Stars: Michael Gambon, Kristin Scott-Thomas, Camilla Rutherford, Maggie Smith, Charles Dance, Geraldine Somerville

Director: Robert Altman

Summary: The action takes place in an old country house in England in the 1930s where friends have been invited for a shooting weekend by the man of the house - William McCordle. He is benefactor to many of his friends and relatives but it seems now that everyone wants a piece of William and his money...

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Gosford Parkfinds director Robert Altman in sumptuously fine form. From the opening shots, as the camera peers through the trees at an opulent English country estate, Altman exploits the 1930s period setting and whodunit formula of the film expertly. Aristocrats gather together for a weekend shooting party with their dutiful servants in tow, and the upstairs/downstairs division of the classes is perfectly tailored to Altman's method (Nashville, Short Cuts) of overlapping bits of dialogue and numerous subplots in order to betray underlying motives and the sins that propel them. Greed, vengeance, snobbery and lust stir comic unrest as the near dizzying effects of the plot twists are allayed by perhaps Altman's strongest ensemble to date.

Maggie Smith is marvellous as Constance, a dependent Countess with a quip for every occasion; Michael Gambon, as the ill-fated host, Sir William McCordle, is one of the most palpably salacious characters ever on screen; Kristin Scott Thomas is perfectly cold, yet sexy, as Lady Sylvia, Sir William's wife; and Helen Mirren, Emily Watson and Clive Owen are equally memorable as key characters from the bustling servants' quarters below. Gosford Parkmanages to be fabulously entertaining while exposing human shortcomings, compromises and endless need for confession. --Fionn Meade

On the DVD:Gosford Park, presented 2.35:1--Anamorphic Widescreen transfer, is awash with the muted colours and sepia tones which permeate the film, the sound is excellent as the actors were individually miked, so you don't loose any of the dialogue giving away subtle plot developments. Extras are chunky, with deleted scenes, trailers a couple of documentaries. Most notable are the two commentaries which go a long way to unravelling some of the twistier plot devices and a Q&A session with the Altman and his crew filmed in New York. --Kristen Bowditch

Aspect Ratio:	1.78 Wide Screen, 16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Year:	2001
Release Date:	July 15, 2002
Runtime:	137 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	E D R 4001
Keywords:	Park, General, Drama, Gosford
Genre:	Drama