Barry Lyndon
Barry Lyndon

Barry Lyndon

1975Movie188 minEnglish

An Irish rogue uses his cunning and wit to work his way up the social classes of 18th century England, transforming himself from the humble Redmond Barry into the noble Barry Lyndon.

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Insights

IMDb7.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes77%
Metacritic70/100
Google Users87%
Director: Stanley KubrickGenres: Drama, Romance, War, Adventure, Period Piece

Plot Summary

In 18th-century Ireland, Redmond Barry, a young Irishman, falls in love and elopes with the wife of a tyrannical British officer. After killing the officer in a duel, he must flee Ireland. Adopting the surname of his mother's family, Lyndon, he embarks on a new life in Europe, seeking fortune and social advancement through war, gambling, and marriage. His ambitious rise through the social ranks is ultimately challenged by the consequences of his own ruthless pursuit of wealth and status.

Critical Reception

Barry Lyndon was initially met with a mixed critical reception, with some praising its visual splendor and technical achievements while others found it cold and slow-paced. However, over time, its reputation has grown significantly, and it is now widely regarded as a masterpiece of filmmaking, celebrated for its stunning cinematography, meticulous historical detail, and Kubrick's unique directorial vision. It is considered one of the most visually beautiful films ever made.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its breathtaking cinematography and lavish period detail.
  • Commended for Stanley Kubrick's masterful direction and precise storytelling.
  • Criticized by some for its perceived emotional detachment and deliberate pacing.

Google audience: Audiences generally appreciate the film's visual artistry and historical accuracy, often highlighting its beautiful costumes and set designs. While some find the narrative slow or the characters unsympathetic, many are captivated by its unique, detached cinematic experience.

Awards & Accolades

Won 4 Academy Awards (Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Original Score) and nominated for 3 others (Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Film Editing).

Fun Fact

The film is renowned for its revolutionary use of natural lighting, with Stanley Kubrick employing specially developed lenses, originally designed for NASA, to shoot many scenes by candlelight or moonlight without artificial illumination.

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TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Loved-up “Redmond Barry” (Ryan O’Neal) has a crush on his cousin “Nora” (Gay Hamilton) but her family are in need of the £1,500 a year from “Capt. Quin” (Leonard Rossiter) so they engineer a situation that sees this young man heading off fo...
John Chard

John Chard

A lady who sets her heart upon a lad in uniform must prepare to change lovers pretty quickly, or her life will be but a sad one. First thing that is patently obvious is that as a visual piece of work the film has few peers, from stunni...