Rating: 
Summary: Altman does UPSTAIRS/DOWNSTAIRS & Dame Agatha - or does he?
Review: Well, strictly speaking he doesn't of course - Robert Altman never simply tags onto an established genre; he plays with it and makes it his own by turning it upside down. So, while the idea for "Gosford Park" may have been inspired by murder mysteries "Christie style" and by the likes of "Brideshead Revisited" and the BBC series about the Bellamy's Eaton Square household, we leave familiar territory the moment we enter the estate ... through the servants' entrance; for although large parts of the action take place "upstairs," it is manifestly told from a "downstairs" perspective.Academy Award-winningly scripted by Julian Fellowes (himself a descendant of British nobility and therefore able to draw on manifold personal insights in creating the movie's characters), "Gosford Park" is primarily an examination of the unquestioningly accepted rules of the early 1930s' British class society: where, beset by primogeniture and a lifestyle often beyond their means, an aristocrat's daughters and younger sons were compelled to marry rich to maintain their expected standard of living - making a marriage for love much less desirable than one for money, even to a disliked spouse, and a marriage for love almost akin to a crime if not combined with wealth -; where servants were a necessary element of the aristocracy's life, even if largely treated as non-persons, banished to the basement and not even allowed to speak if not spoken to when called upstairs by virtue of their duties (notwithstanding the almost friendly relationship often existing between members of the two classes outside the public eye); where the perfect servant's existence was a life so unrealized that it often resulted in an overbearing interest in all aspects of his employer's life and in a precise emulation of the latter's prejudices, standards and pecking orders; where nevertheless domestic service was an important finishing school, especially for girls, frequently employed as early as at 12 or 14 years of age; where both "upstairs" and "downstairs" the greatest transgression against social etiquette was the causation of any kind of scene, as *nothing* was to be talked about as if it were truly important - requiring an immediate return to form if a breach of decorum had occurred after all - and where minute behavioral patterns such as a person's habits in pouring milk for his tea unfailingly exposed him as a member of one particular class, try as he might to associate himself with another. Yet, for all its observations, "Gosford Park" never judges: it takes each of its characters, and the entire unspoken "upstairs-downstairs" class arrangement at face value, leaving it up to its viewers to determine themselves what to make thereof. The movie is named for the estate of Sir William McCordle (Michael Gambon) and wife Sylvia (Kristin Scott Thomas), who have invited friends and family to that most English of all country sports events - a shooting party. And they have all come: Lady Sylvia's aunt Constance Trentham (Maggie Smith), her sisters Louisa and Lavinia with husbands Lord Stockbridge and Commander Meredith (Geraldine Somerville, Natasha Wightman, Charles Dance and Tom Hollander), the Nesbitts (James Wilby and Claudie Blakley) and last but not least (real-life) actor Ivor Novello (Jeremy Northam, who also displays his outstanding vocal talent with several of Novello's songs), along with Hollywood director Morris Wiseman (Bob Balaban), in England for research on a projected "Charlie Chan" movie, and young Henry Denton (Ryan Philippe), whom Wiseman presents as his valet. Yet, while Novello is the hosts' halfheartedly-tolerated relative, Wiseman and Denton are instantly identified as outsiders: Not only are they American, but Wiseman is Jewish (and thus, implicitly socially suspect), a vegetarian (making him even more suspect for "fussing" over his food) and swears on the telephone; and Denton is quickly branded disingenuous by the servants, particularly Lady Constance's young maid Mary (Kelly Macdonald) and Lord Stockbridge's valet Robert Parks (Clive Owen), only to incur even greater wrath both upstairs and downstairs when the full measure of his deception becomes apparent. Despised by his wife and aristocratic in-laws and also, for reasons of their own, by his own staff, primarily housekeeper Jane Wilson and cook Elizabeth Croft (Helen Mirren and Eileen Atkins), Sir William is found murdered after the second night's dinner. Enter Inspector Thompson (Stephen Fry) - and the movie's delicious survey gains another dimension, now also taking on the mystery genre; playing with it in "Charlie Chan" and "Pink Panther" fashion, with inept policemen, matching background music and cliches turned on their head, such as the obligatory assembly of all suspects, which here occurs at the investigation's beginning, not at its end. While "Gosford Park"'s many awards are undoubtedly deserved, most