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| | Salesrank: 195892
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| Our Price: $25.99 |
| Used Price: $25.97 |
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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:
Remembering 10 years ago 
2009-12-08 - I saw this movie in the theater 10 years ago, and not since (though I recently purchased it). What I remember is that from the very start, I was predicting turns in the movie that never happened:
1. Charles Dutton's character Willis is drunk and stumbling down the street in a small southern town and two white cops see him. I expect an immediate arrest. It doesn't happen.
2. I believe Willis steals a fifth from the liquor store so I expect an arrest. It doesn't happen.
3. Willis breaks into the kitchen of a home. I expect trouble and an arrest. It doesn't happen.
4. I expect a scene between Willis and "Miz" Cookie when she comes down from her room in her pajamas and robe. It doesn't happen. He calls her "Cookie" first of all, and she's offers to make him coffee.
5. When Willis gets arrested for Cookie's murder, I expect the sheriff to be the stereotypical pot-bellied "boy"-calling sheriff. He isn't. He doesn't even lock Willis' cell.
And the stereotypes get knocked down one after the other. Glen Close's church isn't southern Baptist. Cookie's granddaughter comes to share an unlocked cell with Willis (I believe she gets "locked up" with him).
Lots of nice surprises in this unusual flick. As you can see, I remember it most for what it turned out NOT to be than what it was. Loved it for that.
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
