Gosford Park

Genre: social drama
Director: Robert Altman
Release: 2001
Studio: U.K. Film Council, USA Films et al.
Rating: R
MBiS score: 8.2/10


For Servants As Well As Bakers, The Upper Crust Can Be A Problem


GOSFORD PARK takes place in 1932, somewhere in the English countryside. The McCordles, Sir William (Michael Gambon), wife Sylvia (Kristin Scott Thomas) and daughter Isobel (Camilla Rutherford), have invited friends over to their estate for a hunting party. Among their honoured guests are the following:

- Countess Constance Trentham (Maggie Smith) and her maid Mary Maceachran (Kelly Macdonald);
- Sir Raymond Stockbridge (Charles Dance), wife Louisa (Geraldine Somerville) and servant Robert Parks (Clive Owen);
- a cousin, actor Ivor Novello (Jeremy Northam), accompanied by American producer Morris Weissman (Bob Balaban) and servant Henry Denton (Ryan Phillippe);
- the Honourable Freddie Nesbitt (James Wilby) and Mabel (Claudie Blakley);
- Commander Anthony Meredith (Tom Hollander) and Lavinia (Natasha Wightman).

Creature comforts for Sir William’s invitees will be provided by the McCordle staff which includes, in order of rank:

- Mrs. Wilson (Helen Mirren);
- Jennings (Alan Bates);
- Mrs. Croft (Eileen Atkins);
- maid Elsie (Emily Watson);
- servants George (Richard E. Grant) and Probert (Derek Jacobi).

This splendid gathering promises gastronomic delights, delicate entertainment and elegant sniping… unless tempers heat up. Also with Stephen Fry (Thompson).

---

Whew! Watching GOSFORD PARK can be perplexing at first because of its large cast and slow-burning narrative but, if you remember the groupings above and show a little patience, you will have no trouble finding its rhythm and enjoying it to the full. A motion picture with so many moving parts naturally needs a bit of time to set up and pick up steam. Just wait for that crucial twist (you’ll know when you get there) and you won’t be able to turn away after that.

Conceptually, GOSFORD PARK may recall the old UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS television series in its depiction of two worlds separated by class and social conventions. Credit must be given to Julian Fellowes for his screenplay that develops its characters intelligently and affords them some interesting dialogues to work with; for the sake of honesty and as a matter of personal taste, I will add that one character annoyed me somewhat because his humour clashes with the film’s overall mood but, in truth, he does provide a counterpoint and his interventions have little bearing on the plot. Directorial duties are handled with flair and a steady hand by the great Robert Altman (1925-2006) for whom ensemble films have been a career specialty (like his classic NASHVILLE and the very strong SHORT CUTS). Did I comment on the acting? Well, well… it’s hunky-dory!

Is this enough to convince you? I do hope so but, if you’re still on the fence, here’s my last and best argument: far from leaving you empty-handed, Altman’s film closes with an astonishing climax. If only for that feeling you’ll get when the mystery is resolved, you’ll never forget GOSFORD PARK. As one of the servants would say, ‘Don’t you like surprises?’


MBiS

© 2011 – All rights reserved