Review of Barry Lyndon (1975) by Krishnaraj M — 23 Aug 2013

What really struck me after having seen Barry Lyndon is the lack of awareness and appreciation for it.

The plot revolves around Redmond Barry a poor and foolish boy who rises to become a noble, wealthy, and clever man through multiple lies and deception. Like Tarantino films have some of the best dialogue, Kubrick here has an excellent plot. Every scene feels necessary and is highly fresh, memorable, interesting, and powerful. I would not go into depth about any plot details, but the entire story is polished, well-formed, and layered. One of the main messages is that dishonesty and immorality can only lead you so far in life before you receive comeuppance. The story works in so many ways that you can make a modern day version of the film and it would be relatable. Clocking in at about three hours, the film will be long for most viewers, but I doubt that anyone will be looking at their watch. Kubrick described by many as an emotionally cold filmmaker is not afraid to write heartfelt and melancholic scenes.

The direction by Stanley Kubrick is filled with range. He directs a suspense in a scene and even adds a lot of emotion. Under Kubrick's steady hand, we can cry, and squeeze our armrests at the same time. For instance, the duel between Barry Lyndon and Lord Bullingdon makes us fear for Lyndon's safety while feel sad that Bullingdon has been so mistreated that he wants to kill his step-father. Also, Kubrick is also responsible for the spot-on portrayals given by his actors. You can not resist being immersed in every scene.

The actors all give wonderful performances and are pretty much on the same par. However, Ryan O'Neal ,who plays the title character , and Dominic Savage ,who plays the young Lord Bullingdon, have much more subtlety in their roles. Yes, most top-notch actors could bawl their eyes out on cue, scream, and completely go into the role, but it can feel at times over-acted. O'Neal and Savage are not in your face with their emotions, but you can still sense everything that they feel. I prefer the more realistic performances not that I dislike any of them.

The authenticity of the film is outstanding. All of the costumes and sets make you travel back in time. There was not a single moment where I doubted that I was in the 1700s. The score constituting of many classical music masterpieces is fitting. I would have preferred an original score, but in terms of adapted scores, this is one of the best. The cinematography by John Alcott is beautiful focusing mostly on the beautiful wide shots of landscapes or cities. The most interesting part about the editing is that it feels like an early Disney feature film with the use of a similar voice of the narrator and classic transitions between chapters of Barry's life.

Overall, Barry Lyndon is one of the best, if not the best, period pieces of all time with perfect technical authenticity mixed with a wonderful story.