Maggie Smith received her sixth Oscar nomination for her performance as Lady Constance Trentham in Gosford Park.
Gosford Park is an excellent film about a murder that takes place during a party at a country house in England in 1932, affecting the lives of both the guests and the servants. I already liked the movie when I saw it a few years ago, but it grew on me considerably after a rewatch. I believe this to be a masterpiece of screenwriting: in spite of the murder, it's not quite a plot-driven movie but rather a character-driven movie, and here almost every character gets just enough focus to be interesting and compelling in its own way; at the same time, though, the mystery is exceptionally conceived and the ending is brilliantly hinted at but never remotely obvious. The directing by Robert Altman is also pitch-perfect and he would easily be my pick for Best Director if it wasn't for David Lynch. The cast is very strong: even if I think that some of the characters are actually more memorable for the writing than for the acting, it's still a terrific ensemble with a few standouts.
Maggie Smith plays Constance Trentham, the snobbish aunt of Lady Silvia (Kristin Scott Thomas). The character of Constance is not a particularly challenging one and, actually, it's probably one of the most straightforward of the whole movie: she does not have much complexity and she serves mostly as a comic relief. It's the kind of character Maggie Smith has played very often on screen and this is not a particularly original variation of it: nonetheless, there is no denying that Smith can pull it off like no other and she is always a delightful presence on-screen.
Lady Trentham is one of the very first characters to appear on screen and Maggie Smith establishes her character's bitchy personality perfectly: she perfectly portrays her character's arrogance in a way that is not at all grating or annoying, in fact she manages to make her character's quite endearing despite being technically quite unlikeable. It's a role that relies heavily on facial reactions and line-deliveries and Smith is pretty much brilliant at both ("Could we possibly get on before I freeze to death?", "I haven't a snobbish bone in my body"). In the scenes at the house, Smith also does an excellent job at portraying Constance's demeanor with other people as she speaks with other people but does not exactly socialize - she exhibits a proper behavior yet still keeps herself at distance from others. All of this again works perfectly for her depiction of her character's superior attitude and those scenes nicely contrast to her scenes with Kristin Scott Thomas or Kelly McDonald (who plays her servant Mary): in those scenes Smith is very good as she still portrays her character as snobbish but also reveals a gossipy side of her in a very amusing fashion ("If there's one thing I don't look for in a maid, it's discretion. Except with my own secrets, of course"). Some of her best moments are the ones in which Constance not-so-subtly expresses her disdain for the American film producer Morris Weissman (Bob Balaban) and the actor Ivor Novello (Jeremy Northam): her reactionary shots are absolutely hilarious and she has some brilliantly funny lines ("Please don't encourage him", "Awfully long repertoire"). One of her best scenes is the one in which she calmly humiliates Novello by asking him about his last film which was a huge flop, The Lodger - she is maliciously funny in it. I also love the moment when Constance starts laughing after a butler "accidentally" spills coffee on Henry Denton's (Ryan Phillippe) trousers - it's a hilarious moment thanks to Smith who couldn't be any funnier.
The character of Lady Constance Trentham is, even name-wise, very similar to the character Smith plays in Downton Abbey, Lady Violet Grantham (Downton Abbey was actually supposed to be a spin-off of this movie). Those characters are almost the same on a superficial level - both are rich, sophisticated, scathing old ladies, yet Smith's performance in the miniseries is far superior. Why? Because throughout the seasons Smith had the time to convey a lot of depth in the character of Violet - she portrays a fierce loyalty towards her family and an unexpectedly kind-hearted nature behind her bitchy façade and ends up being the show's most powerful character (possibly after Lady Mary). Due to her limited screen-time and the ensemble nature of the movie itself, Maggie Smith can only do so much with what she has and unfortunately there really is not much substance to her performance in this. It is later on revealed in the movie that Lady Trentham is having some financial troubles and she is worried that Sir William (Michael Gambon) will stop paying for her allowance - Smith conveys this very well as there are certain moments in the movie in which she shows a bit of urgency in few interactions with Gambon, but still that does not make her character much more three-dimensional. She does have a very brief moment of vulnerability towards the end when Lady Trentham reflects with Mary about the possible consequences of the investigation, but still it only amounts to a few seconds and it's not particularly memorable.
Overall, this is a solid performance by Maggie Smith who gives a very enjoyable, scene-stealing performance. While it's not something I would have necessarily nominated (Emily Watson in the same movie was much more memorable in my opinion) and the role is lacking in depth and substance, she still delivers an entertaining turn that adds some needed humor to the whole picture. Nice, fun work.
3.5/5
I would give an higher rating for this performance? Maybe a 4/4,5
RispondiEliminaRatings and thoughts on the rest of the cast? Or at least Scott Thomas, Watson, Owen and MacDonald.
My favourite out of the cast is Watson and then Kristin Scott Thomas, both 4,5s for me
She was quite close to a 4 actually but ultimately I think the role is a bit too one-note for me.