fitting of all is its outstanding cast's SAG ensemble award; as all actors, including the late, great Alan Bates (butler Jennings), Derek Jacobi (Sir William's valet Probert), Richard E. Grant (first footman George) and Emily Watson (housemaid Elsie, Sir William's secret paramour and the only person grieving his death) put aside their claims to genuine starring roles in the interest of the ensemble's achievement. In addition to Robert Altman's, his son/production designer Stephen's and Julian Fellowes's painstaking attention to even the smallest set detail - including a king's ransom in tapestry and authentic vintage jewelry - and the counsel of several advisors with real-life service experience, all actors thoroughly researched the tenets of their roles; enabling them to respond in supreme fashion to Altman's preferred style of directing, which favors spontaneity, "mistakes" (often actually a movie's greatest moments), constantly moving cameras with shifting focus and overlaying, partly ad-libbed conversations over strict adherence to the script. The movie is jam-packed with information, each morsel provided only once; therefore, you not only should but actually must watch it several times to pick up on all the details you will necessarily miss initially. This is not a film for casual viewers, nor for fans of primarily plot-driven stories - but it is strongly recommended to those who appreciate delicate social comment and exquisitely-drawn characters.
Rating: 
Summary: If you don't have a story, don't tell it
Review: I'm a fan of much of Robert Altman's work, and when I went to see this film I had fairly high expectations. However, what I got was a couple of hours of dull storyline. The "big surprise" was probably supposed to provide a great twist at the end, but anyone still awake will have figured it out mid-way through the movie. There seems to be potential in this period piece, but in the end it's just a pointless story with little to recommend it. As I said to my friends after leaving the theater, "If you don't have a story, don't tell it." The most shocking thing was that this worthless movie was nominated for Oscars!
Rating: 
Summary: Not as bad as they say!
Review: If you're looking for something witty and exciting like "Clue" then this movie is not for you. It shows the subtle relationships between the serving class and those that they serve all in the context of a murder mystery. This movie is more like a novel, with the details that most directors would leave out of a movie because they aren't "action packed." I found it to be entertaining and full of wonderful detail.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful little film
Review: I loved this movie - other reviewers seem to miss the point of the intricacies (sp?) of the plot and how it was filmed. The director had no script, just character descriptions and plotlines for the actors to follow. It is entirely improvised which is what makes it so wonderful and amazing. The mystery is told from the viewpoint of the manor house staff when a murder occurs and there are several people who could be blamed for it. It is nearly impossible to know who "did it" until the very end. It is beautifully filmed in a very creative manner - I highly recommend it!
Rating: 
Summary: Sleeper
Review: This movie isn't a "sleeper" in the sense that it's a rare, unappreciated gem. No. I call it a "sleeper" because when I saw it in the theater, I had a most delicious little two hour nap. Had this movie been even remotely interesting or entertaining, I would never had got such a deep and relaxing sleep that evening. To call this movie anything more than just "dull" is giving it too much credit for being anything less than the mudane dispassionate story about nothing that it is. I mean this film not only fails to hit any high peaks; it fails to even make the viewer raise an eyebrow every now and again. I've rarely watched a movie with such a deadpan plot. "Gosford Park" doesn't stink - that's too extreme for this boring movie. I wish it stunk. Had it been as bad as some of Russ Meyer's crazy B films, I might have actually stayed awake and been entertained somewhat. At least I would have got a good laugh. As it is, "Gosford Park" made me feel zero emotion at all; just a nice, peaceful, quiet sleep. They didn't even have to be polite and turn the sound down for me. Isn't that nice of them?
Rating:
Summary: Better the second time around~use subtitles!
Review: The first time I watched this DVD I thought it was tedious. The second time I paid very close attention and used subtitles! This tremendously improved the film! I have a hard time understanding a British accent. When I watched with subtitles I finally could catch the intricacies of the plot and I really loved it! The plot is so intertwined and there are so many characters involved that it can be very confusing. I now plan to purchase this DVD and the novel! I hear there is alot more to this wonderful mystery in the book.
