I am a huge fan of this movie, I've seen it many times, and now thanks to the popularity of Downton Abbey in my household, I have been afforded the opportuntity to watch this masterpiece again - it is after all, a product of the same mind, that of Julian Fellowes, the creator of said series. I would go so far as to say there would be no Downton Abbey had there been no Gosford Park (in the same way I am adamant that there would have been no Prison Break had there been no Shawshank Redemption).
It's a hunting party weekend at Gosford Park, the family are gathering for a weekend of aristocratic frivolity, pomp and ceremony, the kind that only the snob-nosed british uppercrust of yesteryear could possibly understand. Well that's not entirely true, for behind all the staging and production that went behind pulling off these affairs were the maids, butlers, footmen and cooks in whose hands the success of the affair were entrusted, those that resided at Gosford Park, and the wave of those arriving with their employ. But there is a new age hitting England, the 1st World War has come and gone and a modern age is dawning, the weekend is not exempt because the movies are coming to Downtown as a member of the family is a popular actor and is bringing a Hollywood Producer friend along for the festivities.
Not exciting enough? How about a dose of Agatha Christie-esque Mystery & Murder... Dum, Dum, Dum!!!
The sheer genius of this movie rests in the now-proven-thanks-to-the-later-success-of-Downton-Abbey's-popularity examination of the class system which existed in the era. As the various personal drama's of the wide array of characters, both upstairs and downstairs (and between floors), are played out in a contrasting setting of two worlds under one roof, everyone is subject to speculation and suspicion, which keeps the audience guessing right to the last frame.
I haven't mentioned a single cast member in this post yet, because that in and of itself is a daunting task, and requires some preamble. This movie is a Robert Altman masterpiece. Do you know Robery Altman? If not, shame on you! Another daunting task, but I won't list them, go ahead do some research. What I will say is that I am a huge fan, there are certain trademarks which make Robert Altman one of my personal favourites. The first is character pieces, with many characters and plots and sub-plots, all being told in tandem, sometimes integral to a central plot, sometimes seemingly superfluous but stories within the main frame which require telling because of their contribution to a general tone and feel of the piece, all choreographed to ambitious staging, story telling and camera work, products of the craft of movie making. Personal Altman favourites include Pret-a-Porter, The Player and Short Cuts, my favourite without a doubt is Gosford Park. One of the great tragedies of our Movie History is that Altman would never win a Best Director Award for the movies he was nominated - MASH, Nashville, Short Cuts, The Player and Gosford Park - istead being given an honourary Oscar in his later years.
This movie cast a spell on me, the telling never tiring, and the plot breathtakingly powerful. But one of the greatest achievements of the piece, is the assemblage of the best of British acting, in a single piece (with Hollywood fluff thrown in, so without further ado, a must mentioned cast which includes (but is not limited to): Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Kristin Scott Thomas, Camilla Rutherford, Charles Dance, Geraldine Somerville, Tom Hollander, Natasha Wightman, Jeremy Northam, Bob Balaban, James Wilby, Claudie Blakley, Laurence Fox, Trent Ford, Ryan Phillippe, Stephen Fry, Ron Webster, Kelly Macdonald, Clive Owen, Helen Mirren, Eileen Atkins, Emily Watson, Alan Bates, Derek Jacobi, Richard E. Grant, and the list goes on.
You see, I can't single out anyone in particular (except the Oscar Nominees, which I'll get to shortly), because this is a Supporting cast unlike any other and all are worthy of mention, including Knights and Dames, the ultimate focus being on the fact that apart from a few stand out moments within the piece, there doesn't feel to be anyone who would be deserving of a Best Actor or Actress nomination, because they are all Supporting Actors and Actresses in a piece unofficially dedicated to the power of an ensemble. This is a stark contrast to a previous post I wrote (Collateral), in which I mused on the validity of the titles awarded in terms of Main actors in a piece, the reverse applies here, because this team of players are here to elevate each other collectively, again, part of the genius of the movie, working together to recreate a reality and space in time on screen almost as if catering to voyeuristic characteristics.
But there are Oscar worthy performances aplenty in this genius piece (which would ultimately with the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, deservedly, as well as Best Director and Best Picture nominations), these honourables go to Dame Maggie Smith in a defining role as Lady Constance Trentham, a role so entertaining that it was almost recreated for her in the television series which is Downton, and Dame Helen Mirren, more Oscar royalty, in the role of the disciplined and stern Head Housekeeper Mrs. Wilson. Breathtaking achievements within a breathtaking piece.
I have to say that I know there is and always will be alot of division in terms of opinion about Gosford Park. Critically the movie is a masterpiece, but to a vast majority of audience the seemingly slow pace is tedious and exhaustingly lacking in action, all I can say is that this movie requires some investment and focus, and while I am oft in the opinion that movies shouldn't be hard work, investment in art will reap benefits, because this movie is a work of art, technically, artistically and worthy of the requirement of your attention for but a brilliant moment.
It's taken a number of moments from me, glad I get to appreciate it again and again...
And Gosford Park is Oscar Nominated (and winning) movie for this blog #71! This is also the first movie I watched from the 74th Academy Awards since Blog Commencement - a great year for movies, one of the greatest in my opinion...
nuff said...
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