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Director: Stanley Kubrick
Starring: Ryan O'Neal, Maria Berenson, Patrick Magee
Year: 1975
Barry Lyndon recounts the life of Irishman Redmond Barry, including his exploits in the army during the Seven Years War, work as a professional gambler across Europe, his marriage to a wealthy countess, and his eventual fall from his lofty place in high society.
A period piece set in 18th century Europe with a runtime of just over three hours is certainly not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but as for me it is right up my alley. I was absolutely in love with this film from start to finish. The title card and ominous orchestral music which starts the film had me hooked. Based on the 1844 novel The Luck of Barry Lyndon by William Makepeace Thackeray, the film is almost like an epic poem of old with our protagonist stumbling into incredible circumstances. But instead of the noble Greek heroes, Barry is quite unlikeable and sometimes downright cruel.
I've heard some people say that Ryan O'Neal was miscast and too wooden in this role, but I disagree. While his Irish accent isn't perfect, he gives a subtle performance that I think captures the character well. Barry isn't intriguing because he has a particularly magnetic personality, but more because he simply stumbles into extraordinary circumstances either through sheer luck or imitating the attitudes and behaviors of others. The scenes with Barry's son are genuinely moving, and I think O'Neal plays the part well.
The supporting cast really shines in this film as well. Patrick Magee and Godfrey Quigley are very enjoyable to watch, and Philip Stone is great as the Lyndons' nervous accountant (all three also appeared in A Clockwork Orange). Marisa Berenson as Lady Lyndon does not speak much in the film, but her face alone conveys all the suffering she endures in the film. Leon Vitali, who later became a close colleague and friend of Kubrick's, is also excellent as Barry's stepson, Lord Bullingdon, with whom he has a violent and turbulent relationship with.
As with all Kubrick films, the camera work is top-notch; the massive zooms out of a troop of soldiers, gorgeous candlelit scenes requiring custom lenses, and the attention to framing and balance makes for shots that are some of the best in the history of film. Every frame really does resemble an 18th century painting. The locations are lovely as well, with sweeping vistas of the Irish and English countryside, and lavish manor houses. The costumes and makeup is also excellent, very accurate to the period and not distracting. Something I really like about this film is that many of the actors seem to have been chosen because they fit well in the period, and not simply because they're attractive by modern standards (even though some of them are). Even the minor and background characters look so comfortable in the dress and makeup.
Kubrick films are often said to have a cold and distant feeling to them, and this film does have many cold moments accompanied by a melancholic score. But in contrast, there are a lot of very warm and sentimental moments with beautiful traditional Irish melodies. It's a long watch for sure, but it is a film unlike any other.
By @reelworld_reviews
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