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**1/2 of ****
Rated: R
Length: 137 minutes
Writer: Julian Fellowes
Director: Robert Altman
Cast:
Michael Gambon: Sir William McCordle
Kristin Scott Thomas: Lady Sylvia McCordle
Camilla Rutherford: Isobel McCordle
Maggie Smith: Constance, Countess of Trentham
Charles Dance: Raymond, Lord Stockbridge
Geraldine Somerville: Louisa, Lady Stockbridge
Tom Hollander: Lieutenant Commander Anthony Meredith
Natasha Wightman: Lady Lavinia Meredith
James Wilby: The Hon. Freddie Nesbitt
Claudie Blakley: Mabel Nesbitt
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In 1932, some related English nobles and guests gather for a shooting party and dinner at the patriarch's large mansion in the country. Characters and conflicts are developed as the gap between the aristocracy and the servants is clearly defined. A murder occurs later and foreshadowed events transpire. Some conflicts are further explored or resolved as guests and their servants depart the estate.
Review:
Well, it was a nice try. I can't recommend this unless you really want to see this kind of a movie. The character study of nobles and servants in 1932 England is done in good detail, but is cinematically boring. The style of filming through the mansion for the scenes is good and brings the audience into the location. The concerns of the era are highlighted well as part of the motivation for the murder mystery, but the death is really a minor event. The flat reactions to the murder echo the emptiness of the people in this stoic life. The nature of life in that situation was well developed.
It is well acted, located and directed, but the basic story is a little weak. The large ensemble cast has some big name actors which will help the box office, but in general most of the players do become their characters.
The film quality was both dark and grainy. This did help to set the period of the story, but it made it hard to see the unique location. The sound quality was supposed to be a bit muffled, but it wasn't too bad except that with the various UK accents, it was hard to really understand everything the characters were saying.