Featured Audience Ratings

• Lady D

  
  A story documenting the rise and fall of the band The Commitments. With enjoyable vocals and those well known songs, this film makes for an easy watching tongue in cheek piece. In a seperate issue, I can't help thinking this discredits the film ONCE ever so slightly I had… More
  A story documenting the rise and fall of the band The Commitments. With enjoyable vocals and those well known songs, this film makes for an easy watching tongue in cheek piece. In a seperate issue, I can't help thinking this discredits the film ONCE ever so slightly I had thought their performances were really good, I hadn't known Glen Hansard had already appeared in this film.

• Jim H

  
  In the tradition of <i>Waking Ned Devine</i> and <i>The Full Monty</i>, this is a delightful, optimistic ensemble piece from across the pond. While there are few conflicts in between the characters, the main conflict that drives the film forward is understated… More
  In the tradition of <i>Waking Ned Devine</i> and <i>The Full Monty</i>, this is a delightful, optimistic ensemble piece from across the pond. While there are few conflicts in between the characters, the main conflict that drives the film forward is understated - people wanting to succeed in an world that doesn't assent. There is little in the way of comedy, "littler" in the way of drama, and too many musical sequences for my taste, but it's hard to fault the movie for any of these things. Suffice to say that I mildly enjoyed the experience of watching this film, and there's little to complain about.

• Anthony L

  
  'Riot Sally riot'

• Candy R

  
  A group of teenagers in Dublin from a rock band. The soundtrack is fab.

• Daniel P

  
  A gritty, fun flick with a great ending and classic music.

• Cindy I

  
  A great movie about fighting obstacles to get what you want. If you like soul music, this movie is a must.

• xGary X

  
  A british comedy. Seen one, seen 'em all.

• Michael G

  
  Pretty cool, but its one of those movies that you only really need to see once.

• Mark K

  
  The Commitments is a faux band-bio that is a great way to spend an evening watching a film. This genre has been done many times, but Alan Parker's film is the most organic and realistic of any I've ever seen. It's got some great music, intercut with sharply written… More
  The Commitments is a faux band-bio that is a great way to spend an evening watching a film. This genre has been done many times, but Alan Parker's film is the most organic and realistic of any I've ever seen. It's got some great music, intercut with sharply written dialogue, and that's strewn with working-class Dubliner expletives that are both amusing and authentic. The background of Dublin is captured perfectly in Parker's lens, and the editing and scene choices are a complex mosaic of the lives of the characters. It's so well done, you barely notice how much is going on, and how much subtext is in ever look, ever word and glance. It's really well done. casting is perfect. There are many characters that make up the band, and they're all distinct and interesting. The writing and direction brings them so alive, you'd swear you know some of them as friends (or foes) of yours. The struggles of the various characters are easy to understand and bond with, and how the music they make is when they are truly alive. The other beautiful thing about The Commitments is how beautifully unglamorous the whole situation is. The people are imperfect humans with enough talent to be able to rise above their rather squalid existence. You really hope they make it, even though you know not everything will be rosy in the end. If you love music (even if you're not a soul fan) you'll love the message and spiritual feeling of The Commitments. Recommended for all you eejits.

• John B

  
  Yeah yeah yeah, its good. Sometimes though you just aren't in the mood for a feel good movie about Irish people singing soul.

• William G

  
  Very rarely as sincere or charming as it purports to be.

• Henrik S

  
  An enjoyable wee romp through working class Dublin. Painting the town red (or is it green, aye ?) with the sweet sound of soul music. Despite being as gritty and grey in grey as it can get as far as films set in Ireland are concerned, I found the film lacking immensely in depth. Of… More
  An enjoyable wee romp through working class Dublin. Painting the town red (or is it green, aye ?) with the sweet sound of soul music. Despite being as gritty and grey in grey as it can get as far as films set in Ireland are concerned, I found the film lacking immensely in depth. Of course, the course of a semi-succesful and short lived band is usually all set on doom from the beginning, but I found other films that portrayed the inevitable downfall of the artists' soul a bit more vigourous (Still Crazy for example). The idea of using classic soul tunes might sound like a good one, but I found that it takes away from the empathic identification one might enjoy when watching a film about musicians. Also, the lead singer being such a dick does not help. All in all, a good effort but did not age well and lacks finesse.

• Isaac H

  
  Unrestrained and excessively hilarious, the musical/comedy The Commitments is the kind of movie that's really hard not to smile at all the way through.

• Marcus W

  
  Bunch of lower class Irish start a band...and that's about it. Okay, so along the way they produce some good music, cheer up a few people and work from a strong scrip, but the absolute lack of plot leaves this film flat.

• Audrey L

  
  I loved this movie-bought it and the soundtrack a long time ago. I watched it again today and it was a real treat-happened on it on TV. The music is excellent;the humor is laugh out loud funny and the characters are just so authentic.

• Leo L

  
  Great!

• deb .

  
  Good movie and great music!

• monty h

  
  Hadn't watched this movie in years until a few days ago. It's still great. The cast, the rocking songs, and the humor make it impossible not to love. And Andrew Strong as lead singer Deco is just terrific. Movies don't get much better than this.

Read all 18 featured audience ratings