User Reviews

Inspired by his own idea, Robert Altman writes a love letter to Luis Buñuel in which he dissects with sardonic humor the British aristocracy of the first half of the 20th century, with a collection of dysfunctional characters played by a not inconsiderable cast. And who would say that the screenwriter Julian Fellowes is the same one who years later would create Downton Abbey?!

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

This movie is one of my all-time faves. Not for casual viewing, but benefits from close attention so as to soak up every last detail, throw-away comment, subtle dig, and tangential relationship each character has to all the others. Requires close attention but you will be rewarded. Maggie Smith at her prime.

The film ambles around for an hour and a quarter before we are presented with a murder, or anything remotely resembling a murder, or any hope of a murder, and that's about all the time I can spare even for a Robert Altman to do something that I find entertaining. It's fast cuts right from the beginning and a cast of thousands. Many of the cuts are mere seconds long and even with the subtitles turned on it can be difficult to separate from the crowds exactly who is doing the talking. This is compounded by the fact that the vast majority of the characters speak with the same voice, vicious and cruel and forever sniping at other people. The lighting is so subdued in some scenes that I did not immediately recognize Helen Mirren or Derek Jacobi. For most of the first hour I had no idea what was going on, or what was supposed to be going on, because it really did not appear that anything was going on. Satire it may be but entertaining it is not. I eschewed the second hour. I suggest you avoid the whole thing.

A happy-go-lucky holiday is ruined by a loud bang, is the concept, and so does how the film come off. Gosford Park Altman would make a great crossword puzzle creator in one of the newspaper publishing team. So what if the themes are iterated. That is where, the director, Robert Altman's skills come in use, with a stable juggling act, the objects keeps increasing and the tension, surprisingly, released. Also, What is it with these mysteries confined within a boundary? Is it because it challenges us offensively and subjugates us to be the Stephen Fry of this tale? Who knows? All I know is that I was enjoying the social rigmarole of dominating each other with one note of superiority or in some cases none. Couldn't we just have enjoyed watching these highly poised and self-acclaimed important people fumble knowingly and hide their secret amateurishly. But no, the party had to be ruined. I was drunk on how quickly their loyalty and friendship changes, so stupid it seems and yet familiar it sounds. The compactness of the house filtered equally among these characters is the best puzzle spread across this long dinner table. And, of course, along with it, the traveling route of the gossip that is smooth and clean as those suits these pretentious gentlemen are wearing in this mansion. The casting is a bit **** away, next time, if you don't want your audience to know the final act, cast B listed celebrities. As far as humor is concerned, Stephen Fry obviously, comes with a banner to take things lightly for apparently, it is a policy among the smartest detective, that is, they have to come with a sarcastic lexicon. Personally, I found Maggie Smith to be the real clown of this circus; who'd have thought of that. Gosford Park is exactly like some park, each character is set in its corner sulking and no one, mind you, no one is there for the fresh air.

There are films that just aren't for you (me). This is one of them. I don't care much about Gossip of real people, let alone about fake people of 100 years ago. The twist is clever, sure, but that was about it. Still, probably is more that I just wasn't a target for this kind of film

Je ne sais pas comment fait le gars Altman mais il a le chic pour rassembler une pléiade de stars. Malheureusement, il a aussi une capacité -dont on ne l'aurait pas cru capable mais qu'il a exploitée à fond- pour délivrer en même temps le film le plus emmerdant de tous les temps. On a donc nos stars très endimanchées dans cette époque coincée des années 30 qui se retrouvent au manoir pour blablater de la merde pendant des heures (en temps subjectif), le film passant des peigne-culs au petit doigt levé -ainsi que leurs radasses en strass- aux crevards de larbins et réciproquement. Puis, éventuellement, un meurtre est commis... mais tout ce petit monde continue de jacter pendant encore des heures (ou des semaines) et... de toute manière, j'ai arrêté là avant de tomber dans le coma.

The fine movie about quiet English life between world wars. The movie detective story in which murder and investigation in general is a background and the main emphasis is placed on relationship of the nobility and their servants. Abbey Daunton left 9 years later) the Culmination and an outcome are fine, and here the tie very slow and stretched, isn't present an intrigue too, closer to the end it becomes clear who potential murderers and their motives. Well and in general in the movie almost all "cream" of the English cinema has gathered.

I liked "Gosford Park". Watching it was like reading a novel - the film's structure and atmosphere are really astonishing. I recommend watching it if you like costume dramas like "Downton Abbey".

This pseudo-precursor to "Downton Abbey" acts as one of the many testaments to director Robert Altman's keen ability to juggle several characters' story lines throughout the course of one single film. What separates "Gosford Park" from films like "Nashville" and "Short Cuts," however, is the lush set direction and costume design, which helps build the completely immersive period setting for the audience to get to know the characters in. The strong performances also help sharpen this carefully paced study of class, infidelity , and relationships within society's upper crust.

Once again, another movie that users can't get it right. Instead of enjoying a wonderful movie, they take the blame to insult on this movie. Pitiful because I actually enjoyed Gosford Park just as critics enjoyed it.

Overall, Gosford Park is an alright film. The technical aspects are all a success, such as the cinematography and costume design. Both are beautiful and perfect for a period drama of this kind. In addition, the acting is pitch perfect and it is always a great thing to see such a large cast and have everyone do so well in their individual roles. The second half is also brilliant. The societal inequity theme is in full view here and really bolsters the murder mystery element of the film. It is also very nice to see all of the details from the first half of the film come into play and then be put into action. As everything starts to come together, this one reaches the heights I hoped it would. However, where this one falters is in the first half, which is exceedingly boring. Necessary, possibly, but entirely dull and dry. It fails to command your attention, even though you need to pay attention, which is always a tricky thing as a viewer. I am glad I stuck with it (not that there was much debate about giving up), but that first half really does a number on you at times. If the first half was either shorter or filled with something not dull as hell, this one would be rated higher by me. As it stands, this one is a brilliantly made film that could stand to be shorter.

Lifeless mess of a comedy which totally screws up a murder mystery. And absolutely no sense of comic timing anywhere. I hated this the more I watched it.

Robert Altman and Julian Fellowes together create cinematic bliss with Gosford Park. The precursor to Downton Abbey, this film beautifully explores high-class England during the 1930s. Maggie Smith, Clive Owen and their cast mates make for engrossing entertainment.

One of the smartest films I have seen in a while. I found myself captivated by the drama surrounding these characters and by the numerous plot twists. The brilliant cast also contributes to making this the excellent film that it is.

No doubt GOSFORD PARK is Robert Altmanâ

I won't blame you for turning this movie off after the first hour. It has the LONGEST set up I have ever seen in a movie. Once the murder FINALLY happens is it all worth it? absolutely. It's intelligent and very well acted, with awesome twists and turns. The setting is also perfectly executed with scenery and costumes that are flawless. But the fact that I was, well, completely bored for the first portion of the movie means I simply cannot give this higher than an 8/10. See it and judge for yourself. Tedious start and a truly mesmerizing second half

Billed as an elaborate murder-mystery, Gosford Park is not so much that (the murder doesn't occur until well over halfway through the film) but rather a dense societal study, as would be expected of Altman. In this endeavor he succeeds, creating a web of characters in which every passing interaction solidifies the whole ensemble. However, it fails to strike any dramatical nerve, and the unveiling of the mystery is delivered as more of a necessary exposition rather than a turning point.