Kubrick's ‘Barry Lyndon,’ a masterclass in bringing a filmmaker's vision to life
Every time this film is mentioned, I&#x27;m reminded of the old fairly tale, the emperor&#x27;s new clothes.<p>Everyone, absolutely everyone who has good taste and knows something about movie making seems to worship this film. Only those who are unfit for their positions, stupid, or incompetent don&#x27;t like it.<p>Let me then be the one to admit I&#x27;ll be the stupid, incompetent one, but willing to learn. Why is this film brilliant? I found it unbearable. Half the story is told by an omniscient narrator (a device that simply doesn&#x27;t work in a film), the story advances at a glacial pace, the protagonist is completely unlikable. Of course the backstory would feel somewhat pompous and dated, based on a 19th century book, but in my uninformed, incompetent opinion bringing this old fashioned feel unchanged to a 20th century medium didn&#x27;t do either of them any favors.<p>Kubrick made a number of classics that have either aged very well or become a cherished document of the time when they were made. Can someone please explain to me why this movie belongs up there with the Shining, 2001 and Dr. Strangelove?