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The General

Play trailer Poster for The General R,  1998,  2h 3m,  Biography/ Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 84% 45 Reviews Tomatometer 80% 2,500+ Ratings Popcornmeter
84% Tomatometer 45 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
This fact-based film begins with the murder of Martin Cahill (Brendan Gleeson), one of Ireland's most infamous and violent criminals. Dying, Cahill reflects on his life -- being raised on the hardscrabble streets of Dublin, his years in reform school, learning to steal at an early age and rising from petty thief to powerful crime boss known for his brazen armed robberies. And throughout, tenacious policeman Ned Kenny (Jon Voight) dedicatedly pursuing him.
The General

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Director John Boorman assuredly returns to the crime genre with The General -- a psychologically rich and darkly humorous piece of gangster cinema anchored by Brendan Gleeson's audacious performance.

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Critics Reviews

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Richard Schickel TIME Magazine Apr 1, 2019
Neither film nor actor tries to resolve Cahill's contradictions or anyone's feelings for him. Go to Full Review
Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader May 1, 2012
I can no longer stomach the premise in so many Anglo-American crime pictures that mavericks are admirable simply because they're mavericks Go to Full Review
Derek Elley Variety Mar 26, 2009
A movie that says more about the rebellious Irish psyche than a heap of overtly political pictures. Go to Full Review
Ken Fox TV Guide May 1, 2012
3.5/4
The film has little of the visual dazzle often associated with Boorman's movies, but the somber, black-and-white cinematography helps even out the often larger-than-life tone. Go to Full Review
Michael Dequina TheMovieReport.com May 3, 2009
2.5/4
Enjoyable for what it is; problem is, what it is doesn't amount to much in the end. Go to Full Review
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The General

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Cast & Crew

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John Boorman

Director

Brendan Gleeson

Martin Cahill

Adrian Dunbar

Noel Curley

Sean McGinley

Gary

Maria Doyle Kennedy

Frances

Angeline Ball

Tina

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The General

The General (1998) The General (1998) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis This fact-based film begins with the murder of Martin Cahill (Brendan Gleeson), one of Ireland's most infamous and violent criminals. Dying, Cahill reflects on his life -- being raised on the hardscrabble streets of Dublin, his years in reform school, learning to steal at an early age and rising from petty thief to powerful crime boss known for his brazen armed robberies. And throughout, tenacious policeman Ned Kenny (Jon Voight) dedicatedly pursuing him.
Director
John Boorman
Producer
John Boorman
Screenwriter
John Boorman, Paul Williams
Production Co
Merlin Films, J&M Entertainment, Irish Film Board
Rating
R
Genre
Biography, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 18, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 1, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.2M
Runtime
2h 3m
Sound Mix
Surround
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1), Scope (2.35:1)
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