Nominated in: 2002
Did it win? No, the Oscar went to A Beautiful Mind
Worth watching? Not really
Standout performance: Emily Watson as Elsie the maid
Watchfl’s favorite quote: “Nobody can stab a corpse and not know it” – Kelly MacDonald
The most interesting part of Gosford Park is trying to figure out where I’ve seen all the actors before. The ensemble cast is a who’s who of British and American performers, many of whom have gained notoriety since the 2002 film. It includes Helen Mirren (The Queen), Kelly MacDonald (No Country for Old Men), Clive Owen (Closer) and Ryan Phillippe (Crash), to name only a few.
The second most interesting part (probably supposed to be the first) is the depiction of class divisions in 1930s England. Gosford Park provides a rare look at the realities of both wealth and servitude: kitchen gossip, the exhaustive preparation a formal dinner requires and the surprising things people do in front of the socially invisible.
Although the plot is an intricate murder mystery, the real story revolves around the lives of its many characters. Sir William McCordle is stabbed (and poisoned!) during his hunting party’s weekend in the country. His guests are family and friends. And, of course, their entourages of servants, who learn through their daily routines that nearly every member of the party has a motive for the murder.
As separate as the bedrooms are from the servant quarters, I was surprised and intrigued by how frequently the two classes were having affairs with each other. I thought that would be unheard of, but apparently I am naive.
My only issue with Gosford Park is that we only know as much as the characters. That can be okay, especially with a film as well-constructed as this one. But mysteries usually keep my attention better when there is an opportunity to solve them before the characters do. This one felt laborious at times. Is a plot twist really a twist if you had no expectations about what would happen next?
