A period drama hailed as a ‘masterclass’ and conceived by the genius behind Downton Abbey is now available for free on BBC iPlayer.
The 2001 darkly comedic satire Gosford Park, directed by Robert Altman and written by Julian Fellowes, is a murder mystery inspired by Jean Renoir’s French classic The Rules of the Game.
Made on a budget of less than $20million, the film was a global box office sensation, raking in over $87million. It also earned seven Academy Award nominations, including best picture and best director, with Fellowes securing the Oscar for best original screenplay.
The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast filled with acting heavyweights such as Helen Mirren, Stephen Fry, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Alan Bates, Richard E Grant, and Clive Owen. They are joined by Kelly Macdonald, Kristin Scott Thomas and Emily Watson, among others.
Set in the 1930s, the film gathers a group of affluent, famous and pretentious individuals and their servants under one roof for a lively weekend at an English country house and hunting resort – Gosford Park. When a murder takes place after a dinner party, the film explores the complex web of characters and their varied viewpoints as each becomes a suspect, reports the Mirror.
Fellowes’s hugely successful TV series Downton Abbey was initially planned to be a spin-off of Gosford Park, but it was later developed as a standalone property, still heavily influenced by Altman’s film.
With a remarkable 87 per cent approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, the BAFTA-winning film has received universal praise. One reviewer hailed it as: “A beautifully acted, intricately made, and delightfully critical picture that nonetheless locates moments of humanity in a debased class system.”
Another critic said: “The beauty of Robert Altman’s Gosford Park is how it delicately balances the numerous storylines to create a wonderful mosaic of characters.”
A third lauded it as “a masterclass in narrative plate-spinning from Robert Altman and his feast of a cast.”
Yet another glowing review said: “Taking advantage of a splendid cast, a sharply focused script and the fresh English setting, “Gosford Park” emerges as one of the most satisfying of Robert Altman’s numerous ensemble pictures.”
Audiences were similarly enthralled, with one devotee saying: “Just excellent, very funny, excellent actors, brilliant writing and of course one of the best directors ever. Just maybe the best ever… and can be re-watched numerous times just for pure pleasure.”
Another viewer added: “What makes this movie work so well for me is how the characters have their own personality. Their actions ring true to their motives and the drama is entirely human even with the various contrivances. The actions felt appropriate for the period and I believed this to be a story that could actually have happened. It is sincere and bittersweet.”
Gosford Park can be streamed for free on BBC iPlayer.
