The Commitments,
directed by Alan Parker
(R, 118 minutes)
This is the Blu-ray release of Alan Parker's 1991 dramatic comedy -- vulgar, smart, funny and still fresh -- about Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins), an ambitious young wannabe music producer who is absolutely enthralled with the idea of bringing soul music to the bars and clubs of Dublin.
The problem is that there is a dearth of rhythm and blues musicians in Ireland, so getting together a proper soul band is no mean feat. After countless auditions of a motley assortment of scruffy sorts, Jimmy finds two key players: a hard-drinking streetcar conductor with a voice like that of Otis Redding, and a tough-talking horn player who shares Jimmy's knowledge of and passion for R&B.
The cast members of the film, based on Roddy Doyle's 1987 novel of the same name, play their own instruments while performing a memorable lineup of well-known R&B hits live on set. The band was reunited for concert tours in 2010 and 2011. With Andrew Strong, Johnny Murphy, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Bronagh Gallagher.
The Phenom (not rated, 90 minutes) More about family dynamics than sports, this intense psychological study concerns major-league rookie pitcher Hopper Gibson (Johnny Simmons), whose early promise deteriorates, getting him booted to the minor leagues. That's when he begins sessions with an unorthodox sports psychologist (Paul Giamatti), where hidden conflicts with his dreadful sports-obsessed loser dad (Ethan Hawke) become apparent. With Alison Elliott, Paul Adelstein; directed by Noah Buschel.
Confirmation (not rated, 110 minutes) This straight-ahead, well argued made-for-HBO film concerns the eventful Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Clarence Thomas (Wendell Pierce, The Wire and Treme), which lose any semblance of order and dignity when his former colleague Anita Hill (Kerry Washington, Scandal) accuses him of sexual harassment. With Greg Kinnear, Jeffrey Wright, Eric Stonestreet; directed by Rick Famuyiwa.
What Happened, Miss Simone? (not rated, 102 minutes) A remarkable and affecting documentary in which artfully assembled film clips of performances and interviews with groundbreaking Juilliard-educated vocalist Nina Simone (and many of the important people in her life) strive to put into context her efforts to break into and conquer the music business despite an atmosphere of sexism and racism. With Simone's guitarist and musical director Al Schackman, her husband and manager Andrew Stroud, and her daughter Lisa Simone Kelly; directed by Liz Garbus.
Jane Wants a Boyfriend (not rated, 101 minutes) An emotional, well-intentioned but uneven dramatic comedy in which a young costume designer with Asperger's syndrome ventures out in search of love with guidance from her overly protective older sister. With Louisa Krause, Gabriel Ebert, Eliza Dushku; directed by William Sullivan.
Me Before You (PG-13, 110 minutes) A sentimental tear-jerker concerning a romance that develops between Louisa Clark (Emilia Clarke, who plays Daenerys Targaryen in HBO's Game of Thrones), an unsophisticated, unfashionable working-class young woman from a small village in Great Britain, and wealthy, handsome William Traynor of London, who hires her as his caretaker after a motorcycle wreck results in him becoming a quadriplegic. Adapted from the best-selling novel by Jojo Moyes. With Charles Dance, Jenna Coleman, Janet McTeer, Vanessa Kirby; directed by Thea Sharrock.
The Nice Guys (R, 116 minutes) A violent, flashy, often funny and entertaining Los Angeles-based cop drama concerning two detectives who encounter a massive conspiracy while investigating what appears to be the suicide of a fading porn star. With Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Matt Bomer, Margaret Qualley, Yaya DaCosta; directed by Shane Black.
MovieStyle on 09/02/2016