Barry Lyndon (1975) (DVD REVIEW)
Directed By: Stanley Kubrick
Starring: Ryan O’Neal, Marisa Berenson, Patrick Magee
RATED: PG/REGION: 1/Widescreen/NUMBER OF DISCS: 1 (DVDr)
AVAILABLE FROM Warner Brothers
Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon is one of those rare films that feels like stepping into a time machine—with a ticket to the 18th century, front row seats to European aristocracy, and a guide who’s just as interested in showing you how beautiful the world was as he is in pulling back the curtain on how hollow it could be.
Let’s get this out of the way: yes, it’s long. Yes, it’s slow. But once you settle into its unique rhythm, Barry Lyndon becomes a mesmerizing experience. The story follows Redmond Barry (played by Ryan O’Neal), an Irish lad with big dreams, questionable morals, and a knack for stumbling into fortune—and then usually mismanaging it. Through war, romance, duels, and courtly intrigue, Barry’s life is a chaotic mix of ambition and tragedy, all told with a kind of dry, ironic wit that gives the film a surprisingly playful edge.
Visually, the film is nothing short of jaw-dropping. Kubrick famously shot much of it using only natural light and actual candlelight, and the results are stunning. Every frame looks like it was painted by a master—seriously, you could pause the movie at random and hang the image on a museum wall. Costume design, set pieces, and period details are impeccable. Kubrick didn’t just recreate the 18th century; he transported us there.
Ryan O’Neal delivers a restrained but effective performance as Barry, playing him as a man who’s charming enough to get by but never quite as clever as he thinks he is. Michael Hordern’s voiceover narration adds a layer of dry humor and tragic inevitability to the proceedings—it’s as if the movie itself knows Barry is doomed, but it’s having a good time watching him try anyway.
The pacing may not be for everyone, especially if you’re expecting fast action or explosive drama. But if you sit back and let the film wash over you, it’s incredibly rewarding. It’s funny in a sly, understated way, melancholy without being overbearing, and always gorgeous to look at. There’s a satirical edge that cuts through the elegance, reminding us that beneath the powdered wigs and polished manners, people have always been just as flawed, petty, and fascinating as they are today.
Barry Lyndon might not be Kubrick’s most talked-about film, but it’s quietly one of his greatest. It’s grand, ironic, beautiful, and just a little bit wicked. For those willing to take the ride, it’s an unforgettable cinematic journey.
