Review of Barry Lyndon (1975) by Jonathan B — 06 Feb 2012

This is a film that about 80% of people are going to hate, 10% are going to love, and the rest will probably fall asleep at some point. Kubrick applies his astute attention to detail and tremendous technical abilities to creating a movie that is overwhelmingly visual and completely cold and detached in every other regard.

The actors are scenery who convey mood through their expression and careful motions which makes them almost indistinguishable from the rolling hills and dense forests in the background. The dramatic twists and turns are intentionally spoiled by a monotone narrator well in advance, and what little action there is is often brief despite long buildups.

In the end Kubrick wants us to be detached from a main character who deserves no sympathy and view his downfall as an alien might have the fall of the Roman Empire. This decision may make the film impossible for most people to get through, but it's run does feel shorter than it's actual length, and the last 45 minutes are far more compelling and worth getting to.