georgemiller-61377
A great film, one of the few which can be seen many times, in which an Agatha Christie-like thriller mixes with personal drama, both above and below stairs, in a well-observed and authentically reproduced period setting.The only false note -- but a jarring one -- is in the miscasting of Steven Fry, that bonne à tout faire (do accept this expression, it's French, but international, you see, and appropriate for other reasons) of the entertainment industry, as Inspector Thompson. Fry seems to think he's in a kind of music hall gag, where he plays a caricature of a bumbling police inspector, half Clouseau and half English class distinction (milk into teacup after, not before, tea), and keeps reminding everyone of his name, as a tired joke. Watching performers such as Maggie Smith, or the excellent Eileen Atkins, as well as many other distinguished members of the cast, is always rewarding, but Fry's appearances are best glossed over as quickly as possible, as they reduce the film's quality. How Altman could have made this mistake is hard to understand.
Myriam Nys
A sharp, almost merciless criticism of English aristocracy circa 1930 (give or take a year or so). This is an homage to the world of the Great Dame, although an homage with an unusually astute and satirical bite. The movie dissects the English upper class with all the methodical coldness of a vivisectionist, and the results aren't pretty : it becomes clear that concepts like "patriotism", "tradition" or "inheritance" are just convenient smokescreens behind which the powerful rich bamboozle and exploit the powerless poor.Still, I'd like to point out (and this might come as a bit of a surprise to the makers of the movie) that one doesn't have to be English, rich and/or aristocratic in order to be decadent. A few decades ago a friend of mine, who is a tax inspector of a specific kind, paid a routine visit to a citizen, in order to verify his activities and administration. Within the space of an hour, she discovered a) that the man ruled a live-in harem of women from Vietnam or Thailand ("my tiny ivory beauties") b) while carrying on with both male and female neighbors. The man also had a large number of relatives, step-relatives and in-laws, most of whom were involved in illicit relationships of stunning complexity. The said citizen tried to ply my friend with cognac, ecstasy and weed ; eventually he became so insistent that she had to flee through a kitchen door. We're not talking British barons here, we're talking small-town artisans in Belgium. But I digress. Judged as a mystery or detective movie, "Gosford Park" might have benefited from some additional twists or red herrings. The movie boasts a dream cast, but that doesn't mean that all performances are stellar : the quality is uneven, ranging from superb to "God, what am I doing here, I'll just try to wing it for a couple of days and then it's back to home sweet home in order to fire my agent". (Stephen Fry seems particularly lost.) On the other hand, the various locations, costumes and props are delightful and convincing. Trampling on the faces of the innocent has rarely looked so good.
Python Hyena
Gosford Park (2001): Dir: Robert Altman / Cast: Helen Mirren, Emily Watson, Kelly MacDonald, Maggie Smith, Stephen Fry: Gosford Park is seen as a playground for the rich. It is a murder mystery although the focus is on class. Plot centers upon a hunting party that arrives at the estate. They are observed through the eyes of their ever present servants. There is a murder and director Robert Altman makes everyone a suspect because everyone has a motive. This is remarkable craft by Altman who not only masters mystery elements but also an ensemble of characters that often appear together within the same frame. Altman's previous works include such classics as Nashville and M.A.S.H. Helen Mirren plays the strict head servant who keeps everything in order. Emily Watson is also a servant who gets caught up in an affair. Kelly MacDonald is the one servant who guides viewers through these events. She is portrayed as an innocent who tells of nothing outside of fact. Maggie Smith plays an elderly guest who belts out the funniest lines. Stephen Fry brings great comic relief as an inspector in that Sherlock Holmes tradition. Everyone delivers flawless performances as they interact within each scene and plotted social event. The story is set in 1932 and backed with exquisite art direction and a theme of wealth, class and placement render it one of Altman's greatest achievements. Score: 10 / 10
Chris Bodansky
A perfect "boutique" movie in every way- casting, acting, set, script,direction, everything. The music is the icing on the cake. And, like a cake, there are layers to it. Every time I watch it, I get something more from it. A brilliant idea executed brilliantly. All the actors "are" those characters to the tee. Dame Maggie, ever the quintessential snob; Dame Helen, "mysterious" to the end. Oh that there were more movies like this, that transport one so completely to another time and place. Watch it on in a rainy afternoon when you want nothing more than that. Julian Fellowes cut his script- writing teeth on this one, and it's clear to see why "Downtown" Abbey" was bound to be a success. ( only one detraction- the dialogue is a little too quick to catch at times on my VHS version)
AD
