writing library : LAME3.98r
