Dana and Tom with returning guests, Andrew Corns (Host of the Revisionist Almanac) and Sara Shea (Shea Cinema) discuss Barry Lyndon (1975): written and directed by Stanley Kubrick, music by Leonard Rosenman, cinematography by John Alcott, starring Ryan O'Neal, Marisa Berenson, and Patrick Magee.
Plot Summary: Barry Lyndon is a meticulous and mesmerizing work from Stanley Kubrick, a filmmaker whose precision often feels like both a blessing and a dare. Adapting Thackeray's novel, Kubrick crafts a period piece that is at once authentic and yet modern. The story follows Redmond Barry (Ryan O’Neal), a charming but ultimately hapless opportunist, as he schemes his way from a modest Irish upbringing to the heights of English aristocracy, only to tumble back down through a cascade of personal failures.
Kubrick doesn’t just tell Barry’s story—he dissects it. Every scene is composed like a tableau, every gesture underlined with a note of irony. The film's grandeur—the lush landscapes, the candlelit interiors—feels like a mirror held up to Barry’s own aspirations. It’s a long, unhurried film, but within its deliberate rhythm lies a deep, bittersweet observation: no matter how grand the climb, time and circumstance have the last word.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Welcome to Our Guests
02:52 Cast and Recognition for Barry Lyndon
05:50 Relationship(s) with Barry Lyndon
23:47 What is Barry Lyndon About?
32:36 Who is Barry Lyndon?
39:23 Plot Summary for Barry Lyndon
43:32 First Break
45:00 What's Up with Andrew and Sara
50:30 Best Performance(s)
01:12:57 Best/Favorite/Indelible Scene(s)
01:25:38 Second Break
01:26:18 In Memoriam
01:29:57 Best/Funniest Lines
01:34:11 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy
01:40:14 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance
01:47:15 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty
01:54:13 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness
02:01:22 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability
02:07:16 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Final Total
02:08:31 Remaining Questions for Barry Lyndon
02:18:38 Thank You to Our Guests
02:20:28 Credits
Guests:
Andrew Corns
Sara Shea
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For more on the episode, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/barry-lyndon-1975-ft-andrew-corns-and-sara-shea
For the entire rankings list so far, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/greatest-movie-of-all-time-list
Keywords:
Barry Lyndon, Stanley Kubrick, film analysis, character study, cinematic techniques, themes of fate, fatherhood, greed, materialism, best performances, Barry Lyndon, Kubrick, film analysis, best scenes, legacy, impact, quotes, classic films, originality, rewatchability, audience reception
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