‘The Commitments’

A feelgood celebration of working class Dublin, the adaptation of Roddy Doyle’s novel is a paen to the music of the soul.

Wheeler and dealer Jimmy Rabbite (Robert Arkins – The Comeback) auditions locals as he looks to set up a soul band. Centred around the stunning Joe Cocker-like voice of the arrogant Deco (Andrew Strong), a bus conductor by day, The Commitments take Dublin’s pub scene by storm. But relationships within the 10-piece band make for a hard slog.

With an emphasis on the music of the likes of Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding and the rowdy live gigs, The Commitments is a soulful experience littered with expletives and laugh-out-loud humour. Director Alan Parker (Midnight Express, Mississippi Burning) choses to keep it simple and offer an infectious good time as we experience the highs and lows of the ten as Rabbite supports, pushes, cajoles the world around them.

Nominated for the best editing Oscar in 1992.

Rating: 77%

‘Mississippi Burning’

Intense exploration of the true story of the FBI investigation into the disapperance of three Civil Rights workers in 1964 small town Mississippi, codename MIBURN (Mississippi Burning).

Tough-talking, seasoned agent, Anderson (a splendid no-nonsense Gene Hackman) finds himself partnering idealist Willem Dafoe with his very different approach. Internal conflict between the two sits side by side with indifference from the local Sheriff, confrontation from his Deputy (Brad Dourif) to the escalation of violence and KKK activities throughout the county.

Racism in the Deep South in the 1950s/60s – particularly Mississippi – is an oft visited subject for filmmakers (A Time to Kill, In the Heat of the Night). A source of powerful stories of injustice with many incidents of racist violence, films such as Mississippi Burning tend to focus narrative on the white perspective of race politics. That does not change its intention (nor ‘entertainment’ value), but it’s only recently, with such voices as Spike Lee and Ava du Vernay, that black voices are heard more clearly. Director Alan Parker may be guilty of whitewashing history with his broad brush strokes, but he perfectly captures the small town racial hatred in a suspenseful, thrilling feature.

Nominated for 7 Oscars in 1989 including best film, director, actor, supporting actress (Frances McDormand), won 1 for cinematography Peter Biziou (The Truman Show, Ladies in Lavender).

Rating: 80%

Director: Alan Parker (Evita, Midnight Express)

Writer: Chris Gerolmo (Miles From Home, Above Suspicion)

Main cast: Gene Hackman (The French Connection, The Royal Tennenbaums), Willem Dafoe (At Eternity’s Gate, Spiderman), Brad Dourif (Wise Blood, The Lord of the Rings)