A Masterpiece, arguably the most underrated film of the 1970’s. Every frame of the film looks like an 18th century painting, every scene deliberately shot slowly in order to suck the viewer in. A fine example is when Barry Lyndon seduces the Lady Lyndon. Notice how Barry Lyndon walks, it’s as if he’s pacing to the music being played by the film score. No other director would have filmed a film of this magnitude and scope using natural light, mainly by candlelight. Many period pieces before Barry Lyndon would film using artificial light, but the revolutionary way Kubrick shot this film gave it a look of exactly what he was going for, that of paintings from that era. When released, critics and filmgoers alike complained that the film was too cold and distant, but its the repression of people’s emotions (especially of high society) that was the norm of the day.