Review of Gosford Park (2001) by Connor _ — 20 Jan 2011
A party in the country of two-faced rich snobs and the unnoticed vallets, butlers, maids, and cooks, and the host is murdered mysteriously. It's the British 'Clue'. Although it's not nearly as funny as 'Clue', it's even better.
It's got better acting and writing for one thing. The main focus of the film is Kelly Macdonald, a young, sweet, innocent Scottish maid to the old, conceited, ingrateful Maggie Smith. Macdonald's is an amazing performance, seconded in this year only by Denzel Washington in 'Training Day'.
She outshines the rest of the posh cast and convinces us, with the help of a terrific character-driven screenplay, to not just feel for her, but feel passionately for her every step of the way. The quiet, mysterious, and interesting Clive Owen, another vallet, takes a liking to the adorable Macdonald and you find yourself urging them closer and closer together the whole film.
Helen Mirren gives a notable performance as the iron-fisted queen of the basement in the midst of a turf war with the weary Eileen Atkins. Richard E. Grant provides some humor as the tall, dark, suspicious vallet.
The mystery of the murder, let alone the performances, keeps your attention until the very end. A-.
This review of Gosford Park (2001) was written by Connor _ on 20 Jan 2011.
Gosford Park has generally received very positive reviews.
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