Barry Lyndon appreciation thread

[losingmydignity]

This is an incredible film. And the only "historical" film I like more is Tarkovsky's Andrei Rublov....though I know you'll disagree.

[Shep]

admin said:

This is the most underrated film of all time. Why it is so unpopular surprises me, but at the same time I understand why.

There's nothing in the world like this film, and there never will be anything like it. It almost makes me upset because my search for the greatest films of all time really ended with Barry Lyndon.

Ryan O'Neil's misunderstood performance is outstanding. Many say he's not emotionally gripping, he's wooden etc... First off, the reason why some times he appears to have just a blank stare in his face is the secret to his success. He's not obvious. He climbs up the social ladder in such a subtle and unobvious way. When he is not climbing, however, he's actually a sympathetic and underneath his ruthless behavior he actually has a heart.

My favorite thing about this movie is how Barry constantly looks for success and riches and he never knows why he wants it. It isn't until after he loses his child, wife and his entire estate and leg that he realizes what he had. The look in his eyes near the end of the film convey a sense of loss, of something he was unconcious of having until that very moment. He was capable of love and affection, but passed it all up. Truly a beautiful performance that is critically and even, by the mainstream audience, maligned.

Every scene in the film is good enough to hang on your wall. Watching this movies makes you feel like you are in the 18th century. Forget Tom Jones or The Patriot. This is the real deal.

Great film! One of my all-time faves. The scene with Barry and the whores in the tavern while the men drink and sing in the background is amongst the finest Kubrick ever shot.

[Shep]

admin said:

It's a shame that it's gone down in history as a film where beautiful imagery overshadows wooden performances.

Yeah, I really like the performances in "Barry Lyndon." Ryan O'Neil did some good pretty work early in his career and Kubrick got his absolute best. The supporting players are all outstanding, too.

My wife's fave film of all-time btw.

[ijon]

More hearty agreement here, especially vis-a-vis recreating the era. The 18th century is one I've always found fascinating. In a way I think it's an underutilized era in movies, but when you consider a lot of the "historical" movies made perhaps it isn't such a loss.

I am still reeling a little from my recent perusal of DVD Verdict's review of "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Black Pearl," because he waxes lyrically about that movie's supposedly accurate portrayal of the 18th century!

I knew the 18th century, Sir, the 18th century was a friend of mine . . .

Perhaps I should demand satisfaction. Do you think swords or pistols?

[ijon]

You do have a point there Doc, they got pretty filthy on campaign. Contemporary sources mention the sweat smell lingering long after a regiment passed through a town. The really smart appearance of a regt usually didn't survive the first rain either. The crossbelts were whitened with chalk and that would run off to stain the coat, while the lovely cocked hats would dissolve into a shapeless mess.
There are some minor points (you can maybe tell the military of this era is an interest of mine?). In the attack by Barry's English regiment they're going in with port arms, generally this was done with muskets shouldered almost up to contact. However, drill was not standardized between different regts so you can't really call it wrong. The Prussian uniforms all have white facings, an unusual color for them as red was far more common.
But hey, if this is the sort of mistake we're talking about . . . wasn't it Frasier who said, "The one thing better than a perfect meal is a meal with a single tiny flaw that you can afterward complain about all night."

[ijon]

Indeed, Kubrick's attention to detail is one of the things I love about his work. There are few other directors that I'd even wonder if they bothered to research such things.

Getting back to the movie as such though, I love the sequence with the highwayman. To me that feels very right for the period; I will rob you blind but politely and with style. The arguement between the Chevalier and the Prussian nobleman over cards also hits a similar note.
With Ryan O'Neal's performance the standout moment for me is when his son is dying and asks to hear the story of the fort one last time. The way he portrays Barry's reflex for self-aggrandizement mingling with the grief is very powerful.

By the way, has anyone read Thackery's novel? I've wondered how it compares.

[ijon]

Is that the moment where her eyes drop, in perfect time with two piano notes in the score? I always loved that.

[Citizen Kane Hodder]

Barry Lyndon is a fantastic movie and my favorite Kubrick flick behind 2001. I'll never understand why it doesn't garner more attention. Everything about it is pure grade A.