Gosford Park takes place in 1932 during a shooting party at a rural estate, the home of Sir William and Lady Slyvia McCordle (Michael Gambon and Kristim Scott-Thomas). Their guests are comprised of other members of 'society' and some members of the movie making industry. As the story progresses, we become privy to the friction generated by old romances and new rivalries. Even more is going on below the stairs, where the servants live and work. The head of the household, Mrs. Wilson (Helen Mirren) is harboring a long-buried secret that is clawing its way from the grave. Things are proceding right along until the unthinkable occurs - a murder. And, with no shortage of suspects, a top-notch detective is needed. Unfortunately for the residents, guests and servants of Gosford Park, Inspector Thompson (Stephen Fry) is assigned to the case. With this calibur of cast two things are never in doubt: the film features some of the best acting in any 2001 feature, and nearly everyone is underused.
Gosford Park is a jigsaw puzzle where every piece is a tiny work of art, but, when everything is assembled into a whole, it doesn't live up to the promise of its individual components. The less one observes the film's overall storyline and concentrates on the "little" things, the more satisfying the movie experience. Gosford Parks differs from a TV series like "Upstairs, Downstairs" because it just doesn't have the time to complete fill in all the snipets. This isn't Academy material, but it's good enough to provide an enjoyable afternoon or evening, especially for htose who love 1930s-era British period pieces.