Gosford Park
starring: Maggie Smith, Ryan Phillippe, Michael Gambon, Kristin Scott Thomas, Camilla Rutherford
directed by: Robert Altman
directed by: Robert Altman
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Product Description:
THE FUN MURDER MYSTERY, FILLED WITH FASCINATING SUSPECTS, LONG-HELD SECRETS, INTRIGUING SURPRISES AND COMICAL TWISTS TO KEEP YOU GUESSING RIGHT TO THE END.
Amazon.com essential video:
Gosford Park finds director Robert Altman in sumptuously fine form indeed. From the opening shots, as the camera peers through the trees at an opulent English country estate, Altman exploits the 1930s period setting and whodunit formula of the film expertly. Aristocrats gather together for a weekend shooting party with their dutiful servants in tow, and the upstairs/downstairs division of the classes is perfectly tailored to Altman's method (as employed in Nashville and Short Cuts) of overlapping bits of dialogue and numerous subplots in order to betray underlying motives and the sins that propel them. Greed, vengeance, snobbery, and lust stir comic unrest as the near dizzying effect of brisk script turns is allayed by perhaps Altman's strongest ensemble to date. First and foremost, Maggie Smith is marvelous as Constance, a dependent countess with a quip for every occasion; Michael Gambon, as the ill-fated host, Sir William McCordle, is one of the most palpably salacious characters ever on screen; Kristin Scott Thomas is perfectly cold yet sexy as Lady Sylvia, Sir William's wife; and Helen Mirren, Emily Watson, and Clive Owen are equally memorable as key characters from the bustling servants' quarters below. Gosford Park manages to be fabulously entertaining while exposing human shortcomings, compromises, and our endless need for confession. --Fionn Meade
THE FUN MURDER MYSTERY, FILLED WITH FASCINATING SUSPECTS, LONG-HELD SECRETS, INTRIGUING SURPRISES AND COMICAL TWISTS TO KEEP YOU GUESSING RIGHT TO THE END.
Amazon.com essential video:
Gosford Park finds director Robert Altman in sumptuously fine form indeed. From the opening shots, as the camera peers through the trees at an opulent English country estate, Altman exploits the 1930s period setting and whodunit formula of the film expertly. Aristocrats gather together for a weekend shooting party with their dutiful servants in tow, and the upstairs/downstairs division of the classes is perfectly tailored to Altman's method (as employed in Nashville and Short Cuts) of overlapping bits of dialogue and numerous subplots in order to betray underlying motives and the sins that propel them. Greed, vengeance, snobbery, and lust stir comic unrest as the near dizzying effect of brisk script turns is allayed by perhaps Altman's strongest ensemble to date. First and foremost, Maggie Smith is marvelous as Constance, a dependent countess with a quip for every occasion; Michael Gambon, as the ill-fated host, Sir William McCordle, is one of the most palpably salacious characters ever on screen; Kristin Scott Thomas is perfectly cold yet sexy as Lady Sylvia, Sir William's wife; and Helen Mirren, Emily Watson, and Clive Owen are equally memorable as key characters from the bustling servants' quarters below. Gosford Park manages to be fabulously entertaining while exposing human shortcomings, compromises, and our endless need for confession. --Fionn Meade
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- probably would have worked better as a book
This film reveals Robert Altman to be a director's director.
That's a slight, if you didn't get it.What is means is that while other screenwriters and filmmakers might appreciate the subtlety and craft of this film, the common man won't.
And I maintain the common man won't.This is a slowly-paced, literate film.It analyzes class relations between the Brits, and even the relations between the Brits and the Americans.There's a lot to it, but you can't have ADD if you ... Read More
Rating: 
- excellent film
Gosford Park
Excellent film.Beautifully writtten, produced, directed, & acted.Do yourself a favor - see this film, more than once.Ignore those who have given it fewer than 5 stars.After having read their "reviews" and comments I feel nothing but pity for them.They obviously do not understand the film.Perhaps they should spend more time reading and less watching 'reality tv'???Godsford Park is a gem - one should view it for the glorious sets alone.
Rating: - Classic Mystery
This play is a mystery, but that's an understatement.It's also a documentary of the social manners and customs of a slice of life in the old-money priveleged class society.The plot becomes more and more complex and subtly revealing of the underlying cross currents and hidden agendas of the wide variety of personalities of the guests gathered for a hunting party weekend.
Development of the mystery is so clever and subtle that it's not apparent until it explodes on the scene unexpectedly. ... Read More
Rating: 
- Post great war Britian and the Hollywood invasion
This mystery is sort of an upstairs ( ladies and gentlemen)
and downstairs ( maids, valets, cooksand butlers) mixer.
A shooting -gathering of the clans brings together
and aristocratic family and
some American Hollywood invaders.
The head of the clan is a merchant and he is murdered.
The Lady's maid of the dowager seems to have more idea of the motivations of the crime than the constable and detective of the police.
The traditional British empire culture of the ... Read More
Rating: - Costume Drama
Robert Altman decided to leave his usual Americana behind with the dreary British period piece "Gosford Park." It's 1932; the British aristocracy is in its twilight and war looms on the Continent. At Gosford Park,however,it's all fun and games until someone ends up dead. Think of this movie as the dull "Clue" made a little more brilliantly.
"Gosford Park" has the usual upstairs/downstairs drama. The great Bob Balaban stars as a visiting Hollywood producer. The hosting aristocrats are Michael ... Read More
- probably would have worked better as a bookThis film reveals Robert Altman to be a director's director.
That's a slight, if you didn't get it.What is means is that while other screenwriters and filmmakers might appreciate the subtlety and craft of this film, the common man won't.
And I maintain the common man won't.This is a slowly-paced, literate film.It analyzes class relations between the Brits, and even the relations between the Brits and the Americans.There's a lot to it, but you can't have ADD if you ... Read More
- excellent filmGosford Park
Excellent film.Beautifully writtten, produced, directed, & acted.Do yourself a favor - see this film, more than once.Ignore those who have given it fewer than 5 stars.After having read their "reviews" and comments I feel nothing but pity for them.They obviously do not understand the film.Perhaps they should spend more time reading and less watching 'reality tv'???Godsford Park is a gem - one should view it for the glorious sets alone.
- Classic MysteryThis play is a mystery, but that's an understatement.It's also a documentary of the social manners and customs of a slice of life in the old-money priveleged class society.The plot becomes more and more complex and subtly revealing of the underlying cross currents and hidden agendas of the wide variety of personalities of the guests gathered for a hunting party weekend.
Development of the mystery is so clever and subtle that it's not apparent until it explodes on the scene unexpectedly. ... Read More
- Post great war Britian and the Hollywood invasionThis mystery is sort of an upstairs ( ladies and gentlemen)
and downstairs ( maids, valets, cooksand butlers) mixer.
A shooting -gathering of the clans brings together
and aristocratic family and
some American Hollywood invaders.
The head of the clan is a merchant and he is murdered.
The Lady's maid of the dowager seems to have more idea of the motivations of the crime than the constable and detective of the police.
The traditional British empire culture of the ... Read More
- Costume DramaRobert Altman decided to leave his usual Americana behind with the dreary British period piece "Gosford Park." It's 1932; the British aristocracy is in its twilight and war looms on the Continent. At Gosford Park,however,it's all fun and games until someone ends up dead. Think of this movie as the dull "Clue" made a little more brilliantly.
"Gosford Park" has the usual upstairs/downstairs drama. The great Bob Balaban stars as a visiting Hollywood producer. The hosting aristocrats are Michael ... Read More
