The General (1998 film)
| The General | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | John Boorman |
| Produced by | John Boorman |
| Written by | John Boorman |
| Based on |
The General by Paul Williams |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Richie Buckley |
| Cinematography | Seamus Deasy |
| Distributed by | Sony Pictures Classics |
Release date |
|
Running time | 124 minutes |
| Country | |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1.2 million (US)[2] |
The General is a British-Irish crime film directed by John Boorman about Dublin crime boss Martin Cahill, who pulled off several daring heists in the early 1980s and attracted the attention of the Garda Síochána, IRA, and Ulster Volunteer Force. The film was shot in 1997 and released in 1998. Brendan Gleeson plays Cahill, Adrian Dunbar plays his friend Noel Curley, and Jon Voight plays Inspector Ned Kenny.
Plot
After selling stolen paintings to the UVF Cahill realizes he has made a dangerous mistake. When the PIRA hear of this, they order his assassination, which is carried out on 18 August 1994.
Cast
- Brendan Gleeson as Martin Cahill
- Adrian Dunbar as Noel Curley
- Sean McGinley as Gary
- Maria Doyle Kennedy as Frances
- Angeline Ball as Tina
- Jon Voight as Inspector Ned Kenny
- Eanna MacLiam as Jimmy
- Tom Murphy as Willie Byrne
- Paul Hickey as Anthony
- Tommy O'Neill as Paddy
- John O'Toole as Shea
- Ciarán Fitzgerald as Tommy
- Ned Dennehy as Gay
- Vinny Murphy as Harry (as Vinnie Murphy)
- Roxanna Williams as Orla
Production
The film is based on the book of the same name by Irish journalist Paul Williams, who is "Special Correspondent" for Ireland's best-selling newspaper, the Irish Independent.
Director Boorman was himself one of Cahill's burglary victims. This event is dramatized in a scene in which Cahill breaks into a home, stealing a gold record and pilfering a watch from the wrist of a sleeping woman. The gold record, which Cahill later breaks in disgust after discovering it is not made of gold, was awarded for the score of Deliverance, Boorman's best-known film.
Filming was at various locations around Dublin, including South Lotts and Ranelagh.
Reception
The General was nominated for and won several awards, including Best Director at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival and the Grand Prix of the Belgian Syndicate of Cinema Critics.[3]
The film holds an approval rating of 81% based on 48 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.[4]
See also
References
- 1 2 "The General (1998)". British Film Institute. Retrieved 2016-06-19.
- ↑ "The General (1998)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2016-06-19.
- ↑ "Festival de Cannes: The General". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
- ↑ "The General (1998)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2016-06-19.