Review of Gosford Park (2001) by Ryan V — 15 Oct 2012

Actually you can't do much wrong with such a cast. They aquired literally all British actors that look like real aristocracy or servants, put them in terrific 30s costumes and let them do their magic in an old English country manor.

Without much knowledge of Agatha Christie's books and the films adaptations I'd guess that's how it looked back in the days. Sometimes when a genre is saturated they wait some fifty years and put out a flick that reminds the older ones of good old times and makes the younger ones think they know them as well.

It's also a nice insight in how the typically reserved British high society worked in the 1930s (one of my favourite periods when it comes to studies of the upper classes) and how they interacted with their servants.

After all, it's certainly an interesting period study with great acting. I especially want to point out Alan Bates as the butler Jennings, Maggie Smith as Countess of Trentham, Eileen Atkins as the cook Mrs Croft and Ryan Philippe as Harry Denton.

A well-crafted whodunit with wonderful 30s look anchored by sublime performances of its cast.