Wonderful British whodunit has some sex, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
some
Smoking in many, many scenes in this 1932-set movie -- cigarettes and pipes. A drunken servant is carried to bed, and there's plenty of drinking of wine and whiskey at the dinner parties.
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Language is infrequent but includes "f--king." Also: "s--t," "piss," "hell," "damn," "bloody," and "bugger all." (Note that cigarettes in Britain are called "fags.")
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Three affairs between servants and those they serve. Two scenes show a kitchen maid in the dark with some thrusting in the shadows barely visible. Some bawdy talk and sexual references, including mentions of illegitimate children and hints of a homosexual relationship.
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A murder by poisoning and then the corpse is stabbed. You see the corpse fall over with a knife and no blood. A bullet grazes an ear in a hunting scene. One servant sexually assaults another, but is caught before it goes beyond rough kissing and groping.
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The intelligent script reveals just how intertwined the lives of the different classes really are, despite outward appearances. The movie also explores what lengths people will go to in order to protect the ones they love.
Positive Role Models
very little
No one is terribly upset when Sir William is murdered and it becomes clear why: He used his power and class to hurt many. Before he dies, visitors still suck up to him for money. Head housekeeper Mrs. Wilson tries hard to protect the ones she cares about.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Gosford Park has sexual references and situations (briefly graphic), including adultery, a hint of a homosexual relationship, and an attempted molestation. There is some strong language, including "f--king," and a character is murdered by poisoning and stabbed afterward. Accurate to the period, characters smoke and drink heavily. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
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).
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.
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.
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?
MPAA explanation:
sexual situations, language, brief violence
Last updated:
March 30, 2022
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