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Gosford Park [Region 2] | ![Gosford Park [Region 2]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/515TFQPJ21L._SL500_.jpg)
| Director: Robert Altman
Actors: Maggie Smith, Ryan Phillippe, Michael Gambon, Kristin Scott Thomas, Camilla Rutherford
Category: DVD
Buy New: $9.99
Rating:  411 reviews
Sales Rank: 37493
Format: Anamorphic, Full Screen, Ntsc
Languages: French (Subtitled), French (Original Language), English (Original Language)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 2
Running Time: 137 Minutes
EAN: 3259119679523
ASIN: B000066C4V
Theatrical Release Date: January 4, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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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: Read 406 more reviews...
 probably would have worked better as a book June 13, 2009
Caraculiambro (La Mancha)
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 wanna watch it. You gotta sit down, pay strict attention, and give it a chance.
The problem is that I have ADD, so I was bored out of my skull by this film. If I wanted a script about class relations that convoluted, I would read Waugh or James. I wouldn't be watching a movie.
The film is highly derivative, owing much to Rules of the Game -- and numerous others. And the film is repeatedly self-referent in playful way.
Unfortunately, I don't see what it sums to. A few hours after finishing it, you'll have forgotten all about it.
 excellent film February 27, 2009
L. Taylor
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.
Classic Mystery February 22, 2009
David G. Kennedy (Orange, California)
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. Every character is an interesting person so the combination of their actions makes for a fascinating story and a gimpse into a socological cross section.
Plan on seeing it at least twice because the ending is abrupt and has the viewer wondering what clues he overlooked along the way. It's slow paced but very cleverly done. Excellent acting and very realistic costumes and sets. Good entertainment. It grows on you.
 Post great war Britian and the Hollywood invasion December 24, 2008
R. Bagula (Lakeside, Ca United States)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This mystery is sort of an upstairs ( ladies and gentlemen)
and downstairs ( maids, valets, cooks and 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 1800's of manners and styles is about to change and we are given a window on why.
Costume Drama November 15, 2008
Amaranth (Northern California)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
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 Gambon and Kristin Scott Thomas. Jeremy Northam and Maggie Smith are part of the upper crust. Numbered among the servants and valets are the late Alan Bates, Clive Owen, Derek Jacobi, and Ryan Philippe. Helen Mirren herself is in charge of the servants. Talented actors, beautiful production design, elegant costumes, period music-- and yet it falls flat.
Needless to say,all there is to this costume drama are the costumes,even with the great Stephen Fry as the detective. Much of the movie is confused and consists of people muttering to each other. It's nearly unintelligible (maybe it needed subtitles-it was Altman's foreign film)
"Gosford Park" ends up being an overrated,gussied up spectacle. It's all dressed up... with no place to go.
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