Barry Lyndon (1975)

Jul 16

An epic character study underneath all the powered wigs.

Presentation:

Another psychological epic from Kubrick with dark tones under the playful irony of powdered wigs and debauchery. Although characters are presented as complex, the signature apathetic tone presented by Kubrick makes this film feel a bit shallow and cold. This is also a result of this visually beautiful film with breathtaking candle lit scenes and lush greenery of Europe. The film has a palpable focus on visuals with beautiful framing, costume and sets. Kubrick made this film more-so through the lens than he did with the script as characters have minimal dialogue replaced by narration. But it doesn’t matter when the narrator tells you what will happen, because Kubrick is such a compelling storyteller you’ll want to see how events unfold anyway.

Story:

The downfall of the protagonist was out of his control whereas in typical literary fashion it should be his own undoing. However, the script made enough redemptive qualities in the rogue grifter to make the son's prior hatred feel more driven by plot than by realism. I don't think he was particularly cruel to warrant a permananent resentment in the beginning, I think conflicts could have been executed more organically, particularly the youngest child.

Conclusion:

This film has influenced future 18th century England films, most notably The Favourite. This film is superior to Lanthimos’ version, which nearly feels like a rip-off, but I would say it’s still more fun and entertaining whereas Kubrick’s is more substantial and deep. It’s a tale of a tragic hero without the hubris to make the fall feel meaningful, more-so a cynical letter to humanity. This is a fantastic epic, arguably another masterpiece from Kubrick but the master omits a bit too much to create a mystique rather than a complete vision.

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