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I don't know how many of you folks out there have a passion for old rock n' roll the way I do. Hard driven, rhythm and blues-based, sung from the soul. It's a solid joy to hear. Why else would it be so popular in movie soundtracks? But, a few years ago, somebody finally captured the pure essence of that heartfelt music. Oddly enough, though, it took a trip to Ireland to find it. Thanks to the recommendation of one of my loyal patients, I've learned to enjoy this movie and its soundtrack all over again. The Commitments tells the story of young Jimmy Rabbitte, and his quest to form the best soul music band in the land. Problem is, Jimmy is smack in the middle of North Dublin, Ireland. If he can pull this off, it'll be a rippin' miracle, 'cause, well, Ireland ain't known for its collection of r&b musicians, you know? But, as Jimmy explains to the ragtag group he scrounges together, soul music is considered to be "black music," and, in his words, "the Irish are the blacks of England, and Dubliners are the blacks of the Irish, and North Dubliners are the blacks of Dublin." There's got to be soul music somewhere in that logic, right? And, when all the pieces start to fit together, and all the voices finally blend, it is indeed pure soul music, from the hard bass thump to the wailing horns to the hard-voiced lead. Director Alan Parker puts these pieces together in such a simple fashion, it almost disarms you. You never expect these people to pull it off, but, when they do, you never expect them to sound as good as they do, and when they do, you never want them to stop. The cast, lead by Robert Arkins as Jimmy, is fresh and virtually unknown. Arkins is especially good when he pretends to be interviewing himself for the press, his ultimate fantasy. He does some narration, some exposition, but, really, you get to see how Jimmy wants to be known. This kid wants to be famous in the business, but he knows he'll never get there selling bootleg cassettes and talking about it. So he makes it happen, and, for a brief moment, it does. Watch also for some nice supporting performances from the various members of the band. Michael Aherne and Dave Finnegan are funny as the musicians Jimmy starts out with. They are like his humble followers, willing to do pretty much anything. The Commitment-ettes, played by Angeline Ball, Maria Doyle Kennedy, and Bronagh Gallagher are also very good, playing a couple of working-class girls and one semi-society deb, who come together to be the "back-up" singers for this combo. The sax player, Felim Gormley, is just in it to be as cool as he can. Hearing him repeat the band's mantra, "Say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud," is one of the best moments in the film. The wise old trumpet player, Joey "The Lips" Fagan, played by Johnny Murphy, is the one musician who has played with the greats of soul, most notably the band's unofficial god, Wilson Pickett. And, trust me, you'll be amazed by Andrew Strong, playing the horribly sloppy lead singer Deco Cuffe. This kid looks like a beefier version of Meat Loaf, with less charm but with more soul in his voice than you will ever believe possible from a guy that young and that pale. An added plus comes from Jimmy's dad, played by Colm Meaney, known to most from his gigs on "Star Trek: TNG" and "Deep Space 9". Here, Meaney is a hard-working man who cannot figure out his son's drive to manage a soul band. Yet, there are two pictures on this man's wall in the dining room. There's one of the Pope, and one of the King. Meaning Elvis Presley, of course. His impression of Elvis is hysterical, but it is obvious where Jimmy got his love of the music, whether his dad wants to admit it or not. The only problem you might have with this movie is getting used to the Irish dialect. Most of us over here speak the same language as people in Ireland do, but we don't speak it with near the speed or the inflection they do. It takes a little bit to tune your ear into it, and you may find yourself saying, "What'd he say?" more than a few times in the first twenty minutes. But relax, it will come, and when it does, you'll quickly realize that you're watching one of the freshest and most charming movies to drip down the pipes in a long time. It's no grand classic, and it was never intended to be. But it does make more than a few points about fame, about soul, and about the desire to make music. And, I would not hesitate to wager a small sum that, once you've watched The Commitments, your next trip will be to the nearest music store to buy the soundtrack. I don't care if it is this group seen on film performing like some Irish Monkees, or if it's some lip-sync wonders like the Eddie and The Cruisers soundtrack. This collection of music is a wonderful sampler of the best music of the era known as the "soul sound." You'll want to hear it again, I promise. Treat yourself to a good time. Check out The Commitments. Soul may have never looked like this, but it sure sounds like it. And this movie has every bit of the soul you'd expect from a great film.
Get "reel" soon,
See past Alternative Medicine columns: A Christmas Story | To Kill A Mockingbird | I Wanna Hold Your Hand | Kingpin | Joe Versus the Volcano | The Commitments | Indian Summer | The Big Lebowski | Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man | The Texas Chainsaw Massacre | Empire Records | That Thing You Do! | The Ten Commandments | The Third Man | Waiting for Guffman
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