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John Davies's avatar

I must watch this - I don’t know how I missed it, since Kubrick is one of my all time greats. I’m currently serialising my own story set in the eighteenth century, The Reward of Delay, featuring Britain’s first black policeman. Episodes now on Substack as text and audio. https://lichfieldmysteries.substack.com/

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Model T's avatar

Recently saw this at the BFI. Brilliant film and very intellectually challenging. Will for sure remember it for years to come.

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Wchace's avatar

Love this analysis. I bought the Mad with Borey Lyndon when I was 12 and kept away from Barry Lyndon until I was in college. It's now a top 5 all-time favorite film for me. One thing, you did mis-identify Patrick Magee as the actor who played John Steed...

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Alexander Larman's avatar

Yes! I shall edit

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James Harris's avatar

Don't know if it's the best film I've ever seen, but probably the most endlessly rewatchable. It's exquisite! I should say tho that I consider it quite a lot better than anything else Kubrick ever did, tho that'd probably be true of any filmmaker who had it in their œuvre.

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Alexander Larman's avatar

Weirdly I’m a big fan of every Kubrick film save 2001, which has always left me cold, albeit highly impressed by its technical virtuosity.

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James Harris's avatar

Not a big fan. I think it's a me thing too, tho, as 'Barry Lyndon' is the only time his obsessions overlapped with mine.

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TALKING THE GOTHIC's avatar

Must watch this again.

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Kate Harwood's avatar

I just went to the BFI to (finally) see this having always wanted to since I read a Sunday Times article about it when I was at school. I loved it and think you captured it perfectly. Wonderful enriching filmmaking. And Leonard Rossiter was laugh out loud - his dance!

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