I gave five reasons on my Huffington Post blog, so check them out:
As for the most important one, #1. It’s not Gosford Park, that can be explained a bit in case you don’t remember.
Jullian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey, won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Gosford Park after the film was released in 2001.
What sets the film apart for me is the outsider’s eye director Robert Altman (also credited with writing for the idea) brings to the material. There is much more of an embedded critique of the class system in Altman’s film and, frankly, a bit more edge.
Since I’m ditching Downton Abbey, maybe I’ll have time to watch Gosford Park again!