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Barry Lyndon [1975]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Perhaps Stanley Kubrick's most underrated film, Barry Lyndon--adapted from the picaresque novel by William Makepeace Thackeray--inhabits the 18th century in the way A Clockwork Orange and 2001: A Space Odyssey inhabit the future: perfect sets, costumes and cinematography capture characters whose rises and falls are at once deeply tragic and absurdly comical. Narrated in avuncular form by Michael Hordern, the film follows the fortunes of Redmond Barry (Ryan O'Neal), a handsome Irish youth forced to flee his hometown after a duel with a cowardly English officer (Leonard Rossiter). Stripped of his small fortune by a deferential highwayman, Barry joins the British army and fights in the Seven Years War, attempting a desertion that leads him into the Prussian army. A position as a spy on an exquisitely painted con man (Patrick Magee) leads to a life of gambling around the courts of Europe, and just before the intermission our hero achieves all he could want by marrying a wealthy, titled beautiful widow (Marisa Berenson). However, Part Two reveals that Barry can no more be a clockwork orange than the protagonist of Kubrick's previous film, and his spendthrift ways, foolhardy pursuit of social advancement and unwise treatment of his new family lead to several disasters, climaxing in another horrific, yet farcical duel. Shot almost entirely in the "magic hour", that point of the day when the light is mistily perfect, with innovative use of candlelight for interiors, Barry Lyndon looks ravishing, but the perfection of its images is matched by the inner turmoil of its seemingly frozen characters. Kubrick is often accused of being unemotional, but his restraint is all the more affecting when, for example, Barry is struck by the deaths of those close to him, his wife writhes into madness or his stepson (Leon Vitali) vomits before he can stand his ground in a duel.

On the DVD: The extras are skimpy, a trailer and a list of awards, a French alternate soundtrack and subtitles in seven languages. However, the film--"digitally restored and remastered"--is served superbly by the medium. Letterboxed to 1.59:1 (which fits the 14:9 option of a widescreen TV), with a 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack, the print looks and sounds wonderful, which not only allows a fresh appreciation of the wit and beauty of the film but shows just how good the apparent underplaying (unusual in Kubrick films) of the cast is. --Kim Newman


This Is Kubrick
Review date: 2008-11-12 Rating: 10 out of 10

Barry Lyndon hosts all the elements of something which is flawless, the genius of kubrick's vision and tenacity to gain perfection is seen through-out. Kubrick had custom camera lenses made by NASA so he could film in natural candle light only - this scene in paticular has a sense of texture and tone which a painting could provide. The performances are staggeringly brilliant and you feel the reserveness of the characters emotions and feelings, the battle scenes are shot with such beauty and realism that you believe what your seeing. On top of all that...this is the greatest rise and fall story ever told.

I think its worth a few pounds when you can possess this forever...

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Reviews


Kubrick does Thackery
Review date: 2008-09-19 Rating: 10 out of 10

Kubrick is the archetypal perfectionist whatever the genre. For instance Barry Lyndon immerses the viewer in a haunting vision of 18th century Europe - war, love, gambling, honour, class and candles. Horden's narration devolves the original first person context of the novel to an anonymous voice who carries Barry's destiny from rural Ireland to the battlefields of central Europe and eventually aristocratic decadence. The atmosphere of the film is beautifully rendered by long shots in reverse as if Kubrick wanted to reveal the detail of a particular composition before exposing its entirety. The imagery of artists such as Hogarth, Constable and Zoffany are clearly evident and Handel's Saraband adds to the mournful disposition of the film's diverse settings. For me Kubrick's genius lies in his ability to successfully recreate a period, distilled through a cleverly adapted work of fiction, and enhanced by a meticulous attention to historical detail. O'Neal's Barry is a composite character who appears distant and naive but able to transend a variety of misfortunes, the exception being the fate of his son which is treated with a melodramatic sensitivity that left me reaching for the tissues. 6 stars!!!

Underrated Then?Overrated Now?
Review date: 2007-08-07 Rating: 4 out of 10

First off,let me clarify that I Love Stanley Kubrick and his films,and he is probably my favorite director of them all.Second of all,I have only seen this movie once(although repeated viewings would probably not change my opinion about it and I really do not wish to see it again.Well,maybe once more).

