Alan Parker RIP

Vengeful Glutton · Jul 31, 2020

Director Alan Parker passed away today aged 76. Irish people will be very familiar with his treatment of Roddy Doyle's The Commitments. A popular movie in this country, it surely must now qualify as a historically significant artefact? Set in Dublin's inner city, during the 1980s, it tells the tale of young Jimmy Rabbitte's dreams of starting a soul band. Parker captured the youthful vibrance, colourful energy and distinct cultural idiosyncrasies of a city on the eve of crossing the Rubicon of globalisation. I'm not a fan of The Commitments, but the last time I watched it, Dublin, despite the urban decay, unemployment and crime, never seemed so delectably poignant; a time and a place gone forever.

A talented and accomplished auteur, Mr. Parker's movie portfolio includes a diverse range of movie genres:

RIP

ShumanTheHuman · Jul 31, 2020

Forgot he directed Birdy. Great film

blue velvet · Jul 31, 2020

RIP.

Yeah, the Commitments was set in an Irish Dublin. That's basically changed beyond recognition now.

Catalpa · Jul 31, 2020

blue velvet said:
RIP.

Yeah, the Commitments was set in an Irish Dublin. That's basically changed beyond recognition now.

The Past is another Country - could never be truer when we look back now!

Vengeful Glutton · Jul 31, 2020

It's definitely worth re-visiting The Commitments. As Blue Velvet has said, it is uniquely Irish. You can taste the meaty timbres of the inner city accents (they're a little bit exaggerated for movie purposes). Considering that he had a cast of unknowns, Parker did an excellent job making a fine movie. It does have a few flaws: the story isn't very demanding on the gray matter and some of the characters are cardboard cut outs, but it really does ooze 1980s Dublin - the howyas, Stary Horse? and various other coarse colloquies seem so quaint now. I think the word "banjaxed" is used once - last time I heard that word was back in the mid 80s!

Conall Gulban · Jul 31, 2020

Vengeful Glutton said:

Just noticed that the red haired guy from Fame is Emil from Robocop, sorry off topic but didn't know that until now.

blue velvet · Jul 31, 2020

The Commitments has stuff that might fall foul of the woke brigade nowadays. Like Jimmy referring to the Irish as 'The Blacks of Europe'.

Major Infraction · Jul 31, 2020

Johnny Favourite.

Louis Cyphere.

Evangeline Proudfoot.

Margaret Krusemark.

Toots Sweet.

blue velvet · Jul 31, 2020

Charlotte Rampling as Margaret Krusemark. What a babe, until maybe her 40's.

I was flicking around yesterday and 'Georgy Girl' from 1966 was on. She was about 20 at the time.

FF/FG/Lab/SF..stitchup · Jul 31, 2020

soon it will be necessary to use an artificial film-set to make a movie about Ireland.

blue velvet · Jul 31, 2020

FF/FG/Lab/SF..stitchup said:
soon it will be necessary to use an artificial film-set to make a movie about Ireland.

And get Eastern Europeans as extras, because there won't be any Paddies left.

Vengeful Glutton · Jul 31, 2020

blue velvet said:
Charlotte Rampling as Margaret Krusemark. What a babe, until maybe her 40's.

I was flicking around yesterday and 'Georgy Girl' from 1966 was on. She was about 20 at the time.

She's a vixen in that.