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The General (1998)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
18 December 1998 (USA)
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Tagline:
The extraordinary true story of the rise and fall of the gangster, Martin Cahill. more
Plot:
The real-life story of Dublin folk hero and criminal Martin Cahill, who pulled off two daring robberies in Ireland with his team...
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Awards:
9 wins
&
8 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(7 articles)
10 Most Fascinating 'End of the World' Movies
(From The Movie Fanatic. 8 November 2009, 4:59 AM, PST)
10 Most Fascinating 'End of the World' Movies
(From The Movie Fanatic. 8 November 2009, 4:59 AM, PST)
(From The Movie Fanatic. 8 November 2009, 4:59 AM, PST)
10 Most Fascinating 'End of the World' Movies
(From The Movie Fanatic. 8 November 2009, 4:59 AM, PST)
User Comments:
Superbly drawn character study of infamous Irish criminal
more (46 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Brendan Gleeson | ... | Martin Cahill | |
| Adrian Dunbar | ... | Noel Curley | |
| Sean McGinley | ... | Gary | |
| Maria Doyle Kennedy | ... | Frances | |
| Angeline Ball | ... | Tina | |
| Jon Voight | ... | Inspector Ned Kenny | |
| Eanna MacLiam | ... | Jimmy | |
| Tom Murphy | ... | Willie Byrne | |
| Paul Hickey | ... | Anthony | |
| Tommy O'Neill | ... | Paddy | |
| John O'Toole | ... | Shea | |
| Ciarán Fitzgerald | ... | Tommy | |
| Ned Dennehy | ... | Gay | |
| Vinny Murphy | ... | Harry (as Vinnie Murphy) | |
| Roxanna Williams | ... | Orla |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
I Once Had a Life
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MPAA:
Rated R for violence and pervasive language.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
124 min
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Iceland:16 |
Australia:M |
France:U |
New Zealand:M |
Portugal:M/16 |
South Korea:15 |
Spain:13 |
Sweden:15 |
Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) |
Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) |
UK:15 |
USA:R |
Argentina:13
Filming Locations:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The home of director John Boorman was robbed by the real life Martin Cahill. Among other things, he stole a gold record that Boorman had on the wall, which inspired Boorman to include that scene in the movie.
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Goofs:
Anachronisms: Set in 1984, the background of the anti-drug march features a car with a license plate beginning with "96," indicating 1996.
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Quotes:
Martin Cahill:
We never should have bought this house. You never own things. You never own things. The things own you.
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Movie Connections:
References Deliverance (1972)
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FAQ
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Brendan Gleeson's performance as notorious Irish master criminal Martin "The General" Cahill is a small miracle. Alternating between a brash swagger and a sullen fatalism, Gleeson utterly transforms himself (I love how he hides his face simply by cocking his head down and shielding it with his hand, peeking out between splayed fingers) into the charismatic thief. Director and screenwriter John Boorman, who delighted in revealing that he had once been robbed of a gold record by the real-life Cahill (he references it anecdotally in the film) has done some of his best work here, creating a totally engrossing character study that includes tense robberies, playful confrontations with the police, and eyebrow-raising relationships, but he never forgets to maintain the delicate balance between the light-hearted (and light-fingered) humor and the danger and desperation inherent in a high-profile life of crime.