Review of Barry Lyndon (1975) by Peter D — 07 May 2011

One of Kubrick's six masterpieces from my point of view. It might be best described as a highbrow Forrest Gump. This historically epic portrait of a man, as well as a view of western Europe in the 1700's presented in all its flawed excessive glory.

The titular character is one which we all can relate to(though not in the same manner of course..), a person who achieves success only to be brought down by their flaws. Not to mention the gorgeous cinematography and Ryan O'neil's great performance which is often mistaken as wooden.

Easily Kubrick's most under rated film(excluded Spartacus perhaps...) Barry Lydon is a beautiful period drama often unfairly( ,but understandably) mistaken as boring. In anyway it far surpasses all the Oscar bait period dramas that have begun to appear as of late and stands as a marvelous achievement for one of the greatest film makers of all.