Who would you have play Barry Lyndon?
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Nicanthony — 9 years ago(January 10, 2017 06:17 AM)
I didn't notice the bad Irish accent. Perhaps one has to be Irish, or be from Europe/UK to notice the difference.
Also, I enjoyed Ryan O'Neal as the lead.
PS. I give Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon, and Dr Strangelove all 10/10. But Kubrick movies for me tend to go off the scale. Clockwork deserves an 11, and Strangelove a 10.5. Barry Lyndon is the most flawed of the 3, but so beautiful it still deserves a 10. Else I would have to shift all my other ratings down by a point. -
The_Centurion — 12 years ago(March 11, 2014 01:20 PM)
I think Ryan O'Neill fit the part very well, and remember that it was the studio who demanded that Kubrick cast a top ten actor in the leading role thus limiting options. Malcolm McDowell and Anthony Hopkins are both interesting possibilities, however.
You are a smooth smoothie, you know. -
tyrexden — 11 years ago(June 02, 2014 09:29 AM)
This movie is the movie it is, because of Ryan O'Neal. He has a great balance of youthful naivitee, admirable heroics, moppish affection for his love life, innocence yet capability. He makes it easy to root for, even though he's not a typical protagonist.
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danasider — 9 years ago(August 14, 2016 08:51 PM)
I agree with this most. Sure, the Irish accent wasn't great, but all the other qualities you've stated make O'Neal perfect for the role.
I saw some other actors mentioned like Malcolm McDowell and Anthony Hopkins. Neither have the boyish charm that O'Neal and the character share, not to mention, the looks one would need to be a believable casanova which would cause the Lady Lyndon to fall in love 6 hours after meeting.
Normally, I don't care about looks and even get annoyed when everyone looks perfect in film, but Redmond Barry is the quintessential hero in all aspects including charm, natural ability and looksbut subverted like only Kubrick can do. -
robhiphop — 11 years ago(December 01, 2014 03:38 AM)
The character of Barry Lyndon requires a certain sense of naivet. He's an opportunistic social climber, but there's a kind of cluelessness in the way he blunders crudely from one situation to the next. Both Malcolm McDowell and Anthony Hopkins would've been too "knowing" and self aware to really carry this off. Ryan O'Neal might have his limitations as an actor, but he was right for this part.
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Bourbon_King — 11 years ago(December 25, 2014 03:25 PM)
Barry Lyndon is one of my all time favorite films as well.
I do think however that Ryan was a good choice to play Redmond (bad accent and all). Ryan's poor accent lends to Redmond's inability to ever fit in with the English Aristocracy. Remember also that the Chevalier himself spoke German and Hungarian with a passive Irish lilt that the Chief of Police in Prussia found highly suspect as well. It's a running theme throughout the film about not fitting in.
"Where's your spark now?" -
Felixthecat34213 — 10 years ago(December 13, 2015 10:16 PM)
I do think however that Ryan was a good choice to play Redmond (bad accent and all). Ryan's poor accent lends to Redmond's inability to ever fit in with the English Aristocracy. Remember also that the Chevalier himself spoke German and Hungarian with a passive Irish lilt that the Chief of Police in Prussia found highly suspect as well. It's a running theme throughout the film about not fitting in.
I don't know, What was so bad about it? -
TravisChaplin — 10 years ago(May 17, 2015 08:45 AM)
Malcolm McDowell and Anthony Hopkins both would have been interesting( as would have David Hemmings) but after watching Barry Lyndon again for first time in a while, I do think that Ryan O'Neil did do a good ( great?) job. It's not as as an immediately iconic a performance as say Malcolm McDowell in A Clockwork Orange, Jack Nicholson in The Shining, or George C. Scott in Dr. Strangelove but O'Neil was able to bring enough nuances to the role that he definitely worked despite not being the most well suited for the part.
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shobozenzo — 10 years ago(September 03, 2015 07:28 AM)
I thought I did this already, but maybe there's a delay (my first post=noob.) So I will give the short version:
Then: Leonard Whiting (Romeo and Juliet)
Beautiful, could act, could get the accent(Irish and uppah crust Brit)better than Ryan with his flat American that kept popping through.
Now: Aidan Turner (Ross Poldark, Kili the Elf). He IS Irish, beautiful, a terrific actor.
Loved seeing Marisa Berenson.
Found out why Ryan and Farrah named their son Redmond.
All in all, a C because I fell asleep, which is better than staying awake yelling at the screen. -
aciolino — 10 years ago(September 03, 2015 08:54 AM)
Since Ryan O'Neal was the worst possible choice for the role, just about anyone would have been a better choice, including Woody Allen or Arnold Stang.
If Ronald Colman, Richard Burton, Frederic March, Peter O'Toole (all in their youth, of course) would be ideal.
O'Neal, sounding like he just got off his surf board in Malibu, is an embarrassment. -
Felixthecat34213 — 10 years ago(December 13, 2015 10:21 PM)
If Ronald Colman, Richard Burton, Frederic March, Peter O'Toole (all in their youth, of course) would be ideal.
They would have brought too much Hubris, would have been too self aware. Almost the stereotype of the typical "rogue."
Although lacking the charm of the above mentioned, Ryan O Neal brings a quiet, calculating resolve to his character that works much better.
O'Neal, sounding like he just got off his surf board in Malibu, is an embarrassment.
No he really doesn't, he actually came off as someone who studied and observed the accent thoroughly, although I can't say that about most of his roles. Ryan O Neal actually worked on this role and put some effort into it.