Barry Lyndon

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, Barry Lyndon is available in Australia on HBO Max, and in the UK on HBO Max Amazon Channel right now. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Ryan O'Neal's performance alone is worth the time investment. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on HBO Max.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Barry Lyndon earns its spot. The writing in Barry Lyndon treats its characters as people first, plot devices second. An Irish rogue uses his cunning and wit to work his way up the social classes of 18th century England, transforming himself from the humble Redmond Barry into the noble Barry Lyndon. Ryan O'Neal and Marisa Berenson lead a cast that treats the material with real seriousness. It hit screens in 1975. Barry Lyndon resists tidy resolutions in a way that respects how messy real consequences actually are. The hit rate here is high enough that skipping ahead never feels like an option.

For anyone looking for storytelling that takes its characters seriously, Barry Lyndon delivers. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Ryan O'Neal is the centre of it, and it is one of their strongest performances on record. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.