Robert Altman seems to be long past his many iconoclastic, cinematic triumphs of the '70s (even a short list is practically a "best-of" from that Golden Age: McCabe & Mrs. Miller, The Long Goodbye, Nashville), but his signature style is still unmistakable even if his cutting edge has dulled. His newest film, Cookie's Fortune, now out on DVD, features such "Altmanesque" attributes as a large, interconnected cast of eccentric characters (including a few of his regular actors), a laid-back pace, and his usual cool, crabby outlook hiding behind a sunny amiability.
A Shambling Murder Mystery
Set in Holly Springs, a sleepy, picturesque Mississippi town, Cookie's Fortune is a shambling murder mystery in which no one is actually murdered. The town matriarch, "Cookie" Orcutt (Patricia Neal, in her first movie in 10 years), has committed suicide, and her niece, Camille (Glenn Close), desperate to protect the family honor, rearranges the death scene to look like Cookie was murdered. Unfortunately, the prime murder suspect becomes town favorite Willis (Charles S. Dutton), who took care of Cookie in her last years. No one believes Willis did it — after all, as Sheriff Lester (Altman stalwart Ned Beatty) says, "I fished with him." Then again, no one seems to be in any particular hurry to solve the crime, either. This is the South, where no one is in any particular hurry to do anything at all.
Altman has often set his films in the South since, according to the Altman canon, everyone in the South is at least a bit of an oddball, and their small-town values can be the target of easy fun. Holly Springs is no exception. The local community playhouse is rehearsing their Easter play, Oscar Wilde's Salome (directed and "co-written" by Camille), the local cops talk about nothing but "fishin'," and Cookie Orcutt thinks her suicide will send her on a golden boat to see her dead husband, Buck. Oh, those kooky Southerners! And why does every movie set south of the Mason-Dixon line require a slide guitar soundtrack?
If you can ignore the condescension, it's actually a pretty charming movie. Above all, this disc is simply gorgeous to look at. Shot by Toyomichi Kurita, cinematographer on several of Altman crony Alan Rudolph's films, the film has a glorious springtime glow, and Altman's eye for locations is as good as ever. The local juke joint, Cookie's crumbling antebellum mansion,and even the sheriff's office all feel just right.
You can always count on an Altman film to have a terrific cast list.
Actors reportedly will do anything to get in on one of his films. Though the typical Altman character is nothing more than schtick masquerading as personality, actors seem to love the easygoing workout he gives them. Transcending the schtick here are Charles Dutton as the films' warm heart, Willis, and a surprisingly effective Liv Tyler as Willis' pal and Cookie's great-nice Emma. The two actors have a wonderfully tender rapport, and feel like the only genuine people in a movie full of crackpots.
Altman Delivers Dull Audio Commentary
Do yourself a favor and skip the audio commentary by Robert Altman, perhaps the dullest of its kind I've ever heard. Both sparse and excruciatingly insight-free, his commentary merely describes exactly what we're already seeing with our own eyes, occasionally gushing over how wonderful his actors are. The other DVD features are the usual chapter access, a choice of full screen or 1.85:1 widescreen and French/Spanish subtitle choices, as well as Dolby 5.1 Surround to make the most of that slide guitar. Cookie's Fortune is anything but cutting-edge Altman, but it's still a diverting, affable good time at the movies.
— TOD BOOTH
