Life is like a game of cards

This 3-hour movie chronicles an epic saga reminiscent of Forrest Gump's story arc, though Barry isn't portrayed as dim-witted. The film is picaresque, following a character over decades with little significant development despite numerous life changes.

My wife found the film childish. I countered with, "The director is Stanley Kubrick!" She responded, "Who?" Sigh. Nonetheless, I have to concede that some parts of the film do feel childish or perhaps just outdated, such as the acting of Captain Quin.

The cinematography is stunning, and it's impressive that so many challenging scenes were filmed in 1973-1974 without CGI. However, the beauty is often overshadowed by the slow, meandering plot. The movie is a fairly faithful adaptation of a lengthy 1844 novel, and it shows.

There's nothing particularly woke in this film. However, Barry's poor treatment of women does come back to haunt him.

Who would appreciate this movie? If you value cinematography over story and enjoy 18th-century costumes and settings, this film might be for you.