Seven-time Oscar-nominated Gosford Park, directed by Robert Altman and starring a predominantly British cast, opens with elegant, melodious strains of music (composed by Patrick Doyle) that seems perfectly fitting for this film set in an English countryside in 1932. Snooty old "Aunt Constance" (Maggie Smith), along with her Scottish handmaid, Mary Macaechran (Kelly Macdonald), whose accent fluctuates by the way, is traveling to Gosford Park simultaneously with numerous other privileged guests. The guests arrive at the home of the wealthy Sir William (Michael Gambon) and the elegant Lady Sylvia McCorcle (Kristin Scott Thomas) for a shooting party. 

In the opening scenes in the home of Sir William and Lady Sylvia, the characters all speak in such hushed tones that one must listen very closely to understand what's being said. This clues us in to the many secrets that lie hidden in the lives of the people gathered in this manor. For example, one immediately catches a glimpse of a supposed secret rendezvous between Isobel (Camilla Rutherford), daughter of Sir William, and the married social climber Freddie Nesbitt (James Wilby). When one of the servants sees them together and overhears their conversation, Isobel worries, until Freddie flippantly tells her, "It's nobody." Meanwhile, Isobel's father Sir William is involved with Elsie (Emily Watson), the self-assured servant who is one of the most interesting characters in the film. 

Throughout, one feels the distinctly different worlds of the servant and the affluent. Servants acquire their identity through their masters--even being called by their masters' names instead of their own. As Elsie complains after gossiping to Mary, with whom she becomes friends, "Why do we live our lives through them?" The only middle class characters are two men from America--Morris Weissman (Bob Balaban), a filmmaker who's working on a murder mystery which takes place in London, and his actor friend who at first pretends to be a servant, then is shunned by both classes after the truth of his identity is revealed. 

The real story begins to unravel when head servant Mrs. Wilson (Helen Mirren) has a flash of recognition upon seeing a photograph of the mother of Robert Parks (Clive Owens). The plot thickens when the kitchen staff notices a missing knife, and thickens even more when one of the main characters is murdered . . .Of course the blundering, arrogant Inspector Thompson (Stephen Fry) arrives on the scene, theorizing, of course, that "Maybe the butler did it," but finally Mary, and Mary alone, understands the truth in its entirety. 

This Agatha Christie-type murder mystery is intriguing and entertaining, but since there is such a large cast, keeping track of the characters can seem overwhelming. Because of the numerous cast members, there isn't as much character development as one would like. Word of advice: if you are planning on seeing this film, it might be a good idea to study up on the film, its subplots, and its characters beforehand.