finetune artist: The Commitments

Alan Parker's highly acclaimed 1991 movie, set in the working-class north side of contemporary Dublin, concerns the efforts of young Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins) to form the "World's Hardest Working Band", and bring real soul music to the city. His adverts for musicians in the local press and elsewhere bring forth guitarists Derek Scully (Ken McCluskey) and Outspan Foster (Glen Hansard), saxophone player Dean Fay (Felim Gormley), pianist Steven Clifford (Michael Aherne), and the 45-year-old messianic trumpeter Joey "The Lips' Fagan (Johnny Murphy), who says that he knows most of the American greats and has toured with Elvis Presley. Last, but definitely not least, there is singer Deco Cuffe (Andrew Strong), whose voice Variety"s critic likened to "a diesel engine". A gruelling rehearsal schedule pays off, and the band gets through some pub gigs, although arrogant Deco's continual "harmonising" with backing girl vocalists Bernie McGloughlin (Bronagh Gallagher), Natalie Murphy (Maria Doyle), and Imelda Quirke (Angeline Ball), causes trouble within the ranks. Hopes (and temperatures) soar when Joey promises to ask Wilson Pickett, who is also in town, to join them on stage after he has finished his own performance. He fails to show, and tempers flare, resulting in the band splitting up. As Jimmy wanders disconsolately along the roadway, a limousine pulls up alongside him, and a member of Pickett's entourage enquires where the Commitments are playing. They were in fact playing superbly all through this film - these unknown musicians Parker preferred to seasoned actors.

Listen to The Commitments at Finetune.

Mustang Sally
Try a Little Tenderness
In the Midnight Hour
The Dark End of the Street
Chain of Fools

spegs27 on 2007-06-24 22:59:21.687:
Andrea Corr (of The Corrs) was also in this film as Jimmy's sister.