Rating: 
Summary: The British Class System Through a Periscope
Review: Although this film has a murder in it, it is really not a murder mystery. The murder simply serves as a maypole around which the large cast of characters and the many subplots weave in and out. For me it was a fascinating portrayal of the British class system, extending as it does from the Aristocrats (and Wannabees) to the servants that wait upon them. The chief complaint among the reviews that I read was that it was hard to hear. Those hushed tone are purposeful. Since everyone at the country estate, Gosford Park, has a secret agenda he or she is pursuing (money,illicit sex, a past to keep hidden), the characters must often speak to each other in hushed tones. What reveals their secret agendas often comes out in the sly and subtle non-verbal communications they carry on with each other. That it takes a while to catch on to each character and subplot is also purposeful. It's as if each of us (the viewers) is a first-time guest for this weekend "shoot" of birds and it takes us a while to catch on to the overtones and undertones of these people who are congregated under one roof. I found it a remarkable and fascinating experience, as if I am catching glimpses of life in a country estate through a periscope and having to connect the dots from one scene to another. I was willing to see it over and over (six times so far) to catch every nuance and subplot. The acting is undeniably superb.
Rating: 
Summary: Starts out boring but gets better
Review: This is an enjoyable film. The first half is a bit boring as the large number of characters are introduced, and it took me a long time to understand who's who. But if you are an Anglophile (I consider myself one) you'll enjoy the nicely recreated social atmosphere at the upper-class estate from 1932. The story gets more interesting when the Weisman character announces he's making a murder mystery movie based on such a social occasion in the UK. Of course then someone does get murdered. Overall this is an enjoyable film if you can put up with the first half. The acting is tremendous and I just love the British pomposity.
Rating: 
Summary: Do Not Be Fooled
Review: Many reviewers, critics, and advertisers will have you thinking this is a mystery about a grumpy old man with a few enemies who is murdered at a country estate. The real mystery of this movie is......what this movie is about!Receiving the academy award for original screenplay, I have to wonder what went through the Academy's heads. This is typical Robert Altman, with 300 different characters and almost an hour of time dedicated to each of their storylines. Oh, I liked Maggie Smith's character, but then again Maggie Smith has managed to pull a good performance with every thing she's done. I'll also admit there were some funny or interesting parts in it (most of them thanks to Maggie Smith) but they weren't enough to save the film. The other problem I had was the actual mystery. Its not even that much in the film! Its an hour and a half before the guy is murdered, and when the investigation begins it only gets more boring and worse...predictable. If I want a mystery with a setting like this, I will stick with the series "Poirot." At least I can stay awake during that.
Rating:
Summary: who would stab that old guy anyway, he was cool
Review: Robert Altman, after doing his last movie Dr. T and the women, has brought us this fine grande awesome british movie called Gosford Park. I liked it on so many levels, one being that Clive Owen and Ryan Phillippe did excellent jobs in this one. I am a big Clive Owen fan, he character was great in this movie and I liked the fact that it was him who stabbed the old guy but you know, that old guy was cool. They couldve done with out all those people and it got confusing to watch them walking and talking about but thats probably part of the plot. hooray for Altman and it shouldve won best picture darnit. it was better than A Beautiful Mind. and another Altman movie I recommend is M.A.S.H., watch it, Dr. T and the women was horrible and boring.
Rating:
Summary: Gosford Park
Review: I watched this movie approximately 7 times within a week and loved it. It is true, you have to view the movie more than once to pick up on all the whispered asides and secret alliances and also watching the DVD with the English subtitles feature on, however, would probably resolve the issue of accents and dialogue. A fast moving film that is as fascinating below stairs as above and gives us a glimpse of a useless monied class and and a class for whom being "in service" was a source of pride. Whether servant/master, slave/master, worker/master, the two will never be inseparable or how else can either exist?
Rating:
Summary: Meandering Plot, Unlikeable Characters....
Review: I watched Gosford Park because of the comparisons to "Upstairs Downstairs" and similar films. Well, Gosford park was NOTHING like "Upstairs Downstairs." The plot? Difficult to describe! A whole group of titled gentry converge on an English mansion for some inexplicable purpose. During their time there, a rich unlikable man is murdered. What follows is vigorous interviews by a bumbling constable and his competent sidekick, and endless endless, mindless scenes with coarse crude servants, and rich snobbish nobility. Is this supposed to be a plot? I don't think so. While I was prepared to like Gosford Park, I found the plot way too meandering for my taste. The protagonist, Mary, is ill-defined, and the rest of the cast just seem to show up at odd points throughout the story with no apparent reason or motive, or reason. Even the killer, seemed to lack sufficient motive to do the deed. By the end of this film I admit I found myself counting the seconds until it ended. Gratuitous sex scenes were added to produce the "R" rating which could quite easily have been edited out, and had no bearing on the story. Overall...I consider Gosford Park to be frustrating. It had potential... But too many characters, no editing, and endless meandering dialog just ruined it for me.
Rating: 
Summary: Altman does it!
Review: Altman set out to make a pretentious British drawing room drama, and he certainly out-did himself. This movie is excrutiatingly dull. Soporific. Don't be fooled. It's boring. And the sound is bad too. Well, maybe that helps, because the enunciation of the actor's lines are horrible. You can't understand a word their saying. So it's a double whammy. I really wanted this movie to work. But it's bad. Still don't believe? Check out how many used DVD's are for sale -- and the rock bottom prices. Folks can't get rid of them fast enough. Hopefully Altman will stay in Europe -- as he promised.
Rating:
Summary: All About Altman
Review: This movie is such a waste of the magnificent collection of actors, designers, and other craftspeople who worked on it. In the end it seems Altman can't make a movie that isn't designed to make him as the writer and director an intrusive presence in every scene. 5 stars should go to the many talented people who tried to make this a good film but were ultimately defeated by the screenplay and direction. I hope they were all very well paid for the time they lost on this project.
Rating:
Summary: So Much Fun!
Review: Gosford Park is pure fun. This is the best written movie that I have seen in a long time. One, you have to watch it twice to get it completely. Two, the second viewing is even better than the first because of all the fine details. Three, the commentary by writer Julian Fellows is outstanding and make the film (even) better. I've read that some people think that this film is boring. Who can possibly be bored with lines like, "you always complain that people look down on you, but you insist on acting like a peasant"? Wonderful dialog. Or, the outstanding acting, 'the last scene between Ms. Wilson and Ms. Croft'. One cannot have a short attention span for a film like this because it is literally a fine wine that must be savored, not once, but three viewings. A good dvd transfer and a must disc for your collection.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: I have to admit I had a bit of difficulty getting used to the quick-talking British actors, and for the first part of the film, I also did not know who was who because there were so many characters. However, this movie was brilliant, if you give it a chance. It accurately reflects how a strong class sytem and its inherent hypocrisies permeated British society in the post-war era. The plot comes together perfectly at the end. Take the time to view this film -- pay attention and enjoy. It's worth the watch!
| 
