Gosford Park directed by Robert Altman

I was excited to see Robert Altman’s take on the 1930’s-era country house murder mystery in the theatre, but when it was over, my reaction was “Wait, who did it?” Then I watched it again on DVD and was intrigued by the witty dialogue, finely nuanced performances and carefully re-created period settings. By the time I watched the extras on the DVD, with a running commentary by screenplay writer Julian Fellowes, I was hooked. The key to appreciating this film is to realize that the mystery itself is not the biggest draw. The cast is wonderful. Maggie Smith, as the Countess of Trentham, steals every scene in which she appears, but everyone is good without exception. Gosford Park is part mystery, part satire, part serious drama, wrapped up in an English country house package that is impossible to resist. I’ve watched it many times.