Barry Lyndon

LITTLE MORE THAN A COMMON OPPORTUNIST The first thing you’ll hear from almost anyone who’s watched Barry Lyndon is praise for its composition, and yes, it is outstanding. However, there are many other reasons to hold Barry Lyndon in high regard. We must first recognize Stanley Kubrick as a master of satire, and this film certainly is no exception. Kubrick pulls back the curtain and holds a mirror up to a society that has not changed much in over 200 years. The way in which this film portrays this time period is much more immersive than many of the period pieces that take place during this part of history making the audience almost feel like a fly on the wall. Though the drama is certainly still there! and Barry as a character is certainly a very interesting choice, and the change he undergoes over the course of this film creates quite a compelling story. Yes, believe it or not, this is a beautifully shot film with incredible lighting and numerous elegant pull-back shots. The natural lighting used worked extraordinarily well for Stanley and crew. Ultimately, this film tells quite a story albeit a very deliberate one, but certainly worth examining. (4.4/5)