Don't listen to the negative reviews

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

I don't understand why this film has such high ratings. It's ok but considering the ensemble cast it left a lot to be desired as far as the actual plot goes. I found it long winded and it had lots of unnecessary scenes and dialogue between characters that led to nothing and added nothing to the film plot. I was expecting a big reveal at the end but it was more a splutter. All in all if I had to describe this film in one word... disappointing!

*Upstairs* daughters of the Earl of Carton and their husbands: Sylvia & William McCordle Louisa & Raymond Stockbridge Lavinia & Anthony MeredithIsobel McCordle Mabel & Freddie NesbittIvor Novello (William McCordle's second cousin) Morris Weissman Henry Denton (disguised as Morris Weissman's valet)Constance TrenthamRupert Standish Jeremy Blond*Downstairs* Robert Parks (Raymond Stockbridge's valet, Ivor Novello's casual valet) Sarah (Lavinia Meredith's maid) Barnes (Anthony Meredith's valet) Mary Maceachran (Constance Trentham's maid)Jennings (butler) Probert (William McCordle's valet) George (first footman, Rupert Standish's casual valet) Arthur (footman, Jeremy Blond and Morris Weissman's casual valet) Strutt (keeper)Mrs. Wilson (housekeeper) Mrs. Croft (cook) Lewis (Sylvia McCordle's maid) Elsie (head housemaid, Mabel Nesbitt's casual maid) Dorothy (still room maid) Bertha (kitchen maid)

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

The 2000's was the worst decade of the cinema history. Of course, there were a few enjoyable films and even masterpieces, Altman's Gosford Park is stuck between the category of masterpiece and great work. This films is interesting from the very beginning till the end, while I was watching the film, I almost never cared for who was the murderer because it was so much fun watching the characters invented by Altman. If I was in a party, my guests would be the Gosford Park ones for sure, it even includes Ivor Novello, the star who's most famous role was in the silent Hitchcock masterpiece "The Lodger". This film received the Academy Award for best screenplay (in the same year as Mulholland Drive), the plot was classical, but it still held my attention and even made me laugh throughout the 2h11m. The dialogs and the characters (that I've already mentioned) were very good and the adaptations by the actors were great too, not to mention the photography that I enjoyed a lot. For anyone who has seen Luis Buñuel "Exterminating Angel" before, will find some similarities, they both showed a dark side of the high society, but Gosford Park a even more degrading one, yet, still humorous. It is a film easy for anyone to like and I liked it, I wouldn't call this a masterpiece, but it is close. A must see to anyone.