The acting in this scene can be described in one word: SUBTLE. Not a single word is spoken, and no grand gestures or expressions are made, yet you perfectly understand exactly what's going on.
Everything is conveyed through glances, stares, gentle movements, and indescribable facial expressions. If there's one thing Stanley Kubrick was a master of (besides everything to do with film) it was body language. I applaud his actors, because it was probably not very easy to mimic natural body expressions with such grace and precision. I applaud Kubrick, because it was probably not very easy to get his actors to do that.
It's as if they speak to each other through the facial expressions, with calls and responses. Meanwhile, the weak movements convey the passionate attraction for one another.
All they're doing is sitting at a game table, yet the scene reads like a book. However, the acting is only part of what really makes this scene brilliant:
The cinematography takes care of the rest. Stanley Kubrick had actually designed special camera lenses for this movie, ones that would accurately capture natural light and effectively mimic the look of oil paintings from this time. I'd say that the results were absolutely breath-taking.
The lighting, coming from candles, serves to complement the tone of the scene. It flickers and has a warm orange glow, creating a warm feeling and reflecting that of the warm desire they have for each other. It also helps to make the colours blend more and create an all-around beautiful picture.
Kubrick's incomparable pacing and framing really complete this scene. Like I said earlier, this is a very slow scene, and consists mostly of people sitting down. However, it feels very natural and right. Kubrick places his shots well, and knows exactly how long to hold them. No one shot feels like it lasts too long or too little. They effectively add details to the story, with the aid of various zooms, most notably on the close-ups. They really capture the stories coming from the faces of the actors.
All of this is further built upon with the music. It captures not only the beauty and regality and the time period, but of Lady Lyndon (isn't she the most beautiful woman you've ever seen?). It also aids in perfectly conveying the romance of the scene, in accordance to the time period and all-around vibe of the setting.
And don't even get me started on this part:
I wish I could have found still of the shots just prior to this one, but this is will have to serve, and it is very beautiful anyway. This couple of shots just blows my mind. The orange from the inside has the same orange glow from the candles, and it perfectly complements the bluish gray from the moonlight. (natural moonlight, by the way) It doesn't pop out like it would if it were the usual blue light you see in most movies, but rather blends with the bluish gray in some perfect way that perhaps a painter would understand better than I.
The song probably fits better here than anywhere else in the history of the universe.
Stanley Kubrick's films have a sense of restraint and elegance, that I could only compare to ballet. They're so carefully and beautifully crafted, and nobody's been able to figure out just how he did what he did. Or maybe someone has, and Hollywood's not letting us know about it.
It's really a shame how audiences have changed since the time of this movie. I wasn't around then, but this movie apparently received enough attention to win awards, and be hailed by critics and directors as not only one of Kubrick's best, but one the best movies of all time. I completely agree. However, I don't think modern audiences have the attention span for a film like this. Audiences today want quick cutaways and little thinking. Atleast Hollywood thinks so, what with all the modern action movies they constantly feed the public.
Heck, even if it's not a modern action movie, it'll be directed with the same amount of care and it'll come out of the same Hollywood Easy Bake Oven. This famous pile of crap is probably the best example of a modern day equivalent to this scene.
I know there are probably some much better examples from modern movies, but I'd be hard-pressed to find them in a modern blockbuster. I'll save my rant on modern movies for another post.
