Saul Espinoza

*I hope you’re not thinking of leaving us soon, sir Charles? * What a special film that lives up to the hype. For me, the second half is flawless and is what I’m most in love with here. Ryan O’Neal is so good even though I think I prefer his performance in Paper Moon. I’m a sucker for rags to riches stories/power hungry protagonists that are terrible human beings. But I found myself less engaged in the rise and much much more enamored by Barry’s fall. Kubrick crafts an almost uncanny and ridiculous ensemble of characters that are so fun to watch. Barry is such an unserious man-child, Bullingdon is creepy as hell, and Lady Lyndon is the tragic casualty of a man who valued her equally to those paintings and rugs. There’s a scene at about the midpoint where Barry and Lady Lyndon stare each other down at the gambling table, and this gorgeous melancholic piano theme plays over it and it is just a wonderful moment. God is that piece of music so good. Barry wailing on Bullingdon is one of the greatest scenes I think I’ll ever see, I could not stop laughing. So outrageous. PTA has had to have been inspired by it when Daniel drags Eli through the mud in TWBB. Two shots stuck with me: Barry in the carriage as his smoke blows in Lady Lyndon’s face after achieving his goal. And Barry slumped in the hall when Bullingdon challenges him. Both are so iconic but the context around each are even better. Redmond Barry, you are my favorite biggest fucking loser.

*I don’t care who you are. You’re my son. You’ll always be my son. Whoever you are.* Gorgeous film about unconditional love. The body horror is some of the best I’ll ever see and the writing is spectacular, really keeps you on your toes. Julia is a phenomenal filmmaker, easily becoming one of my favorite directors.  Such a grotesque but beautiful experience. I’ll never understand completely shutting a film out because it’s too “weird”. You should just embrace it and let it wash over you and form your own opinions about it. This is such an awesome film.

Classic🔫