It is unbelievably Boring with a capital B.Again I clarify that I don't mind and like and respect slow paces in film(2001,The Shining,Eyes Wide Shut...getting the point here?)when well done,but that means holding your attention and holding it with this seriously weak story,that for all its sub-themes or background morals or whatever is incredibly unaffecting,is pretty much asking to much especially when streeeeeeetching it into 3 hours!I will never understand how Kubrick got interested in this and invested his efforts in such a dull(at least for the screen)story.Granted it is,in theory,an interesting idea about morals and the lack of and society and social-climbing and human nature and whatnot,but the way it is displayed,in the specific story and movie is just not interesting.

Having said that,I do admire the skill and work(for which we all admire him in a more specific or notorious way than other directors)put into the scenery and photography and basically everything visual in the film. However this alone cannot rescue it and I stand by my apparently lone declaration of inconformity with this boring,stretched-out story.I pride myself in being objective and I could praise this and Kubrick and talk about how I love it but,seriously,I wonder how someone else saw this movie and honestly liked it and felt the need to praise it,for reasons other than the visual part.Let's forget for a minute that He made it,and really ask ourselves,is this story,deep down(not that deep down),really a good,interesting,quality one?

A MASTERPIECE
Review date: 2007-08-06 Rating: 10 out of 10

I think that 'Barry Lyndon' is the film that really cements Stanley Kubrick's reputation into place among his most devoted fans. If he'd only made '2001' he'd still be considered a genius. Since he followed that with 'A Clockwork Orange' he moved up a notch to approach immortal status. But after making another 180 degree turn, taking on the historical novel/costume drama, and coming up with something this brilliant and stunning, well then, now was the time for deification. Has any director ever made three masterpieces in a row that were as different and as totally unique as these three?

One of the most beautifully photographed of all movies, the film canvases Kubrick creates are glorious, interiors and exteriors alike. It almost seems then to be an embarrassment of riches for the film to have such an engrossing story and vivid characters as well. As is usually the case in the man's films, the movie itself is the star and the actors, no matter how well they perform, tend to be subordinate. In another director's hands, 'Barry Lyndon' might have been a star vehicle for Ryan O'Neal and Marisa Berenson. Certainly they both do adequate jobs here in the best roles of their careers, but they can't help but be a little overwhelmed by the whole. Good performances in the supporting roles often get overlooked as well, for example those by Leon Vitali and Hardy Kruger, to name just two.

Many have heard about the miracle Kubrick performed by filming this movie using only natural light or candlelight, but knowing or not knowing that wouldn't increase or decrease the viewer's enjoyment of this film one bit. Though he made two more excellent films after this one (with one more still to come!), 'Barry Lyndon' to me stands as Stanley Kubrick's last undisputed work of genius. Well... maybe 'The Shining.'

Kubrick's Painterly Masterpiece
Review date: 2007-04-03 Rating: 10 out of 10

This is an odd film; a movie in which two of the lead characters are woefully miscast, and yet manages to rise above those aspects to being one of the most visually opulent and brilliantly-realised movies in Stanley Kubrick's canon. The key to the film is the breathtaking cinematography, and careful construction of scenes to reproduce the effect of a magnificent landscape painting or a Hogarthian image of dissolution. Ryan O'Neal is at times way out of his depth, and Marisa Berenson seems almost lugubriously inert as his long-suffering matrimonial meal ticket. But, the excellent supporting cast of character actors - including Hardy Kruger, Patrick Magee, and, a pre-Reggie Perrin Leonard Rossiter - carry the film. Thackeray's tale is well-told, and entertainingly wends it's way through a long running time. It's also got a soundtrack that greatly adds to the onscreen action, and is worth seeing again and again.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Marisa Berenson
Ryan O'Neal
Patrick Magee
Steven Berkoff
Hardy Krüger

Creators:
Ryan O'Neal (Primary Contributor)
Marisa Berenson (Primary Contributor)
John Alcott (Cinematographer)
Stanley Kubrick (Producer)
Stanley Kubrick (Writer)
Tony Lawson (Editor)
Bernard Williams (Producer)
Jan Harlan (Producer)
William Makepeace Thackeray (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
EAN: 7321900211482
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2001-09-10
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 177 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1975-12-18
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: French (Original Language)
Language: German (Original Language)

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