The Commitments

Can a bunch of working class Dubliners in the 90s revive the spirit of 60s soul? That's the main premise of this film, although it raises more issues as the plot unfolds. In the end, the film is about the ability to transcend circumstances, through music in this case. It has a few things going for it; an excellent (amateur) ensemble portraying unique characters, focused pacing, and, needless to say, a fantastic soundtrack featuring Motown classics like "Too Many Fish In The Sea" and "Nowhere To Run", among several others.
But what I really liked about The Commitments was the true enthusiasm for soul music. I can sympathize with the character of the manager, who wants to "spread soul to the Dublin masses". Why? Because there is a life-affirming quality to the classic R&B songs of that time period. Although much of the music is fairly dark in its lyrical musings, being derived from the blues, there is an undeniable joy that drips from the speakers when something like "Sugar Pie Honey Bunch" is playing. For the musicians in the film, music makes life extraordinary. That enthusiasm for the music is evident in small moments, like when the tour bus breaks out in a chorus of the Marvelettes' "Destination: Anywhere" or when the band's pianist plays Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale" on a church organ, and the priest starts talking about the lyrics of the song.