The Commitments

a film by Alan Parker

A novel by Roddy Doyle, music by Wilson Pickett, directed by Alan Parker. What else could you wish for? I think The Commitments is the funniest — and the rudest — of all Parker’s movies. I suppose the only place you could look for ruder dialogue is the novel itself. The whole audition sequence is simply brilliant.

“What d’yeh play?” “I used to play football at school.” “I mean what instrument?” “I don’t.” “So what are yeh doin’ here?” “Well, I saw everybody else linin’ up, so... I thought yeh were sellin’ drugs.” “What’s your name, pal?” “Joseph Fagan. Joey ‘The Lips’ Fagan.” “And I’m Jimmy ‘The Bollix’ Rabbitte.” “I earned me name for me horn playin’. What did you earn yours for?”