MovieChat Forums > The Commitments (1991) Discussion > Mediocre film... with a great soundtrack

Mediocre film... with a great soundtrack

posted 8 years ago by carpathianwolff
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I just have to comment on those who claim this film to be "the best film about Ireland", those who think that either haven't seen many films about Ireland or don't appreciate any film that portrays suffering, death and struggle. Because the best films about Ireland are about suffering, death and struggle.

"The Commitments" barely shows anything about the "ghetto" in which this film is supposed to take place, and the hardships are displayed by band members bickering and fighting with each other pretty much only to feed their own egos. I can honestly say that I didn't sympathize with any of the band members problems (I wouldn't think anyone else would care either since they're all pretty egotistical)
The only thing that makes this film worth viewing is for the soundtrack (which you can get separately anyways, and avoid this film), I don't really like soul music but this soundtrack is fantastic... I can see why the music takes up nearly 50% of the film because everything else is "mediocre".

If anyone truly wants to see some better films about Ireland in general, check out any of the 4 great Jim Sheridan films ("My Left Foot", "The Field", "In The Name Of The Father", "The Boxer"), Neil Jordan's "The Crying Game" and "Michael Collins", Alan Parker's "Angela's Ashes", John Boorman's "The General", etc. etc. etc.

[–] hailthecgisnake 8 years ago

Can I enquire, are you actually Irish? Yes, things have been pretty grim in the past, but for god's sake, we are not constantly miserable people; Flann O'Brien got a pretty good handle on the way Ireland is presented, even by Irish people. We had and have serious issues, including recession, widespread drug use amd homelessness, a suicide epidemic and a terrible anti-abortion amendment, but by god we're going to be funny about it.