Exceptional but not for everyone

Rating: 10/10 (10 June 2005)

This is one of my favorite Kubrick films, but to get rid of the caveats first, it does strike some viewers as overlong if not downright boring. I mention this because I have discussed this film with several people of various taste and found it to be a recurring criticism. This said, if you are willing and able to watch a life unfold (and unravel) over the course of a few hours in some very subtle and rewarding ways, then Barry Lyndon is worth considering. The music is famous enough, with Handel's slightly modified Sarabande, and Schubert's haunting piano trio (is there a better use of music in film?), the costumes and sets are gorgeous (Kubrick has period paintings behind some of his memorable shots) and the acting is brilliant and engaging. A film for all viewers who, "demand satisfaction."