November Blind Spot: Barry Lyndon

First and foremost, what makes this a Blind Spot movie? In other words, why is this film essential?

Once again because of the person behind the camera, calling Action! Mr. Stanley Kubrick, widely regarded as one of the best directors film industry has ever produced. After Bergman and Tarkovskiy earlier this year and Ozu to follow next month, director being the principle reason of inclusion in this line-up has been a standing theme of this year's blind spots. I like some of Kubrick's films, even love a couple but in general I am not the biggest fan of his work. So I always need an extra push to check some of his films that I haven't yet and I think this series can be just that. 

So, what is the story about?

Barry Lyndon(1975) is a story of Redmond Barry, son of a lawyer, who leaves with his mother under the patronage of his uncle after death of his father in duel. After receiving quite an encouragement from his uncle's daughter, Nora, he duly falls in love with her. She plays with him for a while and after finding someone wealthier, someone with better prospects leaves him for that guy. Blinded by her love, he challenges her new lover, kills him in duel and has to run away from police. After running away, he enlists himself in army, fights a seven-year war for England, gets bored after a while, runs away, gets caught by a Prussian captain, enlists back into Prussian army, saves life of captain who caught him and starts working for police after war is over. His first assignment is to spy on an Irish person but he becomes a double agent and runs away with this guy. Two of them form an unusual bond and wander around, swindling people of heir money in gambling. One of the days, he sets his eyes on Lady Lyndon, beautiful, wealthy wife of old, sickly Sir Charles Lyndon. Lord Lyndon dies soon after and obviously Barry assumes his position as soon as he can and starts spending 'perfectly good family fortune' on his ambition and spendthrift attitude. Did I bore you already? Imagine watching it for 3 hours...

This is unlike any other film Kubrick has done. He is often praised for venturing into different genres, which this movie can be another example of, but even then you will always see some sort of social commentary in them. He is usually extremely critical of the society and showcases it in most acerbic way possible. There is nothing of that sort here. Considering almost unbearably over critical aspect of his films is my principal problem with him(I lose all my shit over soldiers singing Mickey Mouse Club title song in Full Metal Jacket(1987) at the end), you would think I will be much more receptive of this film. What we get here is the worst kind of labourious, uninteresting bore for over three hours. If there was some sort of social commentary somewhere in there, it was lost completely on me in my boredom.

What did I think of it? What did I like the most about it and what didn't I like?

It is rather unfortunate that I have to begin here with negativity but the only thing more unfortunate than that is I don't have anything particularly positive to say about Barry Lyndon. My biggest problem with this film is I can't even say I hated it. Not because I found some redeeming qualities in otherwise dull movie but because even to hate a movie, you have to have felt something. I don't think there are many things I was so apathetic about. Even in the most dramatic, most climatic moments of the film like the final duel between Lord Bullingdon and Barry Lyndon or Bryan falling off the horse, my only thought was 'Get Over With It!'. It is long, it is tedious, it is monotonous and altogether boring. In all the 185 minutes of this film, there must be 100 odd characters that come and go on the screen and there was none, none I had any interest whatsoever in.

Like many other of his films, Kubrick seems to have spend a lot of time on creating a certain look and feel of the movie. Even here, cinematography is one aspect I can sort of get behind. Kubrick's camera seems to reveal in every second of this film, even in the most unnecessary, over drawn moments. However what it does basically is slows down the pace of the movie to trickle. It is so slow that it drowns even the most surprising moments of the film. Kubrick must have been meticulous about the make-up, costume and hair designing of this film as well and it certainly shows. However I thought them, especially make-up, to be overdone. So much so that I found most of the side characters to be almost caricature of real characters. Unnecessarily over-the-top portrayal by those involved has to bear equal blame in this. Unless you find a way to make it particularly interesting, like in Goodfellas(1990), voice-over narration usually dampens the film for me and here it does so quite efficiently.

As I have said before, for one reason or the other, I have always had problems with Kubrick. This guy never seems to catch a break with me. To put it bluntly, I think a lot of people like him because you are supposed to like him. If you don't, there is something wrong with you. Maybe there is, maybe I am such a novice, which I accept anyways, that I don't understand the greatness of whatever it is front of my eyes but I don't think of Stanley Kubrick when I think of my favourite directors. And not because there are other more worthy choices, which in my opinion there certainly are, but because I genuinely have problem with some of his most revered works. However how can I form an informed opinion about anything without being informed? So I take it as my duty to watch all his films and I swear I enter every one of them with hope that this will be the one to make me his devoted follower like most other informed folks. Well, this certainly wasn't to be the one!

