A murder mystery raises the tensions of Upstairs, Downstairs politics in Robert Altman's much-honored ensemble comedy-drama. An English country estate in the early 1930s is the setting for a multifaceted story of hidden affairs, slow-burning resentments and family secrets as guests gather for a weekend shooting party. It's easy to lose count of the great actors in the cast, but they include Bob Balaban, Alan Bates, Charles Dance, Stephen Fry, Michael Gambon, Richard E. Grant, Derek Jacobi, Helen Mirren, Jeremy Northam, Clive Owen, Maggie Smith, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Emily Watson.

Robert Altman---USA/Great Britain---2001---138 mins.

• Universal Studios
• Letterboxed