Rating: 
Summary: I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED
Review: I am a huge mystery buff. I love the twist an turns. The more twist and turns, the merrier. This movie took too long to set up the characters. By the time you knew who's who, you'd know there's a someone who needs a job desperately, a hunt (American Style), then there's a scene where they actually go hunting (big deal), dinner (oh hum), a little extra circular activity, then a murder and the movie is over. The so-called investigators were Laurel & Hardy England, I mean Britain style. Why they were added into the movie is beyond me. If there was an investigation, will someone please tell me!!
I don't have a problem that someone else figured it out who done it and why, it just that the movie was took too long to get there, and if, if the Laurel & Hardy investigators DID any type of investigation, the director FAILED to show this. Other than that, the scenery was beautiful.
If you plan to rent or buy ' DON'T. It's waste of money. The movie did not rate the acclaim given. It's too bad the video store where I bought mine will not take it back, I don't blame them.
Rating: 
Summary: Should Have Won The Best Pic Oscar
Review: To call this film a murder mystery or a whodunit is somewhat of a misleading understatement. The form and structure of the movie follows that archetypical mystery structure, but the film is one of the most remarkable commentaries on class and family in a bygone era captured by camera. Credit Julian Fellows for his excellent screenplay. The script captures the era, the atmosphere and mannerisms of the people inhabiting it to a perfect pitch, and Robert Altman is as game as ever in transposing Fellows' vision to film as only he can. This is definitely Altman's best film since "The Player". Ensemble acting is superb; the actors are unselfish in a refreshingly anti-Hollywood way. It brings a smile to my face to see a film that treats the subject matter of the story with more reverence than the actors' egos. The disc itself is gorgeous; the commentaries and special features are generous and edifying - they enrich the understanding of the film. You can't lose with this disc.
Rating: 
Summary: Beautifully made period drama
Review: After the intimate joy that was 'Short Cuts', Altman's previous sprawling movie treat, there are some surprises and some things that come as expected from 'Gosford Park'. With a cast that is simply magnificent, although no doubt many non-British audiences will not know who several of the cast members are as several are mostly famed for theatre. The basic premise has a group of people gathering at a stately home to observe a shooting party, with a line being clearly drawn between the well-to-do folk and those that serve on them. However, as various plot threads begin unravelling a murder takes place that sends everything into freefall.Altman is the kind of brave director that doesn't opt for the easy option of setting off all his fireworks in the first round. Indeed, with such a huge cast (all of whom are impeccable) he manages to extract extraordinary depth and character from every single one so that we can really sympathise with them or detest them. These aren't the usual cardboard movie characters but real human beings. Of course, the cast itself is an enormous asset. Dame Maggie Smith proves why she is such a legend with a glorious performance, although there's really nothing to fault with the cast. It's an absolute delight to see Emily Watson, such a talented actress who was so spectacular in 'Hilary And Jackie' on top form as well as a hard-done-by servant. Whilst it's all too easy to go over-the-top with describing all there is to admire about this film, it's probably worth remembering that if long period dramas aren't your thing then maybe you're best clear of this. Still, this is a lot more accessible than 'Short Cuts' was (without disparaging either) and that certainly should help it gain an audience, something this accomplished and very adult piece of filmmaking surely deserves.
Rating:
Summary: More than just a classic murder mystery. It's wonderful!
Review: This 2001 award-winning film takes place in 1932 in a country house in England. Guests have assembled for a shooting party and the servants are busy. It's a perfect setting for a classic murder mystery. But Robert Altman is the director, and so the limitations of the genre disappear in a multi-layered story with a cast of no less than 35 characters. Each character shines for a brief moment as this very interesting tale moves back and forth between the guests and the servants, making a joke out of upper class snobbery while, at the same time showing how dependent they are on the servant class. Julian Fellowes received an Academy Award for the screenplay, which was based on an idea by Robert Altman and Bob Balaban, who also appears in the film in a comedic role of a Hollywood producer. It's fun to watch all the characters interact as little by little we learn how they are all connected. Each one is in a life and death struggle for something. And each one has some sort of secret. As the film progresses, I found myself saying "ah ha" a lot at each sign of recognition. The cast is terrific: Maggie Smith as a countess who is dependent on her brother, the lord of the estate, for her income; Kristin Scott Thomas as the wife of the rich man; Helen Mirren as the housekeeper with a deep secret; Emily Watson as a maid; Alan Bates as the head butler. Accolades could just go on and on. There's masterful acting here. The DVD is full of interesting behind-the-scenes tidbits as Robert Altman describes the process for getting the best performances from the actors. There's even a whole section devoted to the film's authenticity as some real-life servants who worked in an English country house in the 1930s were hired to advise the producers on every detail of service at that time, down to the color of the bow tie that the footman wore. This film is destined to be a classic in its own right. I give it one of my highest recommendations. Don't miss it!