After having seen it, do I agree with its 'essential' status? And why?

If at all Barry Lyndon is anything, it is homework. Nothing more than that. There is absolutely nothing in this movie to make it stand out from the rest and somehow make it an 'essential' watch. Unless you are a perfectionist and want to watch every film of someone involved in this film or enjoy boring yourself with an absolute lackluster of a film, there is nothing in this film for anyone here. Considering the status of Kubrick in the industry, most film lovers are bound to stumble to it eventually and I don't want to be the one to keep others away from this. It's just that I don't think anyone needs to be in any hurry to watch this. You can always find better ways to waste 3 hours of your life on something else. Anything would do!

Does it open few new doors for me? Does this inspire to watch any other movies?

If there was an unnecessary question ever, it is this one. No, it does not and even if it did, I certainly don't want to open them. I still haven't seen 3 of Kubrick's films, Spartacus(1960), Lolita(1962) and Killer's Kiss(1955), 4 if you count Fear and Desire(1953) and I know I will get to them at some point but they do not owe anything to this film. I would have watched them anyways. If at all it had any effect, it would be to detract me further.

February Blind Spot: The French Connection(1971)

When I put up the line-up for this series back in December, almost everyone came out in support of one movie on that list. It didn't really surprise me since I knew it was a popular movie. So the second month of the Blind Spot goes to the movie that got most enthusiastic response when I put up the line-up - The French Connection(1971), Best Picture Winner in that year's Oscar. It also seemed fitting that I should be watching this BP winner in the month of Oscars. 

First and foremost, what makes this a Blind Spot movie? In other words, why is this film essential?
For multiple reasons actually. First and foremost, I think it is one of the most respected BP Winners. I think most everyone agrees that The French Connection deserved to win, something that rarely happens these days and after 40 years of its release, its regarded with equal respect is some kind of a miracle. It is not only considered as a great movie overall but also as one of the best cop movies made ever. I have been meaning to check it off my list for a long time and could not think of a better way to do this.

So, what is the story about?
Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle, played by Gene Hackman in his Oscar winning role, and his partner Salvatore 'Cloudy' Russo, Roy Scheider in his only role I have seen outside of Jaws(1975) and its sequel, are cops working in New York City's narcotics department. One day after they are done with work, they go to the bar for a drink and one of the tables attracts their attention. Popeye feels something fishy about it and working on a hunch, persuades Russo to tail them. Chasing one of the couples on the table through the might, they see them dropping something off in Little Italy and return to their real house and their candy store in working are area of Manhattan. They soon find out that this couple is Sal Boca and his wife Angie. They also find out that they both have previous records and many dubious connections. Because they think there is something big play going on in the background, they go to their boss to ask for some help and let them continue working on this case. Because of Popeye's background, he initially complains but eventually agrees to see if this can go anywhere.

One of the reasons Popeye and Russo get the permission they want is because they connect Boca to a guy named Joel Weinstock whom police have been keeping an eye on for long time. After many days of nothing, their efforts finally materialize when they hear Boca talking with Alain Charnier, French drug kingpin responsible for sizable percentage of drugs that comes into NYC from Europe. He is also accompanied by Pierre Nicoli, a killer for hire and Charnier's right hand-man. With the two big fish involved in the case, this case now becomes much more important and what follows is the game of Cat and Mouse to the bitter end for all the parties involved.  

What did I think of it? What did I like the most about it and what didn't I like?
There is so much to like in this movie - Friedkin's direction, Gene Hackman's amazing Oscar winning leading performance, earnestness of the characters, the way it is shot, it's use of silence, the way everything in this movie feels so tangible, so real. I love that these characters are flawed because it makes them so much real, so much more relatable. I loved the fact that at one point there is an almost 15 minute long stretch where there is not a single dialogue and it did not bother me at all. Hell, I almost didn't even realize it. Friedkin takes very good care of whatever happening on the screen is taking the story forward, with dialogue or without it. So there is always something going on the screen which is so thoroughly engaging that you don't really miss the dialogue so much.

