The General (1998)

The best of the three films based on the life of Martin Cahill (the other two being the little seen BBC film Vicious Circle and the dismal Ordinary Decent Criminal), John Boorman takes the life of the folk hero, modern-day Robin Hood and Dublin's most wanted man and…

Mark Cunliffe 🇵🇸

Just how can one man be a both a folk hero and a gangster? The General tells the tales of Dublin underworld figure Martin Cahill, who masterminds a series of elaborate heists in early 1990's Dublin. Cahill is a veritable Danny Oceans who leads the Gardai on a merry dance as…

OakleighIrish

A fun little caper based on the life of Martin Cahill. Brendan Gleeson is excellent in one of his earliest lead roles, clearly having a great time playing a robin hood style character with a darker edge. It's mad to think he was already 34 when he made his debut. The film…

Jon

In a 20-year career that ended with his murder by the Irish Republican Army in 1994, Martin Cahill (Brendan Gleeson) and his gang stole money and property with an estimated value over $60,000,000. John Boorman’s sympathetic portrait of the Irish gangster presents the…

noir1946

Ein letztes spätes Ausrufezeichen im Œuvre John Boormans und überhaupt ein sehr gelungener Gangsterfilm. Das liegt am tollen Schaupiel Brendan Gleesons, den wunderbaren schwarzweißen Scopebildern und nicht zuletzt der vitalen Regie des zwischenzeitlich 92-jährigen Briten.

Thornhill

Man did I want to love this, but it didn't come together for me. I had actually hunted down and bought a physical copy, certain this would be my jam. Needless to say, a huge letdown. Nothing wrong with the performances, but it leans too far into the silly aspects for…

C.A. DeStefanis

One of my favourite movies of all time and one of the greatest Irish movies of all time!  Filmed completely in black and white about Martin Cahill who was named “The General” by the media, to discuss Cahill's activities while avoiding legal problems. Cahill took particular…

NayByrne

Th AV Club did an inventory list years ago about songs almost ruined by saxophones. I feel that way about this movie. The music is overbearing and full of saxophone. I don't even usually mind saxophone but God, doesn't it make the movie feel dated. That being said,…

Chris

Part of my 5 Directors x 5 Unseen Films (11) challenge. Irish actor Brendan Gleeson shines here as Dublin crime boss Martin Cahill, the thief whom author Paul Williams nicknamed "The General" in his 1995 non-fiction book. Director John Boorman wrote the screen adaptation…

TajLV