Post by klep on May 9, 2016 6:50:44 GMT -6
MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 5/9: Barry Lyndon
Barry Lyndon is a prime example of Kubrick's seemingly cold perfectionism. His shots are impeccably composed, with gorgeous vistas and costumes. He shoots with a nearly-still camera, only occasionally doing more than a slow pan. The result is that almost every frame looks like a still-life painting. Close-ups look like portraits, and long shots look like landscapes. It's a film that's easier to remember as a series of images than as a narrative.
It's also used as an example of Kubrick's coldness and detachment from humanity. Roger Ebert wrote that "It defies us to care, it asks us to remain only observers of its stately elegance," further citing the way the narration or intertitles frequently undercut the narrative to tell us what's going to happen well before it does. But I don't agree with this assessment. To the contrary, I felt like Barry Lyndon is one of the warmer of Kubrick's narratives. Famously, the narration tells us of Barry's sad ultimate fate early on in the second part, but rather than distance me from the coming tragedy, it served only to make me have even greater sympathy for this man - admittedly a scoundrel - as he enjoys what he does not know are his last days with his son.
The best example of Kubrick's humanity and compassion comes in the duel near the end of the film between Barry and his step-son Lord Bullingdon. Barry, grief-stricken, is uninterested in further death but his step-son will not be deterred. The duel scene is gut-churning as the two face off. Duels in this film are not glamorous, but brutal and deadly affairs. As the duel begins, Barry's step-son is stricken with terror - clumsy and nauseous. Barry too is fearful, but in his face there is also compassion and sad resignation. He understands what drives a young man to duel, but has gained perspective and no longer takes life for granted. Indeed, after young Lord Bullingdon misfires and wastes his shot, Barry commits perhaps his first purely selfless act and deliberately fires into the ground.
This sequence does not occur in the original novel. In the novel, Barry's debts catch up with him and he lives his life out in debtor's prison, drowning in drink. Kubrick changes that, and instead gives Barry this one moment of redemption. A moment when even a selfish, opportunistic, thoughtless cad can find the compassion to not end a young man's life.
Kubrick decided to end the film this way, the most compassionate way for Barry, and in that we see his true feelings towards man.
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 5/16: Sunset Boulevard
It was an exceptionally close race between three films, and even came down to a tie between this and Breaking the Waves. I'm opting for Sunset Boulevard because it's an hour shorter and probably more accessible to most of you. Sunset Boulevard, a famous Hollywood noir featuring numerous celebrity appearances as themselves, is available on Netflix Instant and for rental on Amazon Instant Video, though it is not free for Prime members. I believe Jacob Roth will also try to do a screening on The Dissolve Couch this Friday evening.
Barry Lyndon is a prime example of Kubrick's seemingly cold perfectionism. His shots are impeccably composed, with gorgeous vistas and costumes. He shoots with a nearly-still camera, only occasionally doing more than a slow pan. The result is that almost every frame looks like a still-life painting. Close-ups look like portraits, and long shots look like landscapes. It's a film that's easier to remember as a series of images than as a narrative.
It's also used as an example of Kubrick's coldness and detachment from humanity. Roger Ebert wrote that "It defies us to care, it asks us to remain only observers of its stately elegance," further citing the way the narration or intertitles frequently undercut the narrative to tell us what's going to happen well before it does. But I don't agree with this assessment. To the contrary, I felt like Barry Lyndon is one of the warmer of Kubrick's narratives. Famously, the narration tells us of Barry's sad ultimate fate early on in the second part, but rather than distance me from the coming tragedy, it served only to make me have even greater sympathy for this man - admittedly a scoundrel - as he enjoys what he does not know are his last days with his son.
The best example of Kubrick's humanity and compassion comes in the duel near the end of the film between Barry and his step-son Lord Bullingdon. Barry, grief-stricken, is uninterested in further death but his step-son will not be deterred. The duel scene is gut-churning as the two face off. Duels in this film are not glamorous, but brutal and deadly affairs. As the duel begins, Barry's step-son is stricken with terror - clumsy and nauseous. Barry too is fearful, but in his face there is also compassion and sad resignation. He understands what drives a young man to duel, but has gained perspective and no longer takes life for granted. Indeed, after young Lord Bullingdon misfires and wastes his shot, Barry commits perhaps his first purely selfless act and deliberately fires into the ground.
This sequence does not occur in the original novel. In the novel, Barry's debts catch up with him and he lives his life out in debtor's prison, drowning in drink. Kubrick changes that, and instead gives Barry this one moment of redemption. A moment when even a selfish, opportunistic, thoughtless cad can find the compassion to not end a young man's life.
Kubrick decided to end the film this way, the most compassionate way for Barry, and in that we see his true feelings towards man.
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 5/16: Sunset Boulevard
It was an exceptionally close race between three films, and even came down to a tie between this and Breaking the Waves. I'm opting for Sunset Boulevard because it's an hour shorter and probably more accessible to most of you. Sunset Boulevard, a famous Hollywood noir featuring numerous celebrity appearances as themselves, is available on Netflix Instant and for rental on Amazon Instant Video, though it is not free for Prime members. I believe Jacob Roth will also try to do a screening on The Dissolve Couch this Friday evening.