Parents' Guide to

Gosford Park

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Wonderful British whodunit has some sex, language.

Movie R 2001 137 minutes
Gosford Park Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 14+

Based on 2 parent reviews

doctora
doctora Parent of 6-year-old
September 7, 2022
age 15+

Fantastic cast and great narrative!

Excellent film. From beginning to end. It is chock full of excellent performances and sharp banter. The film's main character is class hierarchy, upstairs and downstairs that Fellowes depicts so well. Altman does an excellent job of tying it all together. Owen stands out and reminds us why he was in such demand as the hero in the 90s and 00s. Smith and Mirren remind us why they are such class act in high demand actresses...they stand out! Although no one in this film is a slouch...even Phillippe who I tend to not care for. In this case he was well cast as the obnoxious cad with no class...well done. A wonderful homage to Rules of the Game (1939).
FosterFan
FosterFan Parent of 0-year-old
September 9, 2011
age 13+

Robert Altman's amazing comeback...

Gosford Park is a wonderful, smart and terrifically entertaining film. Excellent performers join a very good script to create a complex portrait of flawed beings, all looking out for themselves, one way or another. If your kid likes games like Clue, and is patient enough, you should really consider allowing him to watch this film. Maggie Smith and Helen MIrren are the standouts in a star-filled cast.

This title has:

Great role models
Too much violence
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Set in the 1930s, GOSFORD PARK takes place at the home of Sir William (Michael Gambon) and his wife (Kristin Scott Thomas), who invite an array of guests for a weekend at their lavish country estate. Among the guests are "old money" Lady Constance (Maggie Smith), early screen idol Ivor Novello (Jeremy Northam), and Hollywood film producer Morris Weisman (Bob Balaban), who tags along to take notes on the place for a Charlie Chan movie. Secrets abound amongst the upper crust, while gossip swirls in the quarters of the regimented servants (Derek Jacobi, Helen Mirren, Ryan Phillippe, Emily Watson, and Clive Owen, among others). When Sir William is murdered, what ensues is a cross between Upstairs Downstairs, an Agatha Christie murder mystery, and a game of Clue. The estate becomes the setting for intrigue, romance, ambition, betrayal, and revenge, with the many overlapping and intersecting storylines revealing a cautionary tale about class, secrets, money, sex, and love.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (2):

As in his best movies, director Robert Altman masterfully handles a dozen overlapping and intersecting storylines. Somewhere in the midst, there is a murder, but its resolution is incidental to the many other revelations and confrontations.

The Oscar-winning script is superb, but the movie is mostly a banquet of magnificent performances by most of England's finest performers. The Collector's Edition DVD has outstanding extras, including commentary by the director, production designer, producer, and screenwriter, deleted scenes, and a Q&A session with the filmmakers. Strongly recommended for older teens and adults.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how each of the different characters fits into the overall story. Which characters do you sympathize with the most? Which do you dislike the most?

  • Who in the film actually cares about Sir William? Why?

  • Why was it so important to be the "perfect servant"? What will happen to each of the characters in 10 years?

Movie Details

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