Cinco DeNio

I generally agree. Without realizing it, that's probably what's drawn me to the movie time and again. My only quibble with your statement is after the first rehearsal Joey says "It was a start. I believe in starts. Once you have that the rest is inevitable." So he was preaching a "prosperity gospel" for a while, at least to Jimmy.

Yes, the lead singer, Andrew Strong, IRL has a singing career. So do others. Some of them were in bands beforehand. (The rabid drummer was in a band. The end footage of him screaming into a mike is basically him with his real band.) I had a big crush on the actress who played Natalie. She still sings but she got married. She's Maria Doyle Kennedy now. The actor who played Jimmy, Robert Arkins, sings Treat Her Right in the end credits. Also, the whole band toured for a little while, a la Spinal Tap. Some still do, under the name The Stars from The Commitments.

Didn't you see the end of the movie? He did but he was a big prick.

I feel bad for Bernie (sp?).

This would have been a better poster to show "urban decay".

Obviously I love the movie but the music is the big draw. Supposedly the music was recorded live to preserve the performances as they were. That seems like they did it during the rehearsal scenes but I am not sure about the club gigs. There is one or two spots (the fight at the roller rink where the music and singing trail off) but Try A Little Tenderness seems too spot on. I also know there is another singer for some of the songs, Niamh Kavanaugh. I'm not sure how they worked her in or if they didn't film songs she participated in.

That's the point. Jimmy thought the music would appeal to the "working-class" and never thought through that the working class was limited, or that other cultures' working class would have different tastes or aspirations. I hadn't thought of that until now but it explains a lot for me.

OK, me, what do I have for myself?

I agree. I just meant I didn't want it to be credited to someone, to have a pick forced on them.

I approve of doubling up on Once. That can be my next pick so no one loses their turn. (I've never seen Once. I know it's been made into a successful Broadway musical.)

The guitarist in the movie, Outspan, is Glen Hansard. He was the lead and a co-songwriter in the movie Once. These are his only two movies. He also did a voice in a Simpsons episode. The Commitments Once

Carrying on the theme a little, the video for Try A Little Tenderness was playing a lot on MTV and such. I can't find the video version but here's a clip from the movie. This video was a big reason I wanted to see the movie.

I first heard of the movie in 1990 or 1991 when I donated blood at the Red Cross. A radio station was giving away CDs with each donation. I knew the movie was coming out soon so I took the soundtrack CD and loved it. Saw the movie and liked it then too. I have watched it off and on since then. Read the book before and am reading it again preparing for next week.

It's a Christmas miracle!

So, it's a winter Christmas movie and the big song everyone wants to sing is about barbecue?!? We watched...

Will do. I'll be the first leg of the next Triple Crown.

Shucks. I guess I'd better retract my pick then. I wanted to be the third.

We're completing the Alan Parker trilogy (after Pink Floyd's The Wall and Evita) although I am looking at one or more of his movies for future picks.

OK, enough. Put your working-class hands together for the saviours of soul, the hardest-working band in the world. Yes! Yes, yes!

Keep waiting, me.

I just read the interview and have to post the last section.

Here's a 2018 interview with Paul Williams about the special and the music.