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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Dedicated fans of Robert Altman will want to check out this drowsy Southern comedy, which is shot through with the director's feel for location and his musical sense of storytelling. Non-Altman fanatics might want to tread more carefully. Cookie's Fortune begins beautifully, as handyman Willis (Charles S. Dutton) staggers home from a blues club in the small town of Holly Springs, Mississippi. In the wee hours of a warm night, he has an affectionate chat with elderly matriarch Jewel Mae "Cookie" Orcutt (the grand Patricia Neal) and the gentle history of their friendship is sketched in a few brief exchanges. Soon enough, Cookie has checked out of this world to join her dear departed husband, prompting her nieces to make the suicide look like a murder---to protect the dubious family name, of course. They are the local drama diva (Glenn Close), a Scarlett O'Hara in her own mind, and her dreamy sister (Julianne Moore), who ain't quite right in the head. Will Willis be blamed for the murder? Will the inheritance go to the nieces? Will Liv Tyler and Chris O'Donnell find a place to express their lust? None of these questions is especially burning, and Altman doesn't seem terribly anxious about the answers. Instead, he aims for a particular kind of laid-back quirky southern comedy, unevenly filtered through his screen of sour irony. Like a jazzman blowing improv, some of this works and some of it doesn't. Speaking of music, the film boasts a nifty R&B soundscape devised by former Eurythmics man David Stewart, with a boost from blues belter Ruby Wilson. --Robert Horton
Cookie's Fortune [Region 2] Reviews:
Crazy Relations 
2009-11-18 - Cookie's Fortune is a laugh a minute with relatives who stroll thru each other lives and don't listen to each other. Each knows best and each knows zip. You'll laugh at the turns and twist and the ending....well worth watching.
Purchase of Cookie's Fortune
2009-10-24 - Love this movie. Cannot understand why it was not bigger at the boxoffice. Fabulous cast, and great story. What is not to like?
Cookie's Fortune 
2009-07-11 - A few months ago for the first time I saw "Cookie' Fortune" on cable. It seemed to be one of those movies that falls below the radar because it wasn't a big budget production that made millions at the box office. The movie was one of those sleeper films that had a great cast, a good plot and everyone could relate to and like. I would highly recommend this movie for family and friends. Also great understated humor. The director of this film is Robert Altman the same guy who directed the original movie "MASH" in 1972. His son also wrote the theme to "MASH", "Suicide is Painless".
Great movie, decent price
2009-02-04 - GREAT movie its one of those you discover on hbo when you cant sleep @ like 3am. all-star cast, im really surprised no one has heard of it, its a great funny feel-good movie. & emotional & romantic, great story, kinda has a southern feel like fried green tomatos or o brother where art thou
Vintage Altman
2009-01-31 - Intrigue surrounding the suicide of a crazy old lady in small Southern town. Rober Altman's best film since Short Cuts. Unique and mellow, full of wacky characters and down-home charm. Some wonderful performances too; especially by Patricia Neil and Charles Dutton. I could do without Chris O'Donnel or Liv Tyler, but even they are likable in this fun yet unsettling story, expertly directed and acted.
