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Historical drama

The General (2019): Cast & Ratings

The General (2019) movie poster

The General is a 2019 historical drama directed by Antun Vrdoljak, starring Goran Višnjić as Ante Gotovina, Boris Svrtan and Vigo Višnjić. It runs 2 hours 25 minutes and was made on a reported $3 million budget. Its Echo Score is 17/100.

Echo Score
17
budget
$3M
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The General (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 25m (145 min)
Director
Antun Vrdoljak
Genres
History , Drama , War
Original language
Croatian
Budget
$3M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The General About?

The premise of The General without spoilers.

Follows the life of general Ante Gotovina.

The General Themes & Keywords

· 2 tags
  • general
  • croatian war of independence
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Cast & crew

The General Cast & Characters

Goran Višnjić leads the cast as Ante Gotovina, with Boris Svrtan as Ante Roso and Vigo Višnjić as Mali Ante Gotovina. Directed by Antun Vrdoljak; 22 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The General

· 18 more
Show all 22 cast members
From the director

More from Antun Vrdoljak

More films directed by Antun Vrdoljak: Long Dark Night, The Glembays, Cyclops and The Pine Tree in the Mountain.

Full filmography
Ratings

The General Reviews & Ratings

Our Echo Score gives it 17/100, strongest in art & craft (20) and weakest in rewatch factor (10).

17 /100

The General Echo Score Breakdown

The film delivers a largely unsatisfactory experience across all dimensions, with production values, narrative coherence, and performances falling short of expectations. Reviewers repeatedly note unrealistic battle sequences, clunky dialogue, and a lack of emotional depth, resulting in a portrayal that feels more propagandistic than cinematic. While a few supporting actors make limited attempts to elevate the material, the overarching execution remains deficient, leading to minimal appeal for repeat viewings.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 20

    In terms of art and craft, the movie suffers from low-budget production design and unconvincing cinematography. Critics point to visibly fake sets, cheap visual effects, and poorly edited sequences that detract from immersion. The direction offers little stylistic nuance, and overall technical execution appears rushed. Consequently, the artistic component is judged as markedly substandard.

  • Character & Emotion 20

    Character and emotion are inadequately developed, with performances described as flat and unconvincing. Lead portrayals lack depth, and chemistry between actors is largely absent, though a few supporting roles attempt to compensate. Dialogue is criticized for being unrealistic and philosophically cheap, reinforcing the sense of caricature rather than genuine humanity. The result is a weak emotional resonance.

  • Story & Flow 15

    The story structure is fragmented, featuring disjointed timelines, unrealistic plot points, and a one‑sided perspective on historical events. Reviewers highlight a lack of coherent pacing, implausible battle scenes, and a script riddled with cheap philosophy. Originality is minimal, and narrative engagement suffers, leading to a perception that the plot is more propaganda than compelling drama.

  • Sensory Experience 20

    Sensory experience suffers from an underwhelming soundtrack, poor sound design, and visual inconsistency. Critics note that music and audio cues feel out of place, while the overall visual style lacks cohesion. The combination of these flaws contributes to a distracting rather than immersive atmosphere, further eroding the film’s impact on viewers.

  • Rewatch Factor 10

    Rewatch value is minimal, as the film provides little incentive for subsequent viewings beyond niche interest in low‑budget propaganda. The negative reception of acting, story, and technical elements reduces lasting appeal, and only dedicated fans of trash cinema might find occasional novelty. Overall, the movie fails to generate sustained interest for repeat audiences.

Seen The General?

FAQ

The General FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, budget, post-credit scenes and language of The General, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The General?

The General runs 2 hours 25 minutes (145 minutes).

When was The General released?

The General was released on August 5, 2019.

Who directed The General?

The General was directed by Antun Vrdoljak.

More films by Antun Vrdoljak

Who is in the cast of The General?

The General stars Goran Višnjić as Ante Gotovina, Boris Svrtan as Ante Roso and Vigo Višnjić as Mali Ante Gotovina, among 22 credited actors.

What was the budget of The General?

The General had a reported budget of $3 million.

Does The General have a post-credit scene?

No. The General has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is The General in?

The original language of The General is Croatian.

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