The General review

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Until recently, it's been hard to take in an Irish movie that hasn't had the IRA as its central theme. But the times are a-changing. Neil Jordan's The Butcher Boy focused on the crazed psyche of a highly imaginative child; now step forward the latest masterwork from veteran director John Boorman (The Emerald Forest, Deliverance).

Not based on a politicised or fictional character, the drama centres on the life of the late Irish Pink Panther-cum-Robin Hood Martin Cahill (nick- named The General). He's a man who liked to ridicule the establishment: a big boo-sucks to the police, the Church and, less conventionally, the IRA.

Boorman stylishly shoots Cahill's world in black-and-white and ties it together with a funky soundtrack, painting vivid, grainy images that'll stay with you long after the lights come up. It might sound like a fidgety arthouse piece: far from it. A well-sprung script and sharp character delineation reel you in from the start, and the unfolding story is layered with unpretentious humour that sometimes borders on the Pythonesque. The result is a heady combination of uncompromising realism and palpable hip.

But it's the performances that really give The General its schtick. Voight is compelling as the cop who has a bittersweet affection for the crook, while the gang members (including Sean McGinley and Adrian Dunbar) make a strong supporting cast. Gleeson wears the role of Cahill like a second skin, acknowledging all the criminal's complexities and charisma.

Despite a third quarter that drags somewhat, it's still one of the most engrossing films you'll see this year. And if this compelling and addictive little piece doesn't scoop a bag full of awards, then something is very, very wrong with the movie industry.

An impeccably scripted, exquisitely directed work that brims over with acting of the highest quality. A film that'll wire all your cinema-going senses and delight imaginations dulled by hour-upon-hour of witless, cacophonous, image-led thrillers.

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The Total Film team are made up of the finest minds in all of film journalism. They are: Editor Jane Crowther, Deputy Editor Matt Maytum, Reviews Ed Matthew Leyland, News Editor Jordan Farley, and Online Editor Emily Murray. Expect exclusive news, reviews, features, and more from the team behind the smarter movie magazine.