- Barry Lyndon is an absolutely beautiful and masterfully crafted film depicting the life of Redmond Barry (Ryan O'Neal). Initially motivated by his idealistic love for his cousin Nora (Gay Hamilton), Barry challenges her suitor, Captain Quin (Leonard Rossiter), to a duel. Unfortunately, it appears that Barry is too accurate in shooting, and he must flee before the authorities arrive. He joins up with the British army, eventually heading to Europe to fight in the Seven Years' War. This is still only the start of his adventures, as he eventually deserts the British army, becomes conscripted into the Prussian army, takes up with the British spy Chevalier de Balibari (Patrick Magee), and finally marries the Lady Lyndon (Marisa Berenson). As the intertitles inform us, this is how Redmond Barry "acquired the style and title of Barry Lyndon."
- Because Barry is generally a detestable cad, the "misfortunes and disasters which befell Barry Lyndon" are somewhat more enjoyable than his initial rise through society. Many of his problems stem from his tendency to spend all of his wife's money on luxury items. Additionally, he is unfaithful to Lady Lyndon and makes no effort to endear himself to his stepson, Lord Bullingdon (Leon Vitali). Although Barry dotes on their own son, that child is tragically killed in a horse riding accident. Finally, Lord Bullingdon returns and challenges Barry to a duel. Barry loses the duel and a leg, but manages to escape with his life, such as it is.
- Here, I must admit that the above description really conveys almost nothing about the experience of watching Barry Lyndon. This film didn't have to be about Barry Lyndon in particular, and the plot is of no consequence whatsoever. Watching the film is much more like strolling through an art gallery. Each shot looks as though it could have come from an 18th-century painting, complete with period settings and costumes and an abundance of natural lighting. The camera and action both move slowly enough to reinforce this impression, and the narrator's constant commentary reminds one of a museum tour guide slowly moving through the events in Barry's life. One could even imagine the same background music playing in both cases.
- That said, I don't actually enjoy watching Barry Lyndon. I think the fundamental problem I have with the film is one that also occurs in real museum visits and which I will call "the browsing speed mismatch." Let's say that you want to go through a museum at a certain rate and your friend wants to go through at half that rate. At least one person is going to become frustrated, and that is the effect this film has on me. Stanley Kubrick wanted to cover Lyndon's life in three hours, and I felt that he could have done it in half that time. I usually don't mind long films or deliberate pacing, but must a cinematic art gallery be so boring? Although Barry Lyndon clearly reminds us that films can be as beautiful as portraiture, I find that it also unintentionally illustrates the most important difference between the two.
- The film was based on a novel by Thackeray.
