The finest period film ever made

Rating: 10/10 (5 July 2002)

Barry Lyndon is a big-screen version of the Thackaray novel which describes the rise and fall of Redmond Barry, a common but fiesty Irishman who (through luck as much as skill) ascends the ranks of British nobility.
It's a great pity that this is one of the lesser-seem works of Stanley Kubrick, for this is a highly believable and entertaining recreation of 18th century Europe with none of the stuffiness that many movies and TV shows set in this era substitute for atmosphere.
Like Full Metal Jacket, Barry Lyndon is a film of two halves but it hangs together much better, perhaps due to the deliberate intermission and cue cards. The first part of the film covers Barry's early years in Ireland and his career in the army, before a chance meeting offers him the opportunity to move on in life. The scenes in the first part of the film are always entertaining, and often stunningly beautiful. Of particular note is a scene where Barry meets a German woman on his way through Europe - the combination of the incredible low-light photography and outstanding use of music make this scene one of the most touching I have ever scene, even if the behaviour of the characters is something we can understand but not necessarily condone.
Once the intermission has passed, we know that Barry has indeed meet a suitable and very wealthy aristocrat whom he marries. But the warmth and passion we would expect in these scenes after seeing the first part of the movie are non-existent, indicating that not all is well.
From hilariously camp army officers to the 'bravery' of Leonard Rossiter's army officer, this film is pure entertainment that is very difficult to better.