FAO Irish Caftards - The Commitments...

[iguanamanc]

Alan Parker's film The Commitments has just started on Film 4. I think it's a brilliant film. What do you guys think - does it represent Irish R&B of that era.......

 

[RedNome]

Not Irish but would like to comment on it being a great film with some great tunes.

 

[iguanamanc]

Great songs, aye. But is it stereotyped - that's why I ask for an Irish perspective.

 

[Brophs]

No not really, it's a fairly reasonable representation of Dublin at the time, as much as any film can be. They focussed on the more common aspects, as to go completely niche, would mean very few people could relate to it. great film though

 

[henno]

is that a roddy doyle book????

well, to answer your question, it doesnt represent Irish contemporary R & B because all the songs are covers of earlier 'american' R & B..... for example

mustang sally (Blues song written and first recorded by Mack Rice in 1965)
take me to the river (Al Green, from the 70's)
try a little tenderness (bing crosby, in 1933)
i cant stand the rain (anna pebbles, 1974)
Do Right Woman Do Right Man (aretha franklin, 1964)
In The Midnight Hour (wilson pickett, 1965)
Bye Bye Baby (4 seasons from 1953, made famous by Bay city rollers 1975)


but i would argue that the theme of the movie represents, fairly accurately, Dublin society of the time....

 

[GIT Z RED]

The scene were jimmy met Joey the lips in the lane way was brilliant and then Jimmy yells his dad who it was.

Jimmy: "He said God sent him"

Jimmys Father:"On a fecking Suzuki"

Class filim and does represent Dublin at the time I feel.

 

[Murphman]

Horses in lifts and people joining queues just in case there was somebody selling drugs.

Impossible to beat.