EliminaActually I find most of the actors are not all that impressive per se: most of the effectiveness of some characters comes from the writing than the performances and I think the movie works well as an ensemble with only a few standouts. Anyway, here are the ratings:
Scott Thomas - 4 (I usually like her and that's also the case here. She brings the right amount of class and glamour making her performance properly stylized but without ever overdoing this side of her character. She is quite poignant at portraying her character's sense of regret and unfulfillment and she has the right sort of anti-chemistry with Gambon)
Gambon - 3 (He is properly despicable in the role bringing the right sort of arrogance fitting to a person who is aware of the power he has over the people around him. He doesn't do all that much but he is perfectly fine with what he has)
Owen - 3.5 (He definitely brings the needed charm for the role and he is the mysterious presence he is supposed to be. When his character becomes more prominent in the last act he certainly delivers showing extremely well his character's motivations. I don't think he stands out particularly but it's a good performance)
MacDonald - 4 (Bordering on a 4.5. Her quiet and unassuming approach works perfectly for the role itself and she portrays very well her character's shyness. She is the emotional center of the movie and she does a very good job at it while bringing the needed emotional weight to her heavier scenes in the last act as she starts to figure out the truth about the murder. She is effective at portraying her character's disillusionement over the course of the movie in a low-key, convincing way)
Watson - 4.5 (She is excellent at portraying her character's world-weary attitude and she nails the semi-comedic side of her performance pulling off effectively Elsie's dry humor. On the other hand, she exudes the right warmth and tenderness to her scenes with MacDonald and she is wonderful at suggesting her character's inner turmoil and the brief moment when she snaps while serving at dinner is brilliant. She is also moving in the second half of her movie as Elsie copes with her grief but also quite heartwarming as she suggests in the ending that the character might get a better future elsewhere)
Atkins - 3.5 (She shares a nice anti-chemistry with Mirren while being quite an enjoyably sardonic presence herself but she also delivers in the last act as more about Mrs. Croft is revealed)
Rutherford - 3 (She is fine in her subplot and I also like her few moments with Watson, but ultimately I don't think she leaves that much of an impact)
Dance - 2.5 (He is a great actor but I think he has basically nothing to work with. He too brings the right sort of snobbish arrogance to his character but there really is nothing past that and there is never a moment in which I felt he stood out)
Somerville - 3 (She is good at suggesting her history with William and she does a fine job at portraying her grief later on. She doesn't leave that much of an impression but it's a fine performance)
Hollander - 3 (He is good at portraying his character's desperation that motives his urgent behavior towards William and he is also very good in his scene with Sophie Thompson. Again, he doesn't leave too much of an impression though)
Wightman - 2 (Not there is anything wrong in her performance really, but she was really a big nothing. It was barely a character to begin with, and while she is nothing bad she is also nothing special at all)
EliminaBalaban - 3 (He is quite enjoyable in his role as the producer, but nothing much more than that)
Northam - 3 (He is very charming in the role and he pulls off the movie star charisma the character needs. He is nothing too remarkable but he is good)
Wilby - 3 (He is good at portraying his character's frustration behind his actions and he brings the needed cruelty to his interactions with Blakley and the needed desperation to his interactions with Rutherford. He is the unlikeable presence he is supposed to be)
Blakley - 3.5 (Bordering on a 4. Very moving performance as she captures the awkwardness of her character who is supposed to be an outsider to the other ladies. She touchingly portrays her character's low self-esteem and the depression behind her cheerful and kind façade)
Fry - 3 (He was funny enough in his role as the incompetent detective, but not much more than that)
Bates - 3.5 (He is good at portraying his character's efficient and loyal demeanor while also bringing the right emotional weight to his big drunken scene towards the end in which he is actually very affecting)
Jacobi - 3 (He doesn't do all that much but he brings the right loyalty to his character and his reaction over the murder is quite moving)
Thompson - 3.5 (She is a rather endearing and sweetpresence throughout the movie and she delivers in her speech to Hollander, which is a very moving moment and one of the movie's highlight)
Phillippe - 1 (He is absolutely awful and the only cast member who truly stands out in the wrong fashion. His accent in the first half is supposed to be a put on but still he is totally distracting as it doesn't work for a second, plus he has no screen-presence or charm whatsoever. In the second half he thankfully drops the accent but still he is a completely bland presence which is particularly problematic considering how much screen-time he has over the course of the movie. He is just terrible)
I agree with the general summation, it's good simple yet effective performance.
RispondiEliminaGlad we agree on her performance. Did you like the movie?
EliminaShe works incredibly well in tandem with the film, it's easy to see how this became her 'type'. Scott Thomas would be, like Omar, my favourite of the cast too, actually.
RispondiEliminaShe definitely works well within the movie's context. What rating would you give her?
EliminaNow I think about it, a 4. I agree with all your ratings, I'd go higher for Bates and Blakley but glad we entirely agree about Mr Philippe.
EliminaBoth Bates and Blakley are very very close to a 4. I'm seriously thinking about upgrading them, especially Blakley.
Elimina