Barry Lyndon's 4K restoration is nothing short of spectacular, immersive, and technically stunning – a true homage to Stanley Kubrick's revolutionary filmmaking in 1975. Fifty years later, it is even clearer why Barry Lyndon is such a staple of the period drama genre, still standing strong as one of Kubrick's most artistically-fuelled and impressive releases. It is not just an intriguing screen-retelling of William Makepeace Thackeray's original novel, but a beautiful masterpiece – something this restoration highlights with new clarity.
Barry Lyndon tells the story of an 18th-century Irishman, Redmond Barry (Ryan O'Neal), whose impulsive and immature behaviour causes him to fall into self-inflicted misfortune. In an attempt to improve his life, he sets out to climb the social ladder, only to discover that it has as many downfalls as it does peaks. Barry struggles through the reality and gruel of war, the wonders and challenges of marriage, and eventually the risks of manipulating the aristocracy.
At its core, Barry Lyndon is a comment on class inequality, shown through Barry's growing obsession with mirroring those he views as ‘above him.' His idea of success differs from those around him, a discrepancy likely caused by his upbringing in rural Ireland, growing up on a small farm with his mother after the death of his father. This emphasis on class leaves us feeling conflicted towards our titular character: we root for Barry, while also watching his deceptive, morally dubious actions towards those he claims to love become increasingly uncomfortable to witness. He is aloof and selfish, characteristics that only become more intense and develop in different ways as his social status changes.
Whilst the narrative pacing does occasionally feel tedious, especially in the first half, where we're introduced to Barry's new life within the army, this pacing is intentional and artistic, typical of Kubrick's style. However, it can at times feel as though the stakes at play are not quite communicated with the intended impact.
This intentionally slower pace does, however, leave room for the second part. As Barry's story begins to accelerate and the stakes rise, the film creates space to showcase his true rise and fall of his uncapped ambition to climb the ranks of society, which is not without intense retribution. There are more than a handful of ‘gasp' moments in Barry's tale, such as when he treats his stepson harshly, beating him in front of a room of influential figures, his own mother, and his brother – a shocking tonal shift from the previously slow pace and calm narration.
For many, this kind of abrupt tonal contrast is an enjoyable part of Kubrick's work. Whilst Barry Lyndon feels quite different from his later releases, such as The Shining (1980), which only feels more spectacular and effective in its storytelling the longer it gets (and the extended version only adds to that), the tonal shift here still feels purposeful.
Barry Lyndon excels in ways that are difficult to achieve, acting as both a revolutionary work of art and a success in narrative storytelling.
Barry Lyndon is available on 4K Ultra HD Blu‑Ray now