But if you asked me what I liked the most?, my answer might surprise you. Because it is Chases. More specifically, the professional manner in which they are shot. There have been numerous occasions when I see someone following someone else, like 10 feet behind them or driving bumper to bumper with their car and every time I am help myself but throw my arms and be amazed. I have never followed anyone in my life but if you are following someone, I think you wouldn't want them to know. Otherwise there is not point in it. And I never understood why filmmakers don't take care of it because I don't think it costs them anything more just to keep some safe distance. So I loved that Friedkin paid attention to this small but important detail, especially when half of the movie is nothing but chases. At one point, Gene Hackman even crosses the road just because person he is tailing did and he wants to keep that safe distance. Unfortunately, it doesn't work out for our Popeye since the guy already knows he is being followed but it sure worked for me.

After having seen it, do I agree with it's 'essential' status? and why?
I sure do. 70s was one of the best decades for American Cinema, probably even the best. Even though my own experiences are little limited, I think I have seen quite a few movies from that time and I think I can agree to this being one of the best movies of the decade. You have to realize that this automatically puts it into the contention for best ever. It certainly is amongst the best cop movies I have seen and I have seen fair share of them too. If this isn't enough for you, we have film's legacy to turn to. The French Connection carved the way for many more thrillers to follow. Film's hero isn't the most ideal leading man. He is often wrong, he often falls on the wrong side of the line, he is violent, even racist and he is borderline obsessive about his job and about doing things his way. Popeye following the elevated train at a very high speed, through heavy traffic is a single sequence that can associate him with every attribute noted. For the record, it is a damn fine car chase. Definitely one of the best I have seen, once again setting up the stage for many, many more to follow. I should also note that it was shot with no permits, no stalling the traffic and Hackman doing most of his own driving. And in the end, overall grim, realistic feel of the movie and the downbeat ending were also a step ahead to the police dramas of the period. I am convinced.

Does it open few new doors for me? Does this inspire to watch any other movies?
Rather than opening new avenues, this one actually caps few off. I have now seen every single Best Picture winner from '70s, widely considered as most influential, if not the Best, decade of American cinema. I have already checked off '90s and 2000s and hope to clear off '80s this month itself so as to set the bar as far back as 1969 - Midnight Cowboy(1969) should be the earliest BP winner I haven't seen at the end of this month, whatever may be the outcome this weekend.

2013 Blind Spot Series

At around the same time last year, Ryan McNeil @The matinee put out a call to fellow bloggers to join him in 'Blind Spot Series'. I remember sitting behind my desk at then student job and trying to compile the list. I was hardly 6 months into blogging, wasn't sure how long will I go on for. I wasn't even sure what constitutes as a blind spot and what didn't but more importantly, there were far too many blind spots in my knowledge just to pick 12 from then. When he published his 2013 line-up week or two ago, a whole year of blogging and 300 movies later - many of which would have made my list last year, I think I am at the point now that I can be part of it. First of all, to those who don't know what this is, allow Ryan to introduce you. 

“Cull together a list of “Blind Spot” films…movies that we as movie enthusiasts likely should have seen by now, but haven’t for one reason or another. After narrowing the list down to a truly manageable twelve titles, the goal would be to watch all twelve over the course of the next year, and to write one’s thoughts afterwards.”

And my choice of 12 movies goes as follows, in chronological order -

Frankenstein(1931)

Snow White and Seven Dwarfs (1937)

The Treasure of Sierra Madre (1948)

Tokyo Story (1953)

The Searchers (1956)

Through a Glass Darkly(1961)

Andrei Rublev(1966)

The French Connection(1971)

Barry London (1975)

The Breakfast Club (1985)

The Lion King (1994)

Sideways (2004)

Off course, I have taken care of covering as many decades as possible. I consciously chose couple of animated movies, couple of silent and few foreign movies as well. I am beginning to wonder if I have a kind of an OCD while making these lists. I highly doubt if I ever make a list and not wonder about whether it covers various genres and times etc. But I digress. So, the point is I will watch these 12 movies, 1 each month next year and then write about it. However instead of writing usual paragraphs about these movies, I was thinking about doing something different with them and Dan Heaton @Public Transportation Snob came to the rescue. I decided to go with Question and Answer format which will consist of me writing answers to some specific questions like these:

First and foremost, what makes this a Blind Spot movie? In other words, why is this film essential?

So, what is the story about?

What did I think of it? What did I like the most about it and what didn't I like?

After having seen it, do I agree with it's 'essential' status? and why?

Does it open few new doors for me? Does this inspire to watch any other movies?

Hopefully, these questions will cover everything that I want to talk about. So, what do you think of my list? Any of your favourites that I should be looking forward to on the list?