visual feast, breaking ground and turning heads (spoiler)

Rating: 10/10 (26 November 2004)

as is widely known kubrick shot this film in entirely natural light and 'acquired' some fantastically expensive cameras from the studio to shoot with - which rumour has he kept. the story of an irish lad's rise and fall.
the treatment that kubrick gives this story is excellent.
from the ingenuous redmond barry getting conned by leonard rossiter's (who give a great performance) captain flynn in a duel and then fleeing thinking he's killed a man, landing in many a European army, becoming a spy, a conman, a gambler, a gentleman, a father, and finally a destitute cripple. all shot in the most delicate and moving way.
the lighting of some of the evening indoor scenes is breathtaking. it is almost like kubrick has become rembrandt - that is how good this film looks.
The score is excellent with the irish folk songs and the handel sarabande. and o'neil give his best performance as the wide-eyed barry.
scenery and costumes are excellent but it is apparent from early on that this is a kubrick movie and one of his best.
Buy this film!!!!!