Rating:
Summary: --Wonderfully Entertaining--
Review: GOSFORD PARK was a nice surprise. The movie was purchased as a gift for my husband and I and we had no expectations because we didn't know what the film was about. It is a British film, and although we recognized the faces of a lot of the actors, we were glad to have the opportunity to learn their names. The acting was superb! The story takes place in the 1930's at a country estate in England called Gosford Park. Sir William McCordle invites a large group of guests to a weekend hunting party. The movie begins with Constance (Maggie Smith) leaving her estate to travel to the event along with her driver and maid. We're treated to wonderful scenes as the guests arrive with their own assemblage of various servants. The often-snobbish guests are assigned rooms and at the same time their servants are in the kitchen receiving their own room assignments. The interesting part is to see that the pecking order for the Earl's guests is not that different from that among the various servants. The camera scans the room while people are talking and it's difficult to hear most of the comments. I guess the director was giving us the feeling of being in any large place where dozens of people are making small talk. Constance is very snobbish and we get to clearly hear her views about the other guests. When a murder takes place, a bumbling detective is brought in to solve the crime. He doesn't have a clue, but several other people are able to surmise what happened. Everyone has his or her own individual stories and that's really what makes this big film work. I found myself more interested in what was going on with the servants than I was with their wealthy counterparts. I especially enjoyed the acting of Clive Owen, Helen Mirren, Derek Jacobi and Maggie Smith. Jeremy Northam as a Hollywood star gives an excellent performance and also demonstrated a great singing voice.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: I really love this movie and suggest that everyone at least try it. If the style is not to your taste, then let's face it, you won't like it, but if you do enjoy this type of film, you will not be disappointed. I do not see Gosford Park as a murder mystery, but instead as a commentary on social class set around the events of a murder. This commentary is very well-done as it is quite well-scripted and the actors perform wonderfully. What I enjoy most about this film is its attention to detail. I loved the movie so much that I watched it a few times and picked up on many little details that would not be noticed with one viewing. For example, look closely at the label on "Mr. Weisman's Man's" pants when he has Mary in his room with him. If you enjoy this movie as much as I do, you will be eager to watch it over again and appreciate such details.
Rating:
Summary: New hope for insomniacs!
Review: It's always nice to see a book or DVD hotly contested in its praise or in its criticism. Those who enjoyed it call it "beautiful" and "artistic." Those who did not enjoy it call it "boring" and "tedious." And the reviews of those of the latter group, regardless of how well they are written, seem to fall under the sword of the former with 5 out of 19's and 1 out of 13's in the "did this review help you?" This is the most boring movie I have ever seen. And the giveaway, if you will, that those who "loved" it feel the haunting presence that the naysayers 'might be right,'is that there are any number of "loved it" reviews who acknowledge that they had to see it twice. Golly. I don't want to see a movie twice. I don't want to read a book twice. Perhaps I am in a minority but I think that the quid pro quo of my paying money to the investors of the effort by seeing it or reading it is that I ought to be able to 'get it' the first time. In Hollywood (I don't know, I have to imagine) we make excellent, powerful movies that (a) are palatable to the public (art); and (b) make money for the investors. These movies are American movies. At the risk of sounding xenophobic, what we don't do well is make French movies. Or Swedish movies. Or movies about Danish teenagers. And we don't make movies about the British class system very well at all. Everything about the movie is true. Maggie Smith is a delight. The photogrophy is lush. The music is enthralling. Regretably, the other things are true as well. If we had to wait any longer for Michael Gambon to die, the poor bloke would have died of old age. The dialogue, when it can be understood, doesn't carry any meaning. It doesn't make sense. Literally, who cares? This is a murder mystery. Purportedly, Michael did a naughty and he's going to pay for it. Let's off the bugger and be on with it. Bloody awful!
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic! Don't listen to the complainers.
Review: This movie is a classic for the ages. I watched it the first time and could not understand the whispered dialogue in English accent. Upon a more careful watching, it is in my top five. The key is how this movie, while looking like a conventional drawing room mystery, BREAKS all the conventions in a masterful way. The most significant motif is the focus on details through the perspective of the servants, and not the snobby leeches who are dependent on the murder victim in various ways. The music is wonderful; the Ivor Novella tunes alone are worth the experience.
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