1975 Review Blog
Barry Lyndon
Grade: A 10/29/2010
I was just having a conversation about how Stanley Kubrick has historically had the ability to hypnotize me. Think about it. 2001, A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, EYES WIDE SHUT, FULL METAL JACKET, THE SHINING...thse are all movies that kind of space you out in a way to get its point across...and they all work beautifully. This film is no exception, even though most people forget about it as one of Kubrick's masterpieces. It has the scope and epicness of any movie ever made. Its cinematography is astounding, the costumes and makeup are flawless, and the art direction is top notch. Into this epically scoped film is as simple a story as one could imagine....and that is sort of the film's brilliance. Amidst the backdrop of some of cinema's all-time greatest beauty...we have a simple man who fell into success and fell out again...and did it without much fanfare. I didn't need any more proof that Kubrick was a master before starting this project...but first PATHS OF GLORY, and now BARRY LYNDON has further solidified that fact.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
Grade: A 10/29/2010
I was just having a conversation about how Stanley Kubrick has historically had the ability to hypnotize me. Think about it. 2001, A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, EYES WIDE SHUT, FULL METAL JACKET, THE SHINING...thse are all movies that kind of space you out in a way to get its point across...and they all work beautifully. This film is no exception, even though most people forget about it as one of Kubrick's masterpieces. It has the scope and epicness of any movie ever made. Its cinematography is astounding, the costumes and makeup are flawless, and the art direction is top notch. Into this epically scoped film is as simple a story as one could imagine....and that is sort of the film's brilliance. Amidst the backdrop of some of cinema's all-time greatest beauty...we have a simple man who fell into success and fell out again...and did it without much fanfare. I didn't need any more proof that Kubrick was a master before starting this project...but first PATHS OF GLORY, and now BARRY LYNDON has further solidified that fact.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Grade: A 10/22/2008
CUCKOO'S NEST is one of those classics that is a standard among other films in its genre. Every film that has since taken place in a mental institution owes its identity to this film. How good is it? Well, it is one of those rare films that won all top 5 Oscars (Picture, Director, Screenplay, Actor, Actress). The only other 2 movies to achieve that were IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT and SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. Not a bad trio of films. This film is funny, exciting, heartbreaking, and even scary. Most of the success is spending the movie trying to figure out if Jack Nicholson's character is faking it, is actually sick, and whether he is conscious of either scenario. Great film!!!!
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
Grade: A 10/22/2008
CUCKOO'S NEST is one of those classics that is a standard among other films in its genre. Every film that has since taken place in a mental institution owes its identity to this film. How good is it? Well, it is one of those rare films that won all top 5 Oscars (Picture, Director, Screenplay, Actor, Actress). The only other 2 movies to achieve that were IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT and SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. Not a bad trio of films. This film is funny, exciting, heartbreaking, and even scary. Most of the success is spending the movie trying to figure out if Jack Nicholson's character is faking it, is actually sick, and whether he is conscious of either scenario. Great film!!!!
1001 Movie to See Before You Die