Movie Description
Robert Altman revisits the lighthearted territory of his 1970s comedies BREWSTER MCCLOUD and A WEDDING and once again comes out a rousing success. This time, a tightly wound narrative by first-time screenwriter Anne Rapp keeps the laughs rolling as the story unfolds over an eventful Easter weekend in the small town of Holly Springs, Mississippi. The town residents are peaceful, kind folk--with the exception of Camille Dixon (Glenn Close)--a pushy theatre director with an incredibly shy younger sister, Cora (Julianne Moore), whose estranged daughter Emma (Liv Tyler) has just returned to town. On the heels of her latest play, Camille is shocked to discover that her Aunt Jewel Mae "Cookie" Orcutt (Patricia Neal) has committed suicide. Terrified at the thought of how this will tarnish the family name, she eats the suicide note to make it look like a burglary. This set-up leads the police to one main suspect, Willis Richland (Charles S. Dutton), who also happens to be Cookie's best friend. Although the rest of the town is convinced Willis didn't commit the crime, an outside investigator (Courtney B. Vance) isn't so sure. As Easter Sunday and opening night of the play arrive, the truth comes out, revealing more secrets than anyone could have possibly imagined. Director Altman tells his story at a leisurely pace, beautifully recreating the eccentricities of small town life in this sweet-natured tale.
| Credits | | Producer: | Robert Altman | | Cast: | Danny Darst, Julianne Moore, Randle Mell |
| Details | | Edition: | Spanish Version |
Notes
Screenwriter Anne Rapp spent several years as a script supervisor before getting noticed as a writer.
Editorial Reviews
"...An intoxicating dose of Southern comfort from Robert Altman..." -- 4 out of 5 stars
Total Film - p.80 - Neil Smith (03/01/2000)
"...Altman and his actors take their tempo from the slow, mournful blues which fills the soundtrack..."
Sight and Sound - p.44 - Geoffrey Macnab (09/01/1999)
"...[Altman] is in top form....[He] creates an atmosphere that brims with the pleasures of the unexpected..."
Rolling Stone - p.76 - Peter Travers (05/29/1999)
"The sweet assurance and guerilla wit of Robert Altman's vintage ensemble films makes a serenely captivating return with COOKIE'S FORTUNE..."
New York Times - p.E13 - Janet Maslin (04/02/1999)
"...Warm, witty and wise..." -- 4 out of 5 stars
Box Office - Ray Greene (04/01/1999)
"...Sweetly satirical and frequently downright mellow....The performers are splendid down to the smallest roles....The movie keeps getting better and better..."
USA Today - Mike Clark (04/02/1999)
"...A gem....Full of good humor and mature wisdom....This is a film filled with a patient and loving understanding and a knowledge of the value of subtlety and ease..."
Los Angeles Times - Kevin Thomas (04/02/1999)
"...COOKIE'S FORTUNE is Robert Altman's sunniest film....He's a master of stories that interconnect a lot of people, and here one of the pleasures is discovering the hidden connections..."
Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert (04/09/1999)
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