Rating:
Summary: beautiful filmmaking
Review: I rented this out of obligation...with all the Oscar nominations and critical acclaim, it was a must-see despite that its premise and cast weren't instantly grabbing. this is quite a remarkable film. it is never once boring and it features some of the best ensemble acting i've ever seen. i'll admit, this is the first movie i've seen by robert altman, and it has compelled me to seek out his other work, including short cuts, nashville, and cookie's fortune, and now i'm a bonafide fan of his work. anyone expecting a slow moving dull PBS-worthy whodunnit will be pleasantly surprised by how riveting, even moving this film is. as many have mentioned, its plot is focused on the differences and similarities between the upper class and the servants who wait on their every move during a weekend party at a British mansion, circa 1930's. the upper class have to deal with high social pressures- constant worry about being "in" the group. this movie portrays schmoozing as a skilled art. and if you don't have what it takes, outcast status is always available. the servants, who operate and live downstairs have their own set of conflicts, most of them revolving around dealing with the snobbery of the folks upstairs. the acting is utterly fantastic. kelly macdonald is perfect in the ingenue role of mary, servant to the snobbish trentham (maggie smith). you might remember macdonald from her role as the love interest in trainspotting. she shows major star potential in this. another supreme performance is given by Emily Watson as a servant whos having an affair with the host of the house (Michael Gambon). Watson's performance is the kind of sublime matching of perfect casting and brilliant acting that makes you realize what a beautiful art form acting in the filmic medium is. clive owen, helen mirren, alan bates, and ryan phillipe also give superb performances as the servants. the upper class players are equally intriguing. kristen scott thomas is perfect as the alpha female, the leader and head snob of the group. anyone whos been among a group of close knit people knows someone like her. this is ultimately why gosford park is so powerful. because it thoroughly understands how brutal social life is, and at the same time makes a comment on the the people on the other end of it and how they're problems are so incredibly different yet equally dismal. i was very impressed by robert altman's directing. it was his goal to never stop the camera from moving. so it is, in fact, in constant motion, creating a kaleidoscope effect that only he can deliver. the script by julian fellowes earned a deserved Oscar. It creates a rich and interesting group of characters. the murder-mystery at the heart of it is less important than the character and social class study at work. gosford park is more concerned with characters than plot which is refreshing. however, one really has to watch this movie with subtitles making the DVD a must have. the thick british accents and the din of several characters talking at once makes this film very difficult to understand. however with subtitles, you shouldn't have any trouble. additionally, the supplemental material is excellent, including a documentary about the real-life butlers and maids who came to consult altman and the cast. also included is a recording of a Q and A session. the commentary track by bob balaban, david levy, and robert altman is great too. altman includes a hilarious tidbit about how he purposely made the actors say the f word in excess to receive an R rated movie because he didn't want kids to say it. "I don't want teenagers to see it. Especially the teenage boys. Too much testosterone." All in all, this is an superb movie and a great DVD to match. Gosford Park is an absolute must-see
Rating: 
Summary: Solidly Entertaining
Review: GOSFORD PARK is a solid piece of moviemaking, even if its' not director Robert Altman's best work. Alot of the blame, I think, lies with the plot, which isn't fleshed out much, leaving much of the acting talent to rely on snappy dialogue built around a somewhat hollow shell. Though it's touted as an Agatha Christie-style murder mystery, the murder itself doesn't even happen until well into the movie, and the movie has moved so slowly up to that point that it almost seems like just another irrelevant (lack of) plot point. On the plus side, as with most Altman films, the acting is top-drawer, highlighted by the brilliance of both Maggie Smith and Helen Mirren(in the film's finest performance). Overall, GOSFORD PARK is pretty good, again far from Altman's best, and ultimately highly overrated.
Rating:
Summary: Not for action lovers...
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed Gosford Park, but I think that this was in part because I enjoy the slower, character-focused movies just as much as I enjoy action movies. If you are buying this because it is a murder mystery...don't. That's why I bought it, and I was somewhat disappointed by the fact that the murder is a subplot. The murder didn't take place until about an hour and twenty minutes into the movie. On the whole, however, I really like this movie and would reccommend it to others...but only others who like this type of movie.
Rating:
Summary: No mystery here
Review: I'm going to have to say that I knew pretty immediately that the little maid in the very beginning of this movie was a victim of class distinction. She must stand in the rain getting soaking while her mistress slowly lumbers into the car. Yes. Yes. And then she must ride, soaked, in the open-air part of the car. Yes. Yes. But wait, there's two more hours of this to come, as the director relentlessly hits us over the head with the "below stairs" message. Has he never seen Upstairs Downstairs? Apparently not, nor have the millions of critics who loved this movie I guess. It's been done before, and done better. But the worst crime of this murder mystery I think is the lack of a murder mystery. There is a murder, but no mystery, and no hint of the Christie-esque charm and suspense the reviews and trailers led one to believe would be there. And the murder takes so long to occur that when it finally does, you find yourself wishing it was you! If you've heard that the British well-to-do were both dull and snobbish, this movie wants to prove it to you, about a dozen different boring ways. So much great acting talent wasted on a film that goes nowhere and offers nothing new, it's a shame.
Rating:
Summary: The story of a busy day in the life of a perfect servant
Review: I finally got around to watching Gosford Park on DVD, which was important for two reasons. First, I could turn on the sub-titles because I was having a hard time following what everybody was saying (a point on which I observe I am not alone). Second, the only thing I remembered about the movie was that we only see the rich folks when the servants are around. This latter point was more important because it meant I did not really remember that the film was about and since I was not the one that picked up the DVD at the store, I did not see the cover with the rather subtle clue as to what would be going on eventually in this tale. Aside: I was going to see this film in the theater after it was nominated for the Oscar for Best Picture, but you see I live in a town where after the nominations came out last year TWO OF THE MOVIES LEFT TOWN. But then, I suppose we should just be grateful they came here at all ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" only came to the local "art" theater). Actually I was enjoying watching the film without worrying what it was about. The cast was weaving their little tapestry, but all those bottles of poison I kept seeing lying around seemed a bit foreboding. No for me it was a pleasant surprise when it turned into a whodunit rather than a character study. Yet clearly this is a quirky whodunit, since the investigating inspector does not get to finish a sentence for about a half hour during the proceedings. He also seems to make a point of not looking at the clues, but that turns out alright because none of the clues are the real clues anyhow. Besides, it is hard not to figure out whodunit, or at least half of it, which should lead to you figuring it all out, but you are never quite sure. What delighted me about this film was that having figured out not only the "who" but what I thought was the "why," I was pleasantly surprised to find another twist that made for a wholly satisfying conclusion in my opinion. The cast, of course, is impeccable, which you can tell by the fact that Derek Jacobi is wasted in a small role; he must have wanted to work with Altman. Maggie Smith is at the point where she can play parts like this in her sleep and while her Oscar nomination was a given, I would like to point out that Helen Mirren, the other Oscar nominated Supporting Actress from this film, is probably as good as Judi Dench but has not had the show stopping roles of Dame Judi. Emily Watson and Kelly Macdonald end up being the most sympathetic figures in the bunch, especially since each becomes, in their own way, the center of the storm. Finally, director Robert Altman's strength in this film is that he stays out of the way of what is going on. After an initial shot where we see Lady Constance's maid waiting by the side of the car in the pouring rain for her Ladyship to get into the car first, I do not think there was another specific shot where it was obvious to me that the director was making me see something. "Gosford Park" is an actors's film and that has usually been the primary constant in Altman's film. This is not a great film (i.e., one I want to watch again and again), but it is a very good film (rare enough in these times). It may not be your cup of tea, but certainly a film that looks unflinchingly at class distinctions would be well aware that there are two types of people in the world. This is a hit or miss film that you will either love or it will bore you to death.
Rating:
Summary: A 3.5 star film that was very intriguing
Review: This movie was very enjoyable even though not much happened until half way through the movie, but that's why Altman directed it and noone else. Excellent dialouge, excellent cast and one of the best period pieces I have ever seen. And what about that detective? Was it just me or was he channeling a little bit of Graham Chapman's Monty Python detective